Community
One conversation about opportunities an engineer wished he’d had as a teenager helped set STEAMpire in motion. Now in its second year, the growing community expo is bringing more than 70 vendors to Tyee High School to help kids explore what their futures could hold.
STEAMpire Expo ’26: Powering Pathways returns Saturday, November 7, with organizers expecting 500 attendees.
Organized by African Community Housing & Development (ACHD), the event brings together colleges, employers and community organizations, with partners including Puget Sound Energy, the Port of Seattle and the University of Washington.
Everyone is welcome. ACHD wants to make STEAM opportunities easier to reach, particularly for students who have had limited access to programs, mentors or career exploration. Families from across South King County are invited to try hands-on activities, meet people working in these fields, and discover resources that can help kids pursue their interests.
An idea picks up steam
According to Andre Ervin, ACHD’s Community Outreach Coordinator, the idea began with an engineer who wanted young people to have more opportunities to explore these subjects.
Ervin suggested creating an event and joined ACHD’s education team to put it together.
“We all sat down, put an event together in a few months; a year later, here we are with 70-plus vendors and more sponsors, and next year we're going even bigger,” Ervin said.
The name grew out of the team’s brainstorming: STEAM combined with “empire,” with a steam locomotive providing the image of power and forward movement. The idea was to help power kids’ futures.
Organizers hope to build a major South King County gathering where students can discover opportunities and meet people who can help them pursue their interests.
Plenty to explore
The expo gives students a chance to try activities, ask questions and learn directly from colleges, employers and community organizations.
Planned activities include:
- Hands-on games, puzzles and learning stations.
- Resources about educational programs, internships and mentorship.
- Youth arts and cultural performances.
- Educational prize raffles.
- Food trucks offering community favorites.
Programming emphasizes middle and high school students, with families, educators and community members also invited.
STEAM includes science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, bringing creative interests and technical learning together.
Helping kids find their next step
For one student, the expo could mean finding an internship or college program. For another, it could begin with trying an unfamiliar activity and discovering an unexpected interest.
Families can explore together, ask about available resources, and make connections they may not have known were possible.
As STEAMpire gains momentum, the goal remains personal: give more kids a place to start and connections that help them keep going.
STEAMpire Expo ’26: Powering Pathways
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Tyee High School, 4424 S. 188th St., SeaTac
Open to everyone.
This article is shared as a free service to the community. No payment or sponsorship was received by The Highline Journal.
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