Media

Amplifying Youth Voices

The STEAM Connection is dedicated to a vital mission: ensuring young minds have access to technical education through robotics. As Indigenous people and members of underrepresented communities, we have long been portrayed as peoples of the past rather than the future. By sharing our innovations and achievements, we challenge this narrative and inspire young people to see themselves as leaders in STEM.

Our work has been recognized by major media platforms, including The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, The Smithsonian, USA Today, PEOPLE Magazine, Good Morning America, ABC News, CBS News, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. We also contributed to the National STEM Week Bill introduced in Congress by EXPLR Media. Our youth founder, Danielle Boyer, has spoken at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on Indigenous languages and ethical AI and has twice been invited to the White House, participating in the MTV Youth Action Forum alongside Selena Gomez and the Tribal Youth Forum as a guest of Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary Deb Haaland.

Danielle has earned numerous accolades, including being named the Washington Post Next Changemaker, an Echoing Green Fellow, an MIT Solve Indigenous Communities Fellow, one of PEOPLE's Girls Changing the World and an Teen Vogue Indigenous Youth Changemaker. Her work in digital storytelling includes starring in "Indigenous Robotics," an award-winning documentary featured in The Big Idea by MIT Solve x HP, which won a Webby Award and was an official selection at Sundance's Brand Storytelling, Tribeca X, and SXSW, where she also presented.

Our presence continues to grow, with Danielle’s STEM educational content reaching over 80,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, and X (Twitter) + Threads. We are available for interviews and media inquiries. Contact our team at media@steamconnection.org to learn more.

Media Inquiries

Fact Sheet

The highlights

Washington Post Next 50

Our founder is a Teen Vogue Indigenous Youth Changemaker

A 2x invited guest of the White House

2x MIT Solve Winning Solutions & Documentary Feature

With awards from L'Oreal Paris, Echoing Green, ASA, and more.

The world-changing potential of STEAM-powered youth

The Big Idea by MIT Solve x HP: An award-winning docu-series on three women innovators. "Indigenous Robotics" followed our founders life for over a year and it premiered at the MIT Museum Spring 2023. It is currently showing at film festivals, has won over 10 awards, and is hosted by Glamour magazine. Redglass Pictures started filming in 2021 and finished in 2022. (2023)

Yahoo: In The Know, a TV show on Gen-Z making change in their communities. The piece talks about our founder Danielle Boyer and our robots. (2023)

Good Morning America by ABC News special. (2022)

Honors Overview

Our founder, Danielle Boyer is a two-time guest of the White House to speak at the MTV Youth Action Forum with Selena Gomez and participate in the Tribal Youth Forum and was a special guest of Dr. Jill Biden and Deb Haaland to the White House celebration of Native American Heritage Month (2022). She was a featured speaker of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Science, and Cultural Organization) at their headquarters in Paris, France on AI and Indigenous languages (2025). She is a featured story in The Big Idea by MIT Solve x HP, an award-winning docu-series on three women innovators. "Indigenous Robotics" followed her life for a year and premiered at the MIT Museum. It has been featured by SXSW, won a Webby Award, won a Tribeca X Award, and is an official selection of Sundance’s Brand Storytelling (2023-24).

Award Highlights

Washington Post Next 50 Changemaker (2025)
Taco Bell x Ashoka Ambition Accelerator Finalist (2024)
Digital Media Youth Voice by the Institute of Digital Media and Child Development (2024)
National STEM Festival STEMbassador + TikTok Partner (2024-25)
Echoing Green Fellow (2023)
MIT Solve Gender Equity in STEM Fellow (2023-24)
NDN Collective Changemaker Fellow (2023-24)
CSTA (Computer Science Teachers Association) CS Hero (2023)
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Sequoyah Fellow (2022)
Teen Vogue Indigenous Youth Changemaker (2022)
VentureWell Sustainable Impact Award (2022)
EdTech IT Influencer (2022)
MIT Solve Indigenous Communities Fellow (2021)
Verizon Forward for Good Winner (2021)
ASA Prize for Equitable Education (2021)
PEOPLE Magazine's Girls Changing the World (2020)
L'Oreal Paris Woman of Worth (2020)
Brower Youth Award (2020)
Governor's Service Awards: Volunteer of the Year - Given by Governor Gretchen Whitmer (2019)

and more

Feature Highlight

The Big Idea by MIT Solve x HP: An award-winning docu-series on three women innovators. "Indigenous Robotics" followed her life for a year and premiered at the MIT Museum. It has been featured by SXSW, won a Webby Award, won a Tribeca X Award, and is an official selection of Sundance’s Brand Storytelling and is hosted by Glamour magazine (2023-24)
San Diego Magazine Cover Story (2024)
In The Know Yahoo TV Show Episode (2023)
Women of Worth NBC Special by L'Oreal Paris x NBC on Hulu
Winds of Change Cover Story for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society