NBC 5 partners with the Fort Worth Chapter of Links, Incorporated EMPRESS STEM program. The program is designed to expose, enlighten and empower young girls of African American descent through the exploration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics with an emphasis on the arts.
The goals and objective of the EMPRESS program include:
- Empower and inspire young women to leadership through creative programming.
- Provide experiential learning opportunities.
- Establish partnerships with STEM-related professional and higher educational organizations.
- Bridge the technology gap that exists for African American girls by building life skills that focus in areas of science, technology, engineering and math with an emphasis on the arts.
- Sponsor a scholarship for a student to attend a STEM-focused summer camp.
- Use technology to develop an art project.
Typically, girls are introduced to science at a young age but a strong emphasis is not placed on their continued engagement and interest in the field as they advance scholastically. Fortunately the number of girls engaging in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers is growing, but based on statistics gathered by the National Girls Collaborative Project, they are not choosing STEM careers at a consistent rate. Women constitute 45% of the workforce in the United States, but hold just 12% of science and engineering jobs in business and industry.
The EMPRESS Program is one of the many programs committed to supporting President Barack Obama’s Educate to Innovate by providing opportunities for young girls in grades seven and eight to have continued exposure to STEM-related occupations. The Fort Worth Chapter Links, Incorporated is committed to closing the gap and creating quality programs that establish solid leadership skills and expand the career opportunities for participants within the greater Fort Worth community.
For additional information contact Kristin Wright, kristinwright09@att.net or 817-360-4571.
The Links, Incorporated an international, not-for-profit corporation consisting of 12,000 professional women of color in 276 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, eagerly accepted the challenge to prepare and encourage students to attend colleges and universities with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. Links, Incorporated is committed to equipping students of color with the skills to compete and excel in a global workforce that increasingly relies on individuals with STEM related proficiencies.
