Education United States Project #36183

Faces of STEM(TM)

by STEM Advantage

Summary

Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. STEM Advantage mentors, prepares, and inspires women and underserved communities to pursue careers in STEM through paid internships, mentors, scholarships, professional development, and community. We "level the playing field" and provide economic and social mobility to underserved groups, while providing a vetted pipeline of diverse talent to businesses. Our vision is to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive skilled workforce.

$50,000
total goal

$32,340
remaining

77
donors

0
monthly donors

1
fundraiser

3
years

Challenge

Women, African Americans and Latinos comprise 70% of the total available workforce, yet make-up only 20% of the STEM workforce. There are over 1 million unfilled STEM jobs in California alone. The lack of diversity in STEM professions is well documented and paints a dire picture for the low-income, first-generation students of color we serve. While college graduates have an increased earning potential of up to $1 million over a lifetime, only 11% of low-income youth earn a bachelor's degree.

Solution

The STEM Advantage program (internships, mentorships, scholarships, professional development, and community) was specifically designed to advance gender and racial equity through education and workforce development. A bachelor's degree is the surest path to the middle class. We use a collective impact model to address gaps between the talent pool and talent acquisition, focusing on women and under-represented talent. Our vision is to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive skilled workforce.

Long-Term Impact

Since our program launched in 2012, we have unlocked opportunities for over 600 talented first-generation college students from low-income families. Over 50% are women and 87% are students of color. Our Scholars defy odds, follow their dreams and become successful STEM professionals. Scholars have a 100% college graduation rate and persistence in a STEM major. They earn $75,000 average starting salary, a middle-class sustainable living wage that students say is life-changing.