Education and training to help end the cycle of poverty are continuous efforts.
Promoting Economic Mobility in Charlotte and Guatemala by Creating a Scholarship Fund to Educate Girls for STEM Related Jobs
Event: Voices : Voces featuring Shayla Rivera. The first in a Series of Speaker Events presented by CPCC and BFBFoundation targeting economically underprivileged girls to expose and promote an interest in STEM careers and provide financial scholarships in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Learn more about this upcoming event.
Purpose: To immediately and positively impact the Economic Mobility marker in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County by providing an on-going scholarship fund for economically underprivileged girls for 2-year degrees or certifications in areas of STEM. The goal is to quickly improve the earning power of girls and promote their interest in continuing to further their education and careers in STEM related jobs.
Background
In 2014 (and affirmed in 2019-20) the Chetty Study ranked Charlotte last among the 50 largest US cities and Mecklenburg 99 out of 100 counties in upward mobility. The Leading on Opportunity Task Force set out to develop a plan to solve this problem. The subsequent outcome was The Leading on Opportunity Report which gives a systemic approach to addressing the key determinants of economic mobility; early care and education, college and career readiness, and child and family stability, while simultaneously focusing on the cross-cutting factors of segregation and social capital.
We believe that one of the key determinants to affect economic mobility, college and career readiness, can be jump-started for many girls by encouraging their interest in STEM. Why STEM jobs specifically?
- According to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology economic projections point to a need for 1 million more STEM professionals than the US will produce at the current rate over the next decade. The economic projections for a need for STEM professionals continue to grow.
- According to SHRM 60% of employers struggle to fill job vacancies requiring background in science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM related jobs are at the heart of the skills gap in America. THERE ARE GOOD STEM JOBS THAT ONLY REQUIRE AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE, A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, AN APPRENTICESHIP OR POST-SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSES.
- In North Carolina alone there are over 100,000+ job openings in STEM related fields requiring only 2-year degrees
STEM Teacher Training
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are pillars that touch every aspect of our lives, each day. The need to continue learning and imparting knowledge in these areas is enduring and a testament to the advances we see today. BFB Foundation is pleased to fund a STEM teacher training program in Guatemala. It is our latest addition to the educational programs. As technology continues to expand and infuse our lives with knowledge, capacity, innovation, and imagination, communities must be prepared and equipped to absorb and engage with emerging ideas.
The funding through a grant will upfit current classrooms to foster STEM learning. The training will focus on teachers and eventually, teachers will educate students through a STEM curriculum. The areas of math and science will enrich the current educational programs already in place in the communities we serve in Guatemala.
Benefits of STEM
To the Student
- Better prepares students for university and the workforce
- Enhances gender equality
- Better Job potential
- The student stays current
- The student practices being innovative
- It helps students think about making a difference
To the School
- An enhanced reputation for preparing students for university and jobs
- Access to grants and funds to develop the program
- Better prepared students for advancing in the real world
A Special Thank You
ALL 4-1 Campaign
As many of you already know, BFB stands for Burns Fazzi Brock, the two Co-Founders, Chris Burns-Fazzi and Rich Brock, business partners for 25 years. In November 2021, Rich and Shelly (his wife and BFB board member) hosted the first, since the pandemic, ALL 4-1 event in their home. The gathering brought together supporters and scholarship sponsors for girls in Guatemala. Five new sponsor groups were added on to support girl’s University Education!
Thank you, Rich and Shelly, for opening your home to BFB and promoting this wonderful, impactful program!
The ALL 4-1 Campaign brings together small groups of people who want to make a difference by sharing their giving power to support one girl’s scholarship for five years. To put a girl through University in Guatemala costs about $600 annually, so each person commits to paying $150 each year for the 5 years. It pays for the student’s tuition, books, internet, transportation and housing.
Why are programs such as STEM so important...
"How can you know possibilities you have before you if you don't even know that they exist?"
Chris Burns-Fazzi
CO-FOUNDER BFB
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