SUPERGirls SHINE Foundation (SGSF), led by founder, Loretta Williams Gurnell, was awarded, for the third consecutive year, a Microsoft IMPACT Program Sponsorship, launching its third cohort of #SUPERGirlsInSTEM & Mentors IMPACT Program participants.
These STEM-focused young girls from across all four (4) corners of Houston and surrounding areas will be in the program from now until June 2025.
Knowing and working towards filling STEM workforce needs, SGSF aims to advance economic mobility to sustainability for underserved women and girls through access to STEM education, internships, scholarships, and entrepreneurship/business ownership.
In closing gaps and breaking barriers to increase the talent gap, SGSF matches middle to young professionals with industry mentors who guide and support them the entire year, helping them to reach their goals.
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“The gaps that exist in STEM with women talent and leaders in c-suite roles is still disproportionate to that of white male counterparts and nonexistent for women of color,” said Gurnell. “However, SGSF advances 100% of #SUPERGirlsInSTEM with high school diplomas, and 87% pursue STEM as a major in a two-year or four-year university. Of those who go on in pursue of a higher education degree, 82% attending those universities do so debt-free.”
Gurnell, a former research scientist, says that through this process, the organization’s efforts in advancing economic mobility in underserved communities is realized year after year, but to meet the demand, SGSF must scale.
To further address these gaps, Gurnell says SGSF welcomes additional corporate sponsorships and partnerships like that of Microsoft so as the organization hosts career/workforce and college/career prep training, #SUPERGirlsInSTEM Days, environmental learning and financial stewardship, coupled with entrepreneurship/business ownership sessions, the path to economic mobility does not seem distant, but rather, obtainable with strategies, support and mentors to get there.
“Microsoft is proud to continue our sponsorship of SUPERGirls SHINE Foundation,” said Microsoft Energy and Resources Senior Director of Energy Partnerships, Rob Schapiro. “I believe that to fulfill our mission of empowering every person and organization to achieve more, we need a tech workforce that reflects our society.
“I support SUPERGirls SHINE Foundation because they are helping to make that possible.”
In addition, SGSF creates access to equitable STEM and leadership opportunities for underserved women and girls through early exposure.
“By providing a strong STEM foundation, the organization gives girls and rising leaders in STEM the tools to excel in professions, through workforce development and companies’ opportunities to tap into talent early,” added Gurnell, a Workforce, Leadership & Nonprofit Strategist, and nationally recognized STEM Influencer.
This year’s cohort has young girls from Harmony Public Schools, KIPP Texas Schools, Houston ISD, Tomball ISD, Alvin ISD, and the Abeka Academy Homeschool System.
Participating mentors and industry leaders who will be matched with program participants hail from Greentown Labs, Just Us Organizing, Air Liquide, The Empowered Survivor, CITGO, Lummus Technology, Liongard, Enerflex Ltd., Super Power Soap, ChampionX, Texas Orthopedic Hospital, ExxonMobil and Sucrè Realty.
To learn more about SGSF, visit www.SUPERGirlsSHINE.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @SUPERGirlsSHINE.
