By Samantha Sygier Cayax | Program Manager
Since January, mentees of the PATHS Mentorship program have attended 12 group mentorship meeting and workshops including the following topics: resumes; cover letters; behavioral and technical interviews; job searching and networking; how to set goals, build a budget and save; improving credit and managing debt; and winning people: how to get buy-in.
In February, the 2025-2026 PATHS Mentorship program reached its halfway point, which allowed mentees to share their thoughts of the program so far and the impact of their STEAM Educational Grant. 100% of our program participants stated that the grant relieved financial stress and 50% indicated that they would not have been able to participate in their educational program without it. Mentees also shared that one of the biggest challenges they face in their educational and professional experiences is financial support alongside lack of knowledge and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
“I was worried that I would have to skip a semester of classes until I could get more on my feet financially. Receiving a PATHS grant allowed me to continue my studies at the level and pace I desired, and was also a morale boost that making this career change into IT was an achievable goal. It addressed my being in an economically precarious position as a trans person in a political climate that is increasingly hostile, and helped give me hope that I could do this--switch careers into IT and be able to provide a more stable livelihood for myself and my family.”
- 2025 PATHS Grant Recipient
As well, the PATHS Forward Podcast has continued its monthly release with 4 more episodes featuring interviews of LGBTQ+ professionals in STEAM discussing their journeys into STEAM and how they got to where they are now. This quarter we talked to Claudia Hernandez - Agile Project Manager and Change Management Leader, Raj Korpan - Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Hunter College CUNY, Elaine Montilla - Founder of 5xMinority, and Fredrick Douglas Williams - UX Designer at Avanade. Our interviewees discussed their personal experience, what it means to be LGBTQ+ in STEAM, their perspectives on AI and how to make a more equitable experience for LGBTQ+ professionals pursuing a career or education in STEAM.
To kick off the month of April, PATHS announced the return of the PATHS Forward Summit: Community IRL. This year’s summit will feature conversations on:
Don’t miss a powerful day of learning, connection, and community building. Registration is now open HERE!
Links:
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