Commissioner Diaz promotes STEM careers for girls

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz wants to encourage more girls and young women to pursue careers in science. He recently sponsored a resolution which was approved at the Nov. 1 County Commission meeting to partner with public, private and charter schools to create a program to educate girls, young women and families on the importance and contributions of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and encourage them to pursue careers in these fields. The resolution also calls for a partnership with the Miami-Dade County Youth Commission.

“There is a shortage of women in these important and high-paying careers, and encouraging more young girls to get involved and interested in math and science will help them secure a rewarding future for themselves,” Commissioner Diaz said.

Although women make up nearly half of the workforce in the United States, they make up only 29 percent of the science and engineering workforce, according to the National Girls Collaborative Project.