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SWE’s Outreach Committee to “Reach” Globally in FY23

Introducing SWE’s Outreach Committee 2023: Strong leaders undertaking powerful initiatives to propel SWE Adult Advocates in their mission to inspire women to pursue STEM
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As we dive into the new fiscal year, the Outreach Committee is excited to introduce its team of workgroups. We focus on creating resources for those who support outreach initiatives across the globe. From writing newsletters for adult advocates to hosting in-person challenges to bringing SWE to new regions, we support the spark of STEM in all that we do.

Adult Advocate Publications Workgroup

The SWE Adult Advocates team is responsible for generating monthly newsletters that cover topics such as outreach tips and tricks, current events, and social research. These letters are meant to provide adult advocates with resources to help girls grow and cultivate an interest in STEM. Anyone “who engages with and empowers girls and young women to prepare for engineering careers” is an adult advocate in our eyes, is that you? Sign up for our newsletter here.

Global Workgroup

The global workgroup, with its diverse representation of SWE volunteers and leaders across the globe, aims to understand the needs of STEM adult advocates and educators across the globe to develop strong and useful resources in aiding girls’ STEM careers. In FY23, the workgroup will focus on the India, Nigeria, Kenya and Brazil geographies. The ultimate goal is to increase the use of SWE resources and SWENext involvement in new regions, which requires the group utilize its global connections, spread the word and gain brand new paths to STEM.

Invent it. Build it. Workgroup

Invent it. Build it. (IIBI) is SWE’s annual in-person event for girls in grades 6-12. At IIBI, girls participate in hands-on engineering activities and learn about how engineers help people and make a world of difference. The event includes a parent’s and educator’s program for information on engineering careers and scholarships, as well as an EXPO featuring engineering clubs, engineering camps, competitions, after-school programs, and more from the local community. Our workgroup oversees most aspects of the event with our committee having particular focus on the middle school room, the high school room, and the parent educator program.

Outreach Assessment, Metrics and Tools (OMT) Workgroup

The Outreach Assessment, Metrics, Tools & YPP Workgroup is dually responsible for optimizing the Outreach Metric Tool and for maintaining Youth Protection Policy compliance. The Outreach Metric Tool is one of SWE’s best internal measurement systems for gauging the reach of outreach events year over year to track trends and opportunities for growth. The Youth Protection Policy is formal safety training overseen by SWE that must be reviewed and acknowledged by all volunteers who interact with youth before delivering any SWE-sponsored outreach.

Special Publications Workgroup

The Special Publications Workgroup focuses on creating larger publications and developing long term projects. This year, along with the annual issue of Celebrate SWE Outreach, we will be writing a book for middle-school students. This book will be a compilation of stories from relatable SWE members with a diverse set of backgrounds, with the goal of applying the book as an outreach tool for years to come.

DEI in Outreach Workgroup

The DE&I in Outreach Workgroup is primarily focused on creating educational resources for members to use and share. Topics include how to create a more inclusive outreach event environment, and how to engage underserved youth and more. The team shares content through social media as well as through SWE’s Advanced Learning Center.

Introducing Engineering Concepts Workgroup

The Introducing Engineering Concepts (IEC) Workgroup works to provide adult advocates the knowledge and resources necessary to introduce STEM concepts and sustain the STEM spark in students of all ages. In the past two years, the group has created informational webinars focused on STEM outreach to elementary school and middle school students. This year, they hope to continue the series by focusing on high school students.

Outreach Challenges Workgroup

The Outreach Challenges workgroup is responsible for developing outreach-based “challenges” that encourage sharing of best practices and exceptional outreach ideas between SWE sections, MALs, and affiliates. The prompts aim to include an element that encourages participants to think about ways to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives into their own outreach efforts. The Outreach Challenges workgroup is also creating a library of outreach ideas to share with SWE sections, educators, and parents to access and use for their own events and activities.

Training for Parents, Educators and SWENext Club Counselors

The Training for Parents, Educators, and SWENext Club Counselors workgroup members are very excited to work together to develop a strategy for K-12 educator engagement. Educators can have a large impact on youth and ensuring that they have access to SWE’s resources is critical. The workgroup members have a breadth of experience in outreach and advocacy which the group will pull from to provide effective training and guides for educators. One way that the group plans to expand their educator network is by building activity on social media platforms and the SWE website.

All Outreach efforts rely on SWE members and volunteers to make them a reality. Take part by signing up for the monthly Adult Advocates newsletter and be a part of our mission to share STEM.

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