We will survive: Minority-focused STEM program pauses after state veto [Video]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A program dedicated to bringing minority youth into the field of STEM says it is exploring other funding options to keep their doors open. This comes as Missouri Governor Parson announced he’s vetoing about $250,000 of the state’s funding toward WeCode KC.

“It was devastating. It was devastating,” said WeCodeKC founder and CEO Tammy Buckner.

Buckner says for her, molding the next generation of STEM professionals is personal.

“I’ve been a software engineer, a project manager, and a business analyst in technology and I didn’t see people that looked like me. I didn’t see women. I didn’t see minorities,” she said.

She describes technology as one of the fastest-growing industries and says youth in many Kansas City neighborhoods are getting left out.

“Mostly families that are not involved with this industry so how would our kids know how to get involved, that they can be …