Historic Women’s Organization Hosts “Hidden Figures” Screening for Local Girls

Speakers at the Delta Sigma Theta event included pharmacists, software engineers, and robotics educators – all black women who encouraged local girls from the St. Petersburg, Fla., community to pursue their education and explore the possibilities of an STEM-related career.

BY GRACE CUNNINGHAM, Neighborhood News Bureau

The St. Petersburg Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority hosted a screening of the film “Hidden Figures”  Friday night in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Following a red carpet entrance and photo opportunity, the theater at Cobb Luxury 10 at Tyrone Mall, in St. Petersburg, Florida, was filled with local girls and women from the community. Introducing the film, which tells the true story of three black women who worked on the main projects for NASA during the 1960s, were several guest speakers.

All of the guests work in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)  and encouraged the young women in attendance to reach for the seemingly impossible.

Though the theater was a bustling scene permeated with laughter, the event addressed other issues currently presented to young black women.

“No matter what they face, they can overcome sexism, racism – whatever it is – and be whatever they want to be,” said the event’s master of ceremonies, Loretta Thompson.