Global STEM Scholars! Give the Girls a Chance!

Millions of STEM job vacancies will need to be filled in the US by 2025. Although the percentage of Black women completing college degrees has increased over the past years (National Center for Education Statistics 2020), according to the National Science Foundation Black women make up 2% of STEM careers.

I grew up poor with a single teenage mother, loving all things Science, Math and Space but I had no idea about the vast options for college and career opportunities that could fit my love of STEM. My options were limited:  Doctor, Nurse or Science Teacher.  For decades the many options for stem careers have not been presented to Black girls, but we can make a difference.

Young Girls, especially girls from historically marginalized communities need the opportunity to make STEM connections from across to the globe to their own backyards. As Paulo Freire said “ No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are.” 

So what’s the solution: Fortified Education’s Global Scholars Program will provide international STEM curated experiences for cohorts of Black girls in grades 3-12. Together we can ignite the love of STEM and keep the flame burning for more Black girls and young women.  With funding, the program will provide: 

• local science, technology, engineering, environmental lessons  

• international experience that encourages an appreciation of global perspectives 

• opportunities to make strong connections from their community lessons to the environmental research and curated STEM experiences while exploring different countries.

• Build scholar skills for presenting research through multimedia tools 

• Provide family community sessions to encourage STEM learning at home while providing home supports

Your support will help FE’s Global Scholar Program have an impact, helping girls envision themselves as scientists, engineers, marine biologists and know what opportunities exists and their options are limitless.  Thank you so much for backing this passion project and helping give opportunities to those that need it most!