I Am STEM, STEM & Leadership Academy
I Am STEM, STEM & Leadership Academy
Kim R. Grimes | 2019
Abstract
For years now, girls and women have been and still, are the critical missing part in STEM. Something is seriously wrong with this picture. While women fill almost half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, yet women hold less than 25% of jobs in STEM fields. 1 “Women who do receive STEM degrees are less likely to work in STEM jobs than their male counterparts.” 2 The fact is only 3 out of 100 female students working toward a bachelor’s degree, will be working in a STEM job ten years after their graduation. 3 The numbers are even lower for women of color; Latinas and Black women hold only 1% and 3% of STEM jobs. 4 Although American women dominate the workforce, where are the women in STEM?
It is no secret, nor should it be surprising to learn that women, especially women of color, remain severely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, and career fields. 5 With women notably being a dominating force in the U.S. workforce, “Where are the women in STEM?” More importantly, where are the girls and women of color in STEM? Is there a conspiracy that is preventing minorities access? A quick peek into the classroom may assist in finding an answer. Unfortunately, American public schools have not been as successful with educating historically underserved students in math and science than they have with middle-to-upper income and White students. 6 African-American youth and Latino youth are disadvantages when it comes to access to resources and programs.
Nothing is more important than investing in tomorrow’s leaders today. Providing the I AM STEM curriculum to girls in the 8th – 12th grades, who are from economically disadvantaged and underrepresented populations is an investment in our future. The I AM STEM curriculum created to open doors providing girls with options. Options such as to break the cycle of poverty and live above the poverty line; opportunities to explore the possibilities that exist outside of their communities; and options that will allow each girl to give back to their communities and make a difference in our world. My expertise in STEM and Strategic Leadership will be woven through seminars, workshops, creative projects, hands-on activities, presentations, and excursions. The success of our young people is vital to our success as a company. I AM STEM invites young girls of color, living in low-income communities, who are unaware of STEM education and careers, be a part of a ground-breaking program that empowers participants to become powerful “Uncommon Leaders.”
1 Beede, D., Julian, T., Langdon, D., McKittrick, G., Khan, B., & Doms, M. (2011). White Paper Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation. SSRN Electronic Journal. 10.2139/ssrn.1964782.
2 Ibid.
3 ACT. (2015). White Paper The Condition of STEM 2015 [PDF document]. Retrieved from http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/National-STEM-Report-2015.pdf
4 Ashcraft, C., McLain, B. & Eger, E. (2016). White Paper Women in Tech: The Facts. National Center for Women & Technology (NCWIT).
5 Color, G. F. (2017, January 09). Retrieved March 19, 2019, from https://www.grantmakersforgirlsofcolor.org/resources_tags/education-schools/page/9/
6 Google Inc. & Gallup Inc. (2016). White Paper Diversity Gaps in Computer Science: Exploring the Underrepresentation of Girls, Blacks, and Hispanics [PDF document]. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/PG34aH