Seeds of Success: Empowering Girls in STEM Through Mentoring, Access, and Leadership

项目总结/摘要 科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）学位提供了获得奖励，高薪 职业生涯，并有机会为社会问题提供解决方案。不幸的是，拉丁裔和非洲裔 美国女性占目前STEM劳动力的不到4%。性别陈规定型观念和缺乏 相关的榜样、导师和早期接触STEM被认为是阻止中学女生的因素 远离利益。这个项目将研究成功的种子，一个校外干预的效果 旨在鼓励女孩考虑在STEM职业生涯，通过以下方式反对性别和种族陈规定型观念： 相关的榜样;通过STEM研讨会和活动促进STEM自我效能;并鼓励 通过基于社区的STEM项目实现文化和STEM身份之间的一致性。共有160名女孩在 7-9年级将每年招募参加在波多黎各和纽黑文，CT，两个镜像程序 代表性不足和服务不足的学生比例很高的人口。女孩将接受指导 来自类似种族和民族背景的女性STEM专业人士，并将通过网络研讨会与 更多不同的STEM榜样，以了解更多关于STEM职业的信息。此外，女孩将接触到 工程、生命科学和计算机科学概念，通过在线和面对面的活动和研讨会 促进批判性思维。最后，女孩将有能力开展STEM大使项目， 让他们通过科学对社区产生影响。我们假设该计划将促进 STEM兴趣，自我效能和身份的收益-可能有利于未来的职业决策。效果会 通过对参与者和对照组在项目前后进行的调查进行测量。再长一点- 长期跟踪调查将跟踪对高中毕业，大学入学和选择的持续影响。 少校除了该计划将直接影响的800名女孩外，至少还有20，000名学生， 社区成员将通过STEM大使项目和女性STEM 将在现场和Youtube上分享的榜样网络研讨会。因此，通过实施这些文化相关的， 基于资产的STEM参与战略，成功的种子将改善高中女生的STEM成果， 需要社区，留住我们世纪所需要的多样化人才。

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees provide access to rewarding, highly remunerated careers, and the opportunity to contribute solutions to society’s problems. Unfortunately, Latinas and African American women comprise less than 4% of the current STEM workforce. Gender stereotypes and a lack of relatable role models, mentors, and early exposure to STEM have been suggested to deter middle school girls away from STEM interests. This project will examine the effect of Seeds of Success, an out-of-school intervention designed to inspire girls to consider careers in STEM by countering gender and race stereotypes through relatable role models; promoting STEM self-efficacy through STEM workshops and activities; and encouraging alignment between cultural and STEM identities through community-based STEM projects. A total of 160 girls in grades 7-9 will be recruited every year to participate in mirror programs in Puerto Rico and New Haven, CT, two populations with high percentages of underrepresented and underserved students. Girls will receive mentoring from female STEM professionals from similar racial and ethnic backgrounds and will interact via webinars with additional diverse STEM role models to learn more about STEM careers. In addition, girls will be exposed to engineering, life sciences, and computer science concepts through online and in-person activities and workshops that promote critical thinking. Finally, girls will be empowered to undertake STEM Ambassadors projects that allow them to have an impact on their community through science. We hypothesize that the program will promote gains in STEM interest, self-efficacy and identity—potentially benefiting future career decisions. Effect will be measured with surveys administered before and after the program to participants and a control group. Longer- term follow-up surveys will track sustained impacts on high school graduation, college entrance, and choice of major. In addition to the 800 girls that the program will impact directly, at least 20,000 additional students and members of the community will be impacted through the STEM Ambassadors projects and the female STEM role model webinars that will be shared live and on Youtube. Thus, by implementing these culturally-relevant, asset-based STEM engagement strategies, Seeds of Success will improve the STEM outcomes of girls in high- need communities and retain the diverse talent we need in the 21st century.