A Pipeline of STEM Talent with Stem Girls 4 Social Good

A  U.S. Department of Commerce study finds that women hold just 25 percent of U.S.-based positions in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Women of color represent an even smaller cohort in the STEM workforce, holding less than 20 percent of these jobs.

Because of its long-standing commitment to developing a strong and diverse STEM workforce, Booz Allen Hamilton introduced STEM Girls for Social Good (SG4SG), a program that offers girls opportunities to learn STEM concepts while exploring real world social problems.

In summer 2016, nearly 50 middle and high school girls from Washington, DC, participated in the program, joining Booz Allen employees and the firm’s summer interns to learn about food deserts. Using STEM disciplines, participants identified zip codes that contain food deserts—areas where access to affordable, healthy food options is limited or nonexistent. The students also explored viable options to combat food deserts on a macro scale, and help those who live in them gain access to healthier options.     

Booz Allen Head of Diversity and Inclusion Cheryl Wade describes the program as an innovative, cascading mentorship model that will continue to encourage and more women to explore STEM fields. "Booz Allen STEM professionals lead and mentor groups of college-age interns who in turn lead and mentor middle and high school girls from the Girls Inc. DC STEM + Leadership Academy for Girls," she said.  

US2020, a nonprofit whose mission is to change the trajectory of STEM education by involving more professionals in high-quality youth mentoring, recently named Booz Allen as a finalist for the Excellence in Corporate Culture STEM Mentoring Award, highlighting the community impact the firm has achieved through SG4SG, its involvement with FIRST® and other STEM mentoring initiatives.