Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1184230
A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 9 M A C O N M A G A Z I N E . C O M 7 3 the demand, need and desire for families to be able to get involved," West said of the wall-to-wall, hands-on event that featured a make-your-own, light-up tutu workstation, demos of 3D scanning and printing technology and more. e room was packed the entire night, full of families learning and having fun together. "Being downtown was also amazing for us because there are a lot of people we serve who don't feel like downtown belongs to them," West said. "I'm hoping that's something we're starting to change." Year-round programming includes STEMtastic Saturdays, which are monthly workshops held at Central Georgia Technical College, where girls can learn about coding, programming, website design and more. e First Lego League Robotics Team helps girls learn critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills while building robots with Lego Mindstorm technology. Real Girls Code Club, which is in four Bibb County schools so far, teaches girls computer programming in an after-school club setting. ere also was the fourth annual Girls Will Be Women in STEAM Conference, an official Cherry Blossom Festival event, in which girls discovered the fun side of STEM-based careers via hands- on workshops and activities. Sponsors included Georgia Power, Robins Financial Credit Union and 100 Black Men of Macon-Middle Georgia Inc., about whom West said, "I like to shout them out loudly, because some of these girls don't have many men in their lives, and organizations like this that show men supporting girls and women in academic endeavors are so important." e Girl Power STEM Summer Camp, held at Mercer University, offers three week-long sessions beginning July 9. emes like STEM Fashion Week ensure that campers have hands-on, creative, educational fun. Plus, the girls get to spend time in a college setting, interacting with professors and familiarizing themselves with what academic life looks like. Parents report that their children acclimate quickly and happily to the new environments that Real I.M.P.A.C.T. offers. "My daughter was hesitant at first, but when I picked her up, she was full of smiles," said Kristal Branton. "She had an amazing time, and I can't wait to sign her up for more activities." "When a parent has their eyes opened about some of these things, they don't feel so intimidated." -GENEVA WEST