Post written by CHC member Jenny Carson
Jenny serves at the American Cancer Society Colorectal Cancer Screening Navigator and Health Educator
In addition to daily service at their host
sites, several Chicago Health Corps members have the privilege of mentoring
young girls interested in science, technology, engineering and math(STEM)
through a local Chicago non-profit, Girls 4
Science. Girls 4 Science is
Chicago’s only all girls' science initiative, partnering with Chicago’s City
Colleges on Saturdays to inspire young girls ages 10-18. As a mentor in the Girls 4 Science program, I
have learned first-hand just how important it is to promote STEM among urban
youth and get young girls excited about STEM careers. In addition to the
efforts of Girls 4 Science, this past March’s National Women’s History Month
was dedicated to honoring the contributions of women in STEM fields, inspiring
young girls to join the STEM workforce.
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Members
of the
Women History Month Recognition Reception.
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Women’s National History Month 2013
Women’s National History Month began in 1978, as more than 100
women gathered in Santa Rosa, California to celebrate women and the
contributions they have made in world history.The movement grew, and in 1988,
the U.S. Congress officially designated March as Women’s History month.
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| source: google image search |
This past March, we recognized the accomplishments of
extraordinary women such as Patricia Era Bath (1942), whose invention of the
Laserphaco Probe was an important milestone in laser cataract surgery; Rita R.
Colwell (1934), the first woman director of the National Science Foundation;
Susan A. Gerbi (1944), a molecular cell biologist whose research was
significant in understanding the role of hormones in certain cancers; and
Flossie Wong-Staal (1946), a virologist and molecular biologist whose work made
it possible to develop HIV screening tests.
“Among
the initiatives of this administration to advance gender equality, are efforts
to bring more women into science and health care professions. Women who hold
STEM degrees and jobs earn 30 percent more on average than women in non-STEM
jobs”.– Health
and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Currently in the United States, only 25% of the
STEM workforce is women. However, the future of women in STEM looks
bright and is growing! According to the White House Council on Women and
Girls,
a record number of women are entering the STEM workforce, the number of female
faculty at major science research universities is at an all-time high, and more
girls in the United States are reporting they seek a career in science than boys
their age. A brilliant example of women entering the STEM workforce are our
very own Chicago Health Corps service members. Many of the wonderful women in
the corps are pursuing careers as doctors, nurses, physician assistants, public
health officials, and many other promising careers promoting the future health
of our country.
To learn more
about Women’s History month:
- Visit The National Women’s History Project Website
- The Center for Disease Control’s celebration of Women’s History Month and CDC Women Making a Difference
- The White House Council on Women and Girls
- Check out a local organization mentoring the future workforce of women in STEM careers: Girls 4 Science.
March 10thwas
National Women and HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- Look into the groundbreaking work of the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project
- Learn about the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Change My Story project
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