ORLANDO, Fla. — A local non-profit is empowering young girls in STEM.
“So, I’ll be going to UCF in the fall, majoring in Computer Science,” says Amanda Guerrero, a high school senior whose journey into the tech world has been shaped in part by the non-profit Tech Sassy Girlz. Amanda’s success is one of many stories emerging from the non-profit organization, created to inspire and nurture young women in the fields of computer science and technology.
“So, 28% of the computing workforce is made up of women, and unfortunately, only 3% are Black. 2% are Hispanic,” says Dr. Laine Powell, the founder of Tech Sassy Girlz, who launched the initiative in 2012. “Our program really focuses on computer science and technology careers,” Dr. Powell adds.
“We have two cohorts this year, one in Seminole County and one in Orange County, and the students are learning about Python and artificial intelligence.” The summer cohorts are especially focused on programming, helping students learn coding languages like those needed to create websites, “CSS, Java, Python. It’s what makes things work.” Says Amanda, “For example, if you’re building a website, you would use HTML and CSS to make sure your website looks beautiful and has all the required codes, so when you press on the button to go to the next page, you go to the next page.”
For many young women, Tech Sassy Girlz offers an introduction to a career in STEM that they might not have considered otherwise. Diondria Daley, a senior at Evans High School, says that was her experience, “Oh, this is not bad... So, I got into it, as I gradually got into the program... It was great, and I really enjoy it.”
The program helps girls build confidence, gain new skills, and realize that a future in tech is not only possible but exciting. One of the most powerful aspects of the Tech Sassy Girlz program is its emphasis on mentorship and real-world experience.
Through the initiative, students are able to tour various companies, meet women who look like them, and learn from professionals in the field. “We’ve had some of our own mentors in the program go on and switch careers and now work for some of the companies that we’ve taken our students to,” says Dr. Powell.
“So, it’s a symbiotic relationship, and it’s critical for us to ensure that our students have the proper support that they need in order to be successful.”
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