Trade Up: Jacksonville workshop introduces girls to careers in STEAM fields

Dozens of middle school girls tried hands-on activities in construction, health care, transportation and more at the First Coast American Heart Association’s annual workshop at FSCJ’s Deerwood campus.The daylong event gave girls a chance to explore careers they may not have considered — from building projects and treating patients to operating a train simulator and controlling a robot dog.“We bring about 150 middle school age girls out to inspire them to pursue careers in the STEAM-related fields,” said Jacci Easterling, executive director of the First Coast American Heart Association. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and architecture, and math.The workshop is in its sixth year, Easterling said. This year, it was held at FSCJ’s Deerwood campus on Jacksonville’s southside. Community partners included the construction industry, a bank, CSX, UNF MedNexus and HCA Healthcare.Activities included a hospital simulator where participants practiced working with a responsiv