Get Involved. Make a Difference:
By Linda Kekelis
Techbridge Director
Think back to when you were 12. Did you have anyone to help you consider career options in technology and plan for the future? Most girls don’t, and they don’t understand that a career like yours can be rewarding. We hear from girls that they want to make the world a better place but don’t see the connection between their people-oriented values and careers with computers. We asked girls in our community to imagine a technology program designed just for girls and learned what appealed to them: addressing problems at school, using computers for fun and creative projects, and meeting role models. They were also very enthusiastic about a program just for girls.
With this input, we designed Techbridge—a program that builds on girls’ interests, teaches technical skills–like programming, design, and animation—and introduces them to expanded career options. With support from the National Science Foundation, Techbridge was launched in 2000 by Chabot Space & Science Center to help increase and diversify the pipeline in technology, science, and engineering. Techbridge has since served over 1,500 elementary, middle, and high school girls in after-school and summer programs, primarily in underserved communities in Oakland, CA.
Role models and field trips are key to the success of Techbridge. They expose girls to more career options, and help them see how careers in technical fields can be compatible with their life goals and personal values. We encourage you to get involved and reach out to girls who could be the programmers of tomorrow—if only they knew more about the field. By sharing your passion for your work, you can help the next generation of technology workers become more diverse, reflecting the talents and promise that women can contribute.
For a prospective role model it can be intimidating to think about talking to a group of teenagers—especially about a technical career. To help role models, we developed a guide—Get Involved. Make a Difference—that offers suggestions and strategies to help you relate with girls and provide a snapshot into your field of work in technology.
Interested in finding out more about Techbridge or looking for guidance to do outreach with girls in your community? We offer training for role models and partner with corporations and universities on outreach programs. For more information, visit http://www.techbridgegirls.org/ or contact us.