TechGyrls™

Google CS First Coding Workshops, Robotics Workshops and STEAM Mentorship

The YWCA Glendale and YWCA Pasadena’s TechGYRLS® program seeks to empower young girls in the areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and to encourage them to pursue careers within these fields, particularly for underrepresented girls. TechGYRLS® is a place to dream, explore new ideas, learn new skills, and be creative through STEAM activities.

The YWCA TechGYRLS® is a national program created by YWCA USA in 1997, developed in response to the widening gender gap in exposure to an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Currently, women make up only 24% of California’s STEM workforce. Our TechGYRLS® activities: coding camps, STEAM career presentations, and robotics workshops work to inspire girls to take on challenges and pursue STEAM interests and careers to lessen the gap and bring an empowered female presence to the STEAM workforce. Our free programs can be offered in partnering schools and on-site at the YWCA Glendale. During COVID-19, our TechGYRLS® programs will be offered virtually through YWCA organized or partner organized events.

Through our partnership with CaltechY at California Institute of Technology, we are able to match girls in our TechGYRLS® programs with college students who serve as STEAM mentors. Mentors provide four hours a month of individual tutoring and mentoring to support girls in achieving academic excellence and successfully navigating their personal journeys into the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Mentorship sessions will be offered virtually during COVID-19.

Audience: Our coding and robotics camps are tailored toward girls in the 3rd to 8th grade; however, girls of all ages are eligible to participate.

Schedule: Monthly coding and robotics camps will be offered in the 20/21 school year.  See above flyer for Fall and Winter dates.

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We are over the moon to welcome YWCA Pasadena Board Vice President and JPL Engineer, Janelle Wellons into a new role: Official STEAM Program Advisor for YWCA Glendale and YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley. Janelle has been instrumental in both organizations’ growing work in engaging young girls, and specifically, young girls of color in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

Janelle Wellons graduated from the Massachusetts Institute Technology with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and now works at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA. At JPL, Janelle works as an instrument operations engineer on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the earth-observing Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA), and previously on the Saturnian Cassini mission. Her job consists of creating the commands for and monitoring the health and safety of a variety of instruments. She also works in development, specifically for the ground data system and instrument operations concepts. When she isn’t working you can find her scuba diving, playing video games, reading, enjoying the outdoors, and doing outreach work. www.janellewellons.com
Please join us in welcoming Janelle!