Celebrating Women’s History Month
March 28, 2024
March is Women’s History Month, an occasion that honors the achievements and contributions women have made throughout America’s history, breaking barriers, fighting for equality, and innovating to build a better future. At NY Sun Works, we are proud that 60% of our team are women, who spearhead our strategy, programming, teacher training, events, and more. In the classroom, women also lead the way, with both city-wide and national averages trending toward 75%* of in-school educators identifying as women. We believe a sustainable future starts in the classroom, and want to celebrate both the women on our team and those at the many school partners we work with who are helping us equip students with the tools to tackle the most pressing issue of our time: climate change.
However, systemic discrimination persists, which is why it’s so important to discuss topics like this. To our dismay, women continue to be discouraged from pursuing educational opportunities and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Today, women represent only 35%** of the STEM workforce. And although there has been an increase in female participation in STEM over the past two decades; Latinx, Black, and Indigenous women remain wildly underrepresented, at less than 10%** of the STEM workforce. In order to create a more sustainable future, our top priority is providing communities in all areas of the city with equitable access to high-quality climate and STEM education.
To that end, we are committed to building a generation of Farmer Scientists emboldened to create solutions to climate challenges, and changing the narrative for young women and girls when it comes to science-related careers. In our Hydroponic Classrooms, students of all genders can find the resources, tools, and confidence to pursue higher education in STEM. By learning through farming, students are encouraged to get excited, invest in their education, and consider a future where they are climate scientists, activists, and leaders. Many of our current students have already felt the empowering effects of hands-on learning, excelling in their investigative research projects and taking on stewardship roles in their local communities.
As we grow alongside school partners across the city, we’re excited to also continue uplifting girls and young women as they confidently explore the wonderful world of climate and sustainability science. Through growing plants in the classroom, we’re connecting students with the growing world of green careers, breaking down barriers for students who are passionate about the health of our planet. Together, we can create a greener, more inclusive, and ever-more sustainable future for NYC.
*Merrill, L., Kang, D. 2017. “What is the Gender Breakdown of NYC Teachers?” Spotlight on NYC Schools. Research Alliance for New York City Schools.
https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/research-alliance/research/spotlight-nyc-schools/what-gender-breakdown-nyc-teachers#:~:text=Women%20made%20up%2074.6%25%20of,from%2025.4%25%20to%2023.4%25.
**NGCP, March 2024, The State of Girls in STEM.
https://ngcproject.org/sites/default/files/downloadables/2024-02/NGCP-TheStateofGirlsinSTEM-March2024.pdf
