Learn More About Us

STEAM Sneakerheadz™ is more than just a business—we’re a social enterprise with a mission to make science education more accessible to everyone, particularly those from underserved communities.

Using  Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) concepts we strive to expose students and the public especially those within underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized communities to advanced STEAM science topics.

During our STEAM sneaker art workshop we focus on experiential learning  and hands-on activities customized for students as early as 6 to adults. Workshops are hosted by Jakyra Simpson, aka Ky the Chemist  and students create and customize STEAM  artwork. Check our our previous events page to learn more about our workshop offerings.

Workshops can be adjusted based on group size, location, and needs for participants. Currently, we offer three workshop styles: A 6–7-week series sneaker art workshop, a single comprehensive “mini” lesson, and a weekend 3–4-hour sneaker art workshop, you can find more details below:

• A 6–7-week series workshop: This is a comprehensive and interactive workshop that covers the basics of sneaker chemistry, such as polymers, rubber, leather, dyeing, and bonding. The workshop also includes hands-on activities where students can create their own custom STEAM sneaker art using various techniques and tools. The workshop culminates in a final project where students showcase their creations and explain the science behind them.

• A single comprehensive “mini” lesson: This is a condensed version of the workshop that covers the main concepts and skills of sneaker chemistry in one session. The lesson includes an introduction to various chemical concepts such as dyes, hydrophobicity, and polymers. Students will take the chemistry from this lesson and apply it to create custom art mini sneaker keychains.

• A weekend 3–4-hour workshop: This is a fun and engaging workshop that focuses on the creative aspect of sneaker chemistry. The workshop also provides students with the opportunity to design and decorate their own sneaker art using various materials and tools.

Sneakers are my primary focus, but I’ve also hosted workshops that dive deeply into STEAM concepts, showing how chemistry connects to every aspect of our lives. Beyond sneakers, some of the other engaging topics and lessons I’ve taught include the Chemistry of Cosmetics, Natural Medicine, Fashion, Hip-Hop Culture, Goal-Setting Skills, Vision Board Parties, Networking, and so much more. While everything is interconnected, sneakers remain the most popular and exciting gateway for exploring these ideas.

You can click on the button below to submit your request or you can send an email to info@steamsneakerheadz.org