LEAD GIRLS OF NC LAUNCHES NEW STEAM-INTENSIVE PROGRAM
FOR LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (September 13, 2023) – LEAD Girls of NC, a non-profit organization based in Winston-Salem for at-risk middle-school girls, is launching a new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) program. The pilot program, which will run from September 2023 to April 2024, focuses specifically on Engineering with future programs planned for other STEAM components.

“Our STEAM activities are always very popular with our LEAD participants, so it made sense to dig deeper into that interest with this new pilot program,” said Joy Thomas, LEAD founder and executive director. “We want the girls to not only have exposure to STEAM topics but begin to envision how they might pursue this field beyond high school.”

Zha’Nyia Bryant Jones, a former LEAD participant and current engineering major at North Carolina A&T University, worked as a LEAD fellow this past summer to help research key components of the pilot program and identify potential experiences for the girls to access.

“LEAD has played a pivotal role in shaping my journey towards pursuing engineering,” said Bryand Jones. “Through the program, I discovered my passion for STEM and gained the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in this field. The support and connections I developed during my time as a LEAD participant gave me the confidence to pursue a future career in engineering. As a LEAD fellow, I was able to contribute to the program pathway, enabling me to give back and help others embark on their own transformative journeys in the world of engineering and technology.”

LEAD plans for the STEAM pilot program to have 18 participants, and each girl will receive her own laptop as part of the curriculum thanks to the generosity of WinstonNet, Inc. and the Kramden Institute. “We are so fortunate to live in a community that not only directly supports our work, but also provides a real-world perspective on the many pathways to a STEAM career,” said Nelson. “We want the girls to see the amazing work happening here locally so that they might grow up to be our STEAM community leaders of the future.”