As outline in ACT 392, the LaSTEM Council will “increase the number of women who graduate from a postsecondary institution with a STEM degree or credential.” The activities listed below are a few of the national initiatives that are available to girls and women in Louisiana.
National Girls Collaborative Project: The Louisiana STEM Girls Collaborative Project brings together organizations throughout the state of Louisiana that are committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Project activities are designed to facilitate connections between organizations to maximize access to shared resources.
Electric Girls: Electric Girls was founded in Spring 2015 by Flor Serna as a response to her experience as the only female recording engineer at Vital Sounds Recording out of Loyola University. Quickly joined by Maya Ramos, the pair founded Electric Girls to develop leadership skills in young girls through their learning of electronics and computer programming skills. Electric Girls first summer camp consisted of 6 girls – Electric Girls now has served hundreds of girls in the greater New Orleans area through summer camps, after school partnerships, weekend programs, in-school programs, and one-day workshops, and has expanded to multiple New Orleans schools and age ranges (5-14).
Girls who code: Girls Who Code was founded five years ago with the belief that computing skills are a critical path to security and prosperity in today’s job market. What began with 20 girls in the heart of New York City, Girls Who Code has reached 40,000 girls in all 50 U.S. states!
Women in CyberSecurity: This website discusses the gender imbalance in the field of cybersecurity and highlights multiple resources and initiatives for women interested in becoming more involved.
