IGNITE is a Seattle based non-profit organization with a 10+ year history of showing young girls the possibilities represented by STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. IGNITE offers an affordable, community based, multifaceted approach to STEM education – providing toolkits and curriculum which allow educators across the globe to replicate the successful model that thrives in Seattle public schools. IGNITE brings together young women, educators and women professionals who work for local companies and agencies and live in nearby neighborhoods.

But what does this powerful program mean for the educators involved in running the program, the professional volunteers, and most important, the girls themselves? Cathi’s presentation illuminates what makes this experience special, sharing specific stories from students, educators, and STEM volunteers. We know firsthand that most young women in the program don’t have strong female role models in science and technology, so they are guided only by the often skewed portrayal in popular media. By bringing the teens into the workplace (job shadows, field trips, etc.), IGNITE offers local role models and mentors. This interaction reframes the image of STEM careers and firmly bases it within reach, stimulated by real life.

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