Women continue to be vastly underrepresented in STEM jobs, emphasizing the need to bolster girls’ interest and exposure to STEM.
New York, NY (PRWEB) November 05, 2015
Girls Inc. is excited to continue its partnership with Lockheed Martin to strengthen the interest and confidence of girls to pursue STEM education and careers. Girls Inc. joins Lockheed Martin today at its Women’s Leadership Forum as the designated charitable organization, where two dozen girls will have the opportunity to meet and gain advice from the corporation’s top women leaders.
Beginning next year, Lockheed Martin will work with Girls Inc. to pilot a new, five-year group mentoring model at Girls Inc. Eureka! sites in Denver, Dallas, Omaha, and Holyoke, MA., where volunteers will provide support to girls through mentorship and active engagement. For the past two years, Lockheed Martin employees have served as mentors to Girls Inc. girls through its “Creating the Future” program, which provides girls first-hand experiences in STEM and allows them to explore aspirations that they may have not otherwise discovered.
“Lockheed Martin has funded and supported Girls Inc. to greatly enhance our STEM programming for girls,” said Judy Vredenburgh, president & CEO of Girls Inc. “Through Lockheed STEM mentors, girls have gained self-assurance in their STEM abilities during those critical years leading up to high school. With Lockheed Martin’s new commitment, high school girls will now have the opportunity to benefit from the role models, mentoring relationships, and transformative experiences that this wonderful relationship has built.”
The Girls Inc. and Lockheed Martin partnership began with the shared desire of both the national nonprofit and the global security and aerospace company to build the STEM pipeline by extending opportunities to girls, particularly those from communities of color. Women continue to be vastly underrepresented in STEM jobs, emphasizing the need to bolster girls’ interest and exposure to STEM. Since its beginning, the “Creating the Future” program has doubled the number of participating Girls Inc. affiliates to 10 locations, as well as a virtual site, serving more than 300 girls throughout the year.
“Mentoring remains a proven strategy in getting girls interested and excited about STEM,” said Sondra Barbour, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems and Global Solutions (IS&GS) business area. “We understand the importance of investing in programs that help instill confidence in STEM in girls at a young age – and inspire them to consider a STEM career. Lockheed Martin is excited to continue our partnership with Girls Inc. to reach more girls on a long-term and consistent basis, and to build a highly-diverse and competitive STEM workforce.”
For nearly a decade, Girls Inc. has committed significant resources to exposing girls to the cutting-edge world of STEM. Through the Eureka! program, Girls Inc. provides girls with hands-on, minds-on opportunities that build their interest, confidence, and skills and knowledge in STEM. Participants of this five-year program experience a wide-array of opportunities, including an intensive, annual summer program at local universities, as well as multiple summer internships during girls’ high school years. Local businesses and corporations like Lockheed Martin provide volunteer support and funding to create transformative experiences for girls.
About Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, providing more than 140,000 girls across the U.S. and Canada with life-changing experiences and solutions to the unique challenges girls face. The Girls Inc. Experience consists of people, an environment, and programming that, together, empower girls to succeed. Trained staff and volunteers build lasting, mentoring relationships in girls-only spaces that are physically and emotionally safe and where girls find a sisterhood of support with shared drive, mutual respect, and high expectations. Hands-on, research-based programs provide girls with the skills and knowledge to set goals, overcome obstacles, and improve academic performance. Informed by girls and their families, Girls Inc. also works with policymakers to advocate for legislation and initiatives that increase opportunities for girls.
At Girls Inc., girls grow up healthy, educated, and independent. Join us at girlsinc.org.