Intel Corporation announces Saguaro High School’s Sisters in STEM program has been selected as one of the members of the Equity in STEAM Initiative, using grant and training to close racial and gender gaps under the STEAM Leadership Learning Series.

Over the MLK Jr. weekend, a student-ran program at Saguaro High School was honored for efforts of increasing diversity in Arizona’s STEAM industry, according to a press release.

An initiative co-sponsored by YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, the initiative put $50,000 towards advancing women and people of color in careers across science, technology, engineering, digital arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

“Our Sisters in STEM program can continue to expand, evolve, and adapt with the support of Intel and YWCA Metro Phoenix’s Equity in STEAM grant. We can continue to make a difference by telling girls they can aspire to be engineers, programmers, and scientists,” says Zoe Dailey, Saguaro High School student and one of the leaders of the Sisters in STEM program, in the release.

Saguaro High School, along with the other inaugural cohort, was recognized during the city of Chandler’s 27th Annual Multicultural Festival and each organization was awarded with $2,500 to fund projects focused on increasing the representation of women and people of color in STEAM.

Saguaro High School hosted the first Sisters in STEM event in 2018 with a goal to help young girls get involved in STEM. Sisters in STEM invites elementary and middle school girls to participate in activities and demonstrations in every STEM discipline to showcase STEM and how fun it can be, noted the release.

“With over 40 years of history in Arizona, Intel is honored to use our role in the state’s technology sphere to amplify the voices, lived experiences and professional expertise of Arizonans statewide who will help propel our industry towards a more diverse and inclusive future,” said Intel Arizona Community Affairs Manager Jennifer Sanchez in the release.

“This is so much more than a financial reward. All of our awardees and applicants are making incredible strides in improving representation and advancements in bridging the existing gaps of inequality and we are thrilled to provide them with personalized training to help them succeed,” said Debbie Esparza, Chief Executive Officer at YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix.

The 12 nonprofits include: Arizona Alliance of Black School Educators, Arizona Educational Foundation, Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology, Arizona Sustainability Alliance, Arizona Town Hall, Boundless Brilliance, Education Empowers, Future for KIDS, Future Stars Inc., Lights Camera Discover, Live Love, and SARSEF.

The eight educators are: Arizona College Preparatory High School, Basha High School, Biltmore Preparatory Academy, Cholla Middle School, Girls Innovation Academy, Kyrene Traditional Academy, Red Mountain High School, and Saguaro High School.

The Equity in STEAM initiative was announced by Intel and YWCA in September 2021 and applications were received until Nov. 30, 2021. In addition to receiving grants to fund programs and projects, awardees will also be a part of the first YWCA Equity Leadership Learning series which includes six Equity Workshops to facilitate conversations and learnings exploring the intersection of social equity and STEAM.

The Equity in STEAM Leadership Series cohort, consisting of educators from public or charter K-12 schools, or higher education, and representatives from 501 (c)(3) organizations with a budget of less than $1 million in the last fiscal year within Arizona, will use grant funding to create and continue implementing programs focused on STEAM education.

Grants will be administered by YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, according to the release.

Program details and past initiative materials are available at: ywcaaz.org/equityinsteam/.