In a recent episode of The Day with Trae, host Trae Holiday sat down with Kyle Johnson, the Executive Director and Co-founder of AVELA (A Vision for Engineering Literacy & Access) and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Washington. The conversation revolved around the upcoming Hip Hop Climate Conference, which will take place on November 7th at the University of Washington.

Kyle discussed his journey in founding AVELA, an organization aimed at increasing educational opportunities for underrepresented minority youth, particularly in STEM fields. Inspired by his study abroad experience in South Africa, where he analyzed the education systems post-apartheid and post-Jim Crow, Kyle emphasized the importance of creating pathways for students, particularly in historically marginalized communities. AVELA's multi-tier mentorship model connects graduate and undergraduate students with K-14 students, enabling them to learn and apply cutting-edge technology and engineering skills in real-world scenarios. Through partnerships with organizations like the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, AVELA students are able to create websites for local minority-owned businesses, offering them both technical skills and community engagement.

The discussion then turned to the Hip Hop Climate Conference, a collaboration with Hip Hop is Green and environmental activist Keith Tucker. Kyle shared how AVELA has been involved in incorporating STEM topics into environmental justice projects, working alongside tech companies like Microsoft to find innovative solutions for reducing electronic waste and teaching students to be leaders in climate tech. The conference will feature a panel of mentors and industry leaders who will engage with the next generation of students and researchers to tackle climate challenges through technology and innovation.

Kyle wrapped up by inviting students and the community to get involved with AVELA and the Hip Hop Climate Conference through their respective websites, highlighting the organization's commitment to empowering students to solve the issues affecting their communities.

For more information visit hhccc.org.

To see more guests like Kyle, tune in with Trae every weekday at 11 a.m. on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.