Million Women Mentors (MWM)
Salutes Women US Senators and House Leaders to Mobilize the Country to Mentor Girls in STEM Skills
Women Senate and House leaders gathered to join the Million Women Mentors (MWM) movement as it hosted a celebratory luncheon in the Hart Senate Building on Wednesday, March 5. The event saluted U.S. Senators and Representatives as they work to advance the roles of girls and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and career development. Senate attendees on the 5th included: Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). House attendees included: Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
Feature article in Roll Call Women of Congress Promote STEM Education Careers
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| Sen. Kelly Ayotte Introduced by MWM Partners Michelle Manatt (Meridian Center) and Girls Inc.'s Andrea Wolf and Student |
If we're going to keep our competiveness in the global economy, we must prepare our students with the education they need for the jobs of the future. That starts with getting more talented students - and girls - into the STEM pipeline at a younger age, expanding engineering education, and bringing more STEM teachers into high-need communities. Million Women Mentors will make all the difference, giving our young girls role models in STEM fields and mentors to guide them though. We are relying on our children today to be the innovators of tomorrow. It's our job to make sure they are prepared,"
- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY)
"I know the importance of strong women mentors in my own life. Congratulations to the Million Women Mentors for their efforts to give young women interested in science and technology the support they need to be successful in these careers!"
- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
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| Sen. Debbie Stabenow with Edie Fraser (STEMconnector) and Michael Norris (Sodexo) |
"Million Women Mentors, we ought to be able to make some progress with this... Thank you for what you are doing, as we encourage and challenge our young women in STEM fields. This is how we're going to be making a difference, and this is how we're going to be translating into the future with our women leaders"
- U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
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| Sen. Lisa Murkowski |
"We all should mentor a young person, and in turn that young person will become a mentor for another. It's that simple. You have the opportunity to offer anything and everything."
- U.S. Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
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| Congresswoman Grace Napolitano with Robert Bard (LATINAstyle) and Julie Kantor (MWM and STEMconnector) |
"When I was in school, I did all the higher order classes. I did Calculus, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, and not a single person ever asked me if I was interested in going into a STEM field...We have to have girls telling girls, women telling girls, and men telling girls that they can do it. And I am so incredibly passionate about growing young girls in the STEM fields."
"Are you all excited to be part of a Million Women Mentors! We have quite a job to do, and you have so many partners in the United States of House of Representatives and the Senate who are right there along with you!"
- U.S. Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD)
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| Congresswoman Donna Edwards Introduced by MWM Partner The Girl Scouts' Holly Jupiter |
"When I was in school, I would always have a Math or Science teacher look at me as I sat there perplexed trying to understand whatever it was that I was learning. They would look at me, tap me on the head and say "that's okay" you don't need to have [know] this. Today that is no longer true, that is not what we tell our girls and it's so important... You cannot be what you cannot see"
- U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA)
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| Congresswoman Susan Davis Introduced by The Girl Scouts Katie O'Donnell |
"China does not discourage their girls in STEM... America's daughters are capable."
- U.S Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
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| Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth with Dr. Laura Stubbs (US Dept. of Defense) |
"As women who have accomplished so much, we have to look behind us and pull the women on the next rung of the ladder up with us. We have the time, we have the opportunity and that's what encouraging girls in STEM is all about... I am proud to sponsor legislation this year, to make sure that we can encourage young girls and underrepresented minorities to enter the STEM fields"
- U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
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| Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz |
"Women right now make up about 48% of the workforce, which we all appreciate but only 24% make up the STEM workforce and what's so critical is that those jobs pay more...In New Hampshire alone by the year 2018 we are going to have 43,000 STEM jobs available... All kids do not learn the same way, and it is important that children have mentors"
- U.S Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
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| Sen. Jeanne Shaheen with Michael McCabe (TCS) |
"The connection for me with STEM, is our workforce...Almost half the workforce in New Hampshire is female, this has long been a tradition...40% of American families are now lead by a female breadwinner, she is the primary source of income... What we are participating in with this movement [Million Women Mentors] is myth busting, so that policy makers can become more aware of the demographics in our communities... "
- U.S. Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH)
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| Congresswoman Annie Kuster |
"When I was growing up, all my mentors where teachers or nurses so I thought this was normal. I thought those were the only two careers open to me ...I want to challenge each of you to adopt this mentor program, its good for business, good for science, good for the country, and good for girls. If you are not already a mentor, we are really encouraging you to step forward and be part of this really important empowerment of girls and women"
"The STEM industry is expected to add another 750,000 jobs, high paying jobs in the next 10 years, and there are going to be more women...STEM jobs on average pay 35% more, STEM jobs promote equal pay with women earning 92 cents for every dollar...The job outlook is only projected to grow in this field from 2010 to 2020, employment opportunities related to STEM are expected to increase by well over 16%, that's over 8.5 million jobs in just 10 years"
- U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
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| Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney |
"It is so important that we offer girls the opportunity to experience things, to experience what is like to be a part of a robotics competition or what it's like to go into an engineering firm, to see what they do because we all learn through experience"
- U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
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| Senator Mazie Hirono |
ABOUT: MWM is an engagement campaign and national call to action that mobilizes corporations, government entities, non-profit and higher education groups, around the imperative of mentoring girls and young women in STEM fields. Since MWM's launch in January 2014, over 50,000 pledges have been made to mentor girls and young women in STEM skills. Contact [email protected]
More Photos of the Senate Event Click HERE.
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| MWM Partners and Sponsors at Senate Luncheon- A Proud Moment! |
PS. Special thanks to MWM Partner Ana Rold and the Diplomatic Courier for hosting us all at the Reagan Center for Tea with Global Women Ambassadors in celebration of International Women's Day!
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| Edie Fraser of STEMconnector and Ana Rold of Diplomatic Courier Celebrating INternational Women's Day! |
