“Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day by championing diverse voices in STEM! At JerseySTEM, we bring hands-on programs & role models to middle school girls in NJ, closing gender gaps and inspiring tomorrow’s innovators.

#WomenInEngineeringDay #STEM” 🚀

June 23rd marks International Women in Engineering Day, a global celebration that highlights the achievements of women engineers and inspires the next generation to follow in their footsteps. Established by the UK’s Women’s Engineering Society and now supported by UNESCO, this day is about more than recognition; it’s about driving real change.

Why Representation in Engineering Matters

Engineering builds the world around us. From designing bridges to developing medical breakthroughs, innovation depends on diverse perspectives. Yet, women remain underrepresented; only 16–17% of engineers and architects in the U.S. are women, and the numbers for Black women are even lower. This lack of representation isn’t just a statistic, it’s a missed opportunity. It means solutions are built without the voices of those most impacted. For example, facial recognition software has shown bias against Black women due to exclusion in development stages. We can do better and we must.

Honoring Trailblazers, Past and Present

From Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, to Grace Hopper, a pioneer of modern computing, to Katherine Johnson, whose calculations were vital to NASA’s moon missions, women have been quietly shaping STEM for centuries. Today, women lead in every STEM field from biomedical engineering to renewable energy and robotics. Their stories prove that innovation thrives when everyone has a seat at the table. 

JerseySTEM: Building the Pipeline for the Future

At JerseySTEM, we’re on a mission to close the gender and opportunity gaps in STEM especially for middle school girls in underserved New Jersey communities. Our volunteer-led, after-school programs bring STEM to life through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

Each 10-week program is led by STEM-focused college students who serve as relatable role models in the classroom. These instructors are supported by professional mentors who provide training, coaching, and ongoing guidance. The curriculum is project-based and aligned with New Jersey middle school science standards to ensure both relevance and rigor.

All necessary materials such as robots, microscopes, and other lab tools are provided, and many of our programs include a fully funded field trip to extend learning beyond the classroom. Each cycle culminates in a community showcase, where students proudly present their projects to families, friends, and educators, celebrating their creativity and growth.

Join the Celebration

Let’s celebrate Women in Engineering Day by creating space for more girls to see themselves in STEM. At JerseySTEM, we’re not just recognizing women engineers, we’re building the next generation.

“Freedom without opportunity is incomplete—this Juneteenth, we commit to empowering Black women in STEM to innovate, lead, and shape the future.” 🚀

Juneteenth commemorates the delayed but hard-won freedom of enslaved Black Americans in 1865. It’s a day of reflection, resilience, and recommitment to justice. At JerseySTEM, we believe that true freedom includes the power to innovate, to lead, and to shape the future. That means ensuring Black women are not just present in STEM, but empowered within it.

The Numbers Tell a Story

Despite making up nearly 7% of the U.S. population, Black women account for only 2.2% of the STEM workforce and 6.4% of STEM bachelor’s degree recipients. In fields like engineering and computer science, the numbers are even more stark. These statistics aren’t just numbers—they’re missed opportunities, untapped brilliance, and persistent systemic barriers from classroom to career.

Why This Matters

STEM shapes nearly every aspect of our world—from the algorithms behind our devices to innovations in climate solutions and healthcare. When Black women are excluded from these spaces, the solutions created often reflect the blind spots of those at the table. 

For example, facial recognition software has shown significantly higher error rates for Black women due to biased training data. Medical technologies and research often overlook conditions that disproportionately affect women of color. These aren’t just oversights—they’re consequences of a system that lacks diverse voices in its design and decision-making.

When Black women are underrepresented in STEM, we don’t just lose talent—we risk building a future that reinforces inequality.

Changing the Equation

To close the STEM gap for Black women, we need more than good intentions—we need action:

• Start with culturally responsive STEM programs: Research from the Black Girls and STEM Education Research Initiative shows that culturally relevant, informal learning environments—like after-school or summer programs—can significantly boost Black girls’ interest and confidence in STEM.
• Build community, not just pipelines: Black women in STEM often face isolation. Programs that foster peer networks and community—like STEM sororities, affinity groups, or alumni mentorship circles—help sustain long-term engagement and leadership.
• Address systemic bias head-on:  Bias in classrooms, hiring, and evaluation must be addressed directly. Anti-bias training, equitable rubrics, and inclusive hiring drive better outcomes for underrepresented groups.

JerseySTEM’s Role

At JerseySTEM, equity is at the heart of our mission. Through after-school STEM programs, mentorship, and community partnerships, we provide spaces where Black girls can explore STEM with confidence and curiosity. Our volunteers serve as near-peer role models, helping students imagine futures they may never have considered. This Juneteenth, we don’t just celebrate freedom—we work toward it. Because freedom without opportunity is incomplete. And a future without Black women in STEM is one we refuse to accept.