Youth voice is essential to the future of Oregon and the prosperity of our communities. Eleven youth–the Mythos Youth Council–are leading a new statewide initiative to transform education through community engagement in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM).
Since January, they have been planning and designing the Mythos Challenge. The challenge invites youth to create games, apps, and stories inspired by mythology, oral histories, and world traditions. These youth-made digital creations will be hosted at the Portland Art Museum alongside their Summer exhibition of Gods and Heroes: Masterpieces from the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris. The public is invited to play and vote for their favorite entries, and based on their feedback, the Mythos Youth Council will award more than $5,000 to winners of the Museum Play Challenge. This money is an investment in youth to become Oregon’s future entrepreneurs and leaders in STEAM professions.
What makes the Mythos Challenge so impactful are the vibrant youth voices coming from diverse communities. The challenge is supported by eight community partners: Pixel Arts, Girls, Inc., Girl Scouts, Multnomah County Library, ChickTech, Innovation Academy, Multnomah County Youth Commission, and the Portland Art Museum. Partners are providing learning workshops, online resources, and toolkits to support educators in their classrooms and to engage youth in Oregon’s digital storytelling industries. With their support, the Mythos Challenge is reaching youth who often lack resources, programs, and mentors to support their learning engagement.
The Mythos Challenge is also supported by a network of STEM leaders that include: The Mozilla Foundation, OregonASK, Portland Youth Builders, SEI (Self Enhancement Inc.), National Center for Women and Information Technology, CSTAO (Computer Science Teachers Association of Oregon), TAO Foundation (Technology Association of Oregon Foundation), Portland Metro Stem Partnership, and Oregon Story Board. With their support, the Mythos Challenge is building bridges across Oregon’s communities to support the health, wellness, and imagination of youth.
We are excited to see what youth will submit. The due date for entries is this Friday, May 15th. Following the entry submission, the Mythos Youth Council will host an opening gala to present the finalists. We hope you will join Pixel Arts in encouraging and supporting youth voice!
