Cambridge STEAM Initiative Celebrates Pi Day by Spotlighting Math Equity Efforts

Happy Pi Day! Many educators and math enthusiasts recognize March 14 as Pi Day in reference to the number π or 3.14 (and many more decimal places!). Pi Day is an opportunity to celebrate the beauty, mystery, and transcendence of the number π. In honor of Pi Day, we are shining a spotlight on the Cambridge STEAM Initiative’s work on math equity.

A child’s relationship with math impacts their life. Research shows that inequitable access to math literacy (the ability to use math to solve real-world problems) affects an individual’s long-term educational and employment opportunities. Math literacy also impacts larger issues such as social and economic inequalities, public health, political division, and climate change. Bob Moses, civil rights leader and late Cambridge resident, saw equity in math education as a crucial civil rights issue.

Math equity is core to the work of the Cambridge STEAM Initiative. Through Math Matters for Equity, a citywide effort to build a culture where math matters for everyone, the STEAM Initiative has three connected, data-driven math initiatives that focus on math equity through the lens of racial justice. These initiatives span early childhood to Grade 12, in both out-of-school-time (OST) and in-school learning spaces:

• Early Childhood Math (Birth – Grade 2)

In partnership with the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood and other stakeholders, this initiative focuses on designing fun and engaging ways to support families and early childhood educators to introduce young children to mathematical thinking, beginning in their early developmental stages and as they grow. One example is the Bob Moses MathTrail where children can explore interactive math installations along a mile-long path in The Port neighborhood.

• Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) Math Equity (K–12)

In collaboration with the CPS Math Department, the STEAM Initiative gathers and analyzes data related to student math mindsets and facilitates conversations with CPS and multiple partners in out-of-school-time learning spaces. These efforts focus on how to design math initiatives and programs that raise the levels of math literacy for all students from Kindergarten through Grade 12.

• Math is a Civil Right Collective Action Group

The STEAM Initiative provides grants and opportunities to local organizations to work together in collective action to offer engaging out-of-school-time math opportunities that connect math practices and knowledge to real-life experiences and support positive math identities. This collective action group supports OST educators with training opportunities that focus on math equity and anti-racist practices and explore ways by which afterschool programs can effectively engage young people and grow their mathematical skills.

All of these initiatives emphasize a positive math mindset — the ability to identify as a mathematician, experience joy in math, and engage in problem-solving using curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and perseverance. The goal of these initiatives is to equip all children and young people in Cambridge with the skills and STEAM Habits of Mind to successfully pursue their educational and career aspirations.

This Pi Day, the STEAM Initiative invites everyone to discover the joy of math and to learn how math can help us build a more equitable world!

Photo Caption: A youth from The Young People's Project demonstrates a math activity.