Girls Who Code

During this time, I was a staunch advocate and facilitator for the Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering. During this time, every summer, I would take on 2-5 engineering students that were attending HBCU. I would provide them exposure to what engineers do overseas, help them network with other engineers, as well as provide them exposure to construction activities. By being a champion for this program, I have created lasting relationships, which I have been able to leverage to create opportunities for other young aspiring

As a part of the HBCU Alumni Alliance’s Higher Education initiative program; Alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are concerned about the inadequate representation of minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related professions. Consequently, DCHBCUAA STEM professionals have designed and organized an instructional hands-on STEM workshop for students in grades 10-12, to enlighten them on the different facets of professions available in the sciences. As a part of our community partnership with Kaiser Permanente, we have a workshop scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2017, from 800 am-5:00 pm, at 2101 Jefferson Street in Rockville, Maryland.

Alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are concerned about the inadequate representation of minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related professions. Consequently, DCHBCUAA STEM professionals have designed and organized an instructional hands-on workshop for students in grades 10-12. The workshop is designed to increase their awareness of the exciting opportunities available in the sciences and to provide an opportunity for students to talk to subject matter experts currently working in STEM occupations.

Bravery, not perfection. These three significant words portray Reshma Saujani’s objective as the founder of Girls Who Code. Before she started her educational program, Reshma Saujani was engaged in the 2008 presidential election. She was the first Indian-American woman to run for Congress. Reshma was committed to run for the election even with low popularity in votes; eventually, she lost the congressional race. Her determination to fight for her program, Girls Who Code, was strengthened by her lost in the congressional race. Her elaborate mind and intuitiveness drives me to be a risk-taker in school by taking AP courses and participating in STEM programs in New York City. In summation, her ability to continue to strive for success among her

Today’s college students have the opportunity and freedom to choose their major and their career path. Many factors influence the decision of a college student’s career paths including background, general interests, personal strengths, time commitment, and job outlook. Although many important decisions are made in college, one of the most important is the choice of major and career track. Out of hundreds of majors the science and engineering fields are under-represented by women. Although the numbers of women in science technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM, majors has been increasing in the past years, women still are in the minority in the STEM fields. In her study, Lona Whitmarsh

As many of you know, this October the Hispanic Scholarship Fund will be announcing this year’s inductee to their noteworthy Alumni Hall of Fame. Founded over 70 years ago, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund has done exceedingly well to provide the bright, young Latino scholars of our nation with an opportunity to seek higher education through scholarships and various programs. At the Alumni Hall of Fame Gala we will celebrate three scholarship recipients as well as a single inductee. While each individual being recognized at the Gala has proven to be extraordinary, there is one in particular you should look out for. However, having had such a massive impact in places all over the world, you may have already guessed who this dazzling woman is:

Throughout Gender and Race in the Physical Sciences, I have been struck by how rarely in STEM we shed a light on the women of color that already exist and thrive in the sciences. Often, when we discuss diversity in the sciences, we only discuss it in the frame of a problem. More specifically, we tend to focus on the problem of there not being enough of these women in the field. As a result of the lack of attention paid to pioneering women in STEM, many young people of all backgrounds are inclined to believe that there are no women of color doing great things in the field- that there are no role models. With this paper, and an on-campus event to be held in the spring, I hope to challenge people’s assumptions about what a scientist looks like, and inspire people through a discussion of innovative women of color.

With a supportive group of peers and mentors in my corner, I have had the opportunity to attend a highly competitive altitude training camp hosted by Olympian runner, Brenda Martinez and become a leading volunteer for the Los Angeles school board candidate, Kelly Gonez. I am grateful that I was given the chance to connect with inspiring and phenomenal women through the support and skills I gained in the Escalera program. There are many lessons I have learned from my accomplishments and certainly going to camp with Brenda Martinez and learning about the policy making process through volunteering has presented a new dawn in me to act on my dreams and to see the world as a place of opportunity, but it has also enlightened me to run towards any challenge or goal with swinging arms and a big stride. I became aware of the eminence of education firsthand at home and it is why I believe that higher education is a tool I can avail myself of in order to make sure my vision for a better future is a reality for everyone in my

Teacher education is on the rise with the multitudinous grants exhibited in these releases; with more teachers, there is a greater likelihood that some of these educators will be minorities and women. According to Edward Reeve, an educator who has won three Fulbright awards, Stem Thinking is the solution to the STEM crisis. It interconnects subjects, and it explains how the knowledge the students are gaining will be used in everyday life. Reeve argues this will help the students understanding of concepts, principles, and practices, enabling them to see the “big picture”. STEM Thinking teachers use inquiry based learning strategies, and they should know the popular approaches in these fields, such as the scientific method and the engineering design of STEM. This promotes the hands on learning Obama and numerous scientists support. Students will be motivated to learn the materials in class and apply the knowledge outside of the classroom, better preparing them to for careers and bettering the U.S.’s competitive edge in STEM fields (Reeve). If this occurs, this will lead to even more individuals pursuing STEM. Bamidele states that minorities in STEM must become the norm; seeing minority and women educators will give students the notion that they too can advance in these fields. The media must join the U.S. Department of Education to present these images to the public (Bamidele). This returns us to the point made by Milgram, the return of Rosie the Riveter. Pictured below is an image of Kelly Rowland, posing as Rosie the Riveter; not only does this image promote women in the force, but it also combines this objective with ethnic minorities. This represents the achievability of the goals that are set forth by the U.S.

Girls Who Code is a non-profit organization that educations you and provides resources to adapt the ability to code. The problem is the very large gender gap in technology: since 1995 the percent of women computer scientists dropped by 13 percent. That percentage is expected to drop at least 2 percent in 2027. That means 22 percent of computer scientist will be women in 2027. Girls Who Code mission is, “to close the gender gap in technology. (https://girlswhocode.com/about-us/)”

She has worked with women who are entering fields all across the STEM spectrum and was able to touch on personal stories from her students along with her own experiences as a woman in the workforce. The leader in her character is displayed as she touches on the powerful emotions she experiences when working with some of the most gifted STEM women that we should expect to make strides in the future. Women such as those she works with at the Douglass Project only have one ceiling to break through. It has nothing to do with their talents and capabilities, but rather everything to do with the negative stigmas in our society. For the sake of these women, speaking to Beth has pushed me to use my voice even more than I ever have before. I also hope to share certain pieces of this interview with a woman who is passionate about science, but maybe doubts her ability to do well in the field based on these stigmas. Overall, having this interview with Beth has strengthened my passion for being an advocate on the solutions needed to combat this

I am now the president of our club and the manager of Wolverine Computer. Not only do I direct our shop's efforts to raise funding for our program and for student certification tests, but I also direct Wolverine Computer's training program. I organize opportunities for students to obtain hands-on, real-world practice in an environment that mimics the IT field realistically. Enabling students to receive work experience while still in high school is crucial to preparing students for a career in technology. In addition to certifications and direct work experience, the program also provides high school students opportunities to practice skills that are certainly needed in the technology field. This includes customer service, public interaction, and teamwork skills while allowing students to demonstrate a professional work ethic. The program and our SkillsUSA club have many facets that require great patience and skill to manage. Our SkillsUSA club has over 60 members and actively promotes IT and STEM at our school. Concurrently, students at Wolverine Computer have put in nearly 200 hours of community service in the fall 2016 semester. The proceeds from this community service have helped dozens of students become IT Fundamentals or A+ CompTIA certified and have given much-needed opportunities to students in La

51 percent of the United States is female but only 34.4 percent of doctors are women. While 90.4 percent of nurses are female (“Women in Medicine”; “Male Nurses Becoming”), the women who do become doctors earn an astounding 25 percent less than their male counterparts (Groves). These staggering figures are only a single piece in the larger overall lack of women in STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, which has remained prevalent since the beginning of these fields. Although women are underrepresented in these STEM fields, this is not due to ineptitude, but instead it is a result of the force of societal stereotypes coupled with their wider range of abilities. The recent increase in women’s association with STEM seems

areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics employers are not getting enough women (Pozniak). High school girls only represent 17 percent of computer science Advance Placement (AP) test takers (O'Shea). The most significant group of minorities who are behind in earning computer technology degrees and working in science and mathematical professions are women. “Historically, women’s low representation in science and engineering was said to be due in large part of their lack of ability, interest, or both” (Horning 30). However, this is no longer a true fact according to Ward. Some suggestions to increasing the amount of women in sciences include introducing already present women faculty as mentors. Over the last three decades,

In our ever evolving society we seem to be having a greater affinity to technical jobs and careers more integrated with our technology. It appears that we are heading into a world of Science, Technology , Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM. The STEM fields that are rapidly increasing relate to jobs that deal quite a bit with our newer technology and the creation and development of new and more efficient technologies. To compliment this increase in STEM careers, we need to focus our time, energy, and most of all capital on the lackluster STEM program in our school systems.