Nordstrom funds YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish’s STEM education program
SEATTLE, WA – YWCA’s national associations have been selected as the partner by Treasure&Bond, Nordstrom’s give-back brand that supports nonprofit organizations that empower youth through a 2.5% donation of their sales for the year. This donation of sales from February 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018 will benefit YWCA’s STEM programs, locally including YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish’s GirlsFirst program.
GirlsFirst is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) program designed for female-identified youth of color from 8th-12th grade, with a focus on 9th grade support. The mission of GirlsFirst is to create a love for STEAM, while developing leadership skills in an encouraging female- and people of color-based community. In 2016, GirlsFirst served over 100 female-identified youth of color.
There’s a crucial need for STEAM education tailored for girls of color. Women make up only 29% of the STEM workforce nationwide and Seattle’s schools have the biggest white-black achievement gap in the state, with Washington’s K-12 public schools ranking in the bottom five U.S. states for progress towards closing the opportunity gap. STEAM programming provides girls with the confidence and skills they need to achieve excellence in any profession they choose to pursue.
GirlsFirst is currently enrolling students of color entering 9th-12th grade for their upcoming summer camp. This free 8-week summer camp program runs from July 10 to September 1, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is located in the Central District at the YWCA Alvirita Little Center (708 Martin Luther King Jr. Way). Applications are available online and will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Field trips to STEAM based spaces and fitness activities will be included. A healthy lunch will be provided to all campers, and those with 70-percent attendance will receive a stipend at the end of the program. To enroll, or for more information, please contact Makini Magee at mmagee@ywcaworks.org.
To learn more about GirlsFirst’s STEAM activities, check out an afternoon with the GirlsFirst robotics team.
About YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish:
YWCA is the region’s oldest and largest organization focused on the needs of women, and provides services and advocacy to support stable homes and economic advancement, reduce violence and improve health, and promote racial equity and social justice. With programs that serve more than 15,000 people each year, YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. To learn more, please visit our website: ywcaworks.org.