STEAAM
Program Overview
Thrive Philly’s STEAAM Sisterhood blends sisterhood, hands-on STEAAM, mentor panels with Black women in STEAAM, local museum trips, and on-site wellness at Pretty Fit Philly. Use the passport below to flip through the month-by-month schedule, deadlines, and checkpoints.
For Students
- Weekly schedule & checkpoints (report cards, survey, passport appt. by Feb 18)
- Mentor panels, museum trips, and on-site wellness
- Hawaiʻi trip planning (week after Philly schools close)
For Parents, Families & Guardians
- Trip logistics, transportation updates, and key deadlines
- Forms, contacts for support, and attendance expectations
- Progress check-ins, report-card checkpoints & end-of-program survey
For Community Members
Learn more about our program and what we do at STEAAM—how we blend sisterhood, real-world STEM + arts, and wellness to help girls thrive.
Roadmap (Sep → Mar)
Each Wednesday blends sisterhood, hands-on STEAAM, and wellness. Expect mentor panels featuring Black women in STEAAM, local museum learning, and on-site fitness with Pretty Fit Philly. Check this page routinely for permission slips and deadlines.
September 2025 — Foundations & Community (Recap)
October 2025 — Core Modules & Mentors (Recap)
November 2025
December 2025
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
Fund a Session or Volunteer
Walk the walk with us — and Thrive. Every Wednesday, STEAAM comes to life. Support from people in our community who want to see girls thrive removes barriers so students can show up, feel safe, and succeed.
Fund a Wednesday
Equity and safety are non-negotiable—many students cross neighborhoods and rely on us for a safe ride after dark. Your gift turns “I can’t make it” into “I’ll be there.”
Volunteer to Co-Lead
- Co-lead a Wednesday — Join STEAAM by leading a session, joining a panel conversation or chaperoning a trip.
- We prep you — Mini-lesson plan, materials, and a staff lead provided.
- Requirements — Short orientation (30 min max)
- Note — Wellness at Pretty Fit Philly is led by our instructors (financial support still welcome).
This Week: Science Behind Pilates
How breath, biomechanics, the nervous system, and connective tissue work together to stabilize and move the body.
Mini-Lesson: Systems, Not Sit-Ups
1) Deep Core = A Pressure System
The “deep core” isn’t just abs. It’s a canister: diaphragm (top), pelvic floor (bottom), transversus abdominis and internal obliques (wrap), with small back stabilizers like the multifidi. Together they regulate intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) to help the spine share load safely.
2) Breathing Mechanics
On inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves down; the ribcage expands mostly sideways and backward. On exhale, the diaphragm recoils up and the deep core gently assists pressure control.
Why it matters
3) Biomechanics & Alignment
“Ribs over pelvis” is a load-sharing strategy. When head, ribs, and pelvis are reasonably stacked, forces travel through joints and fascia more evenly, reducing shear on the spine and improving force transfer to the limbs.
4) Motor Learning & Proprioception
Slow, precise reps challenge the brain to sense joint position (proprioception) and refine movement patterns. This improves coordination and postural endurance, especially in stabilizer muscles.
5) Connective Tissue & Tensegrity
The fascial network connects muscles head-to-toe. Gentle, controlled loading improves tissue glide and distributes tension (a tensegrity model), supporting smooth movement.
Which group best describes the deep core “canister”?
Choose the stabilizers that create 360° support for the spine.
Breathing in this system emphasizes…
Which pattern helps regulate pressure without extra neck tension?
Why does “ribs over pelvis” help?
Pick the effect most closely tied to load sharing and tissue health.
Controlled, lower-load work mainly strengthens…
Which muscle fiber type supports posture and joint control?
During a controlled exhale, what happens in the pressure system?
Choose the option that best describes the physiology that supports spinal stability.