Dear Friends of STEM for Her,
We want to take a moment to acknowledge the pain and tragedy engulfing our country. The senseless and unjust killing of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many others have illuminated the long and disturbing history of racial and social injustice that communities of color have experienced in this country. We are heartbroken that our Black and Brown fellow human beings still face rampant violence and inequities.
As you know, STEM for Her is committed to helping the next generation of women pursue careers in STEM, irrespective of their racial backgrounds. We are driven by the lack of diversity in the STEM field, both in terms of gender, but also in terms of racial diversity. We believe that by helping girls of all colors and backgrounds pursue their interests, we will not only close the pay gap but also create a better workplace. Women of color working in STEM fields bring a needed diverse perspective to influence what gets researched, how data is evaluated, and much more. We are extremely proud that almost half of our program participants are girls of color.
Today we stand as allies with our black and brown girls and their families in solidarity. We firmly believe that the power to make the changes that we seek in our society lies in the collective movement of those working on the front lines to bridge the gap of diversity and inclusion in business, education, and leadership positions. We are doing our part to create a brighter future for our girls. And we must do more. As an organization, we are re-committing ourselves to making a difference for girls of color to give them equal opportunities to pursue all their dreams, including careers in STEM. To kick-off this initiative, we will be forming a committee to expand our reach to disadvantaged communities, to ensure that all girls, especially girls of color, have access to educational opportunities in the STEM field.
We will remain committed to protecting black lives and black girls, to ensure that we are cultivating a better, brighter, and more inclusive future for the next generation of leaders. Because black lives matter.
With love,
STEM for Her Board of Directors