Five Questions With: Deborah Perry

DEBORAH PERRY, president and CEO of the YWCA Rhode Island, believes that a new computer program development project and other initiatives will have a major effect on how many girls enter STEM fields. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL PERSSON
DEBORAH PERRY, president and CEO of the YWCA Rhode Island, believes that a new computer program development project and other initiatives will have a major effect on how many girls enter STEM fields. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL PERSSON

Deborah Perry, president and CEO of YWCA Rhode Island, talked with Providence Business News recently about the new Fantastic Girltastic Code Company App Challenge and other initiatives underway to get girls interested in careers in STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.

PBN: Tell me a little more about how you got the idea for Fantastic Girltastic Code Company App Challenge.

PERRY: Certainly the idea of creating computer programming trainings for girls in a girl-centric environment is a rare, but not novel idea. There are co-educational afterschool programs which touch upon computer sciences by incorporating technology into overall programming. There are day-long or weekend workshops that expose girls to STEM. And there are summer camps of limited duration which focus on computer programming and software development.

What is unique and different about Fantastic Girltastic Code Company is that the program is based on best practices and serves a dual purpose: to get girls interested in computer sciences, and to provide intensive code training connected to a system which provides a path between academic and professional worlds.

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This idea was hatched after years of research, interviews and feedback from a wide range of individuals on how girls and young women can create solutions to Rhode Island’s economic challenges, as opposed to being the beneficiaries of services. The result is a program that equips girls and young women to be the creators – not just the users – of technology. It prepares them for some of the innovative and necessary careers that will be key to Rhode Island’s success in the global economy.

For two years, and as part of the process of developing the concept for Fantastic Girltastic Code Company, counsel, advice and mentorship was sought from three great leaders: Stephanie Chafee (entrepreneur and wife of former Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee); Alison Levy Eichler (entrepreneur and successful business owner); and Betsy Shimberg (educator and innovator employed at the Brown University Swearer Center for Public Service). All three have generously given of their time and advice, and have provided connections to their community and personal networks.

During this past year we have worked with individuals from Bryant University, including Kati Machtley, director of The Women’s Summit, Professor Sandra Enos, Professor Eileen Kwesiga, Professor Janet Prichard and students, as well as Amica Insurance employees Jill Rasmussen and Courtney Pereira to refine our concept and to launch YWCA Fantastic Girltastic Code Company App Challenge.

YWCA team members Meghan Grady, Lisa Piscatelli, Aimee Davidson and Tinisha Brice refined the concept further and successfully delivered the program on April 2.

PBN: Were you pleased with the participation? How did girls find out about the challenge?

PERRY: The App Challenge, which was held on Saturday, April 2 (at Bryant University in Smithfield) was a success in so many ways. Post event we surveyed program participants to determine if they enjoyed the program, if the program piqued their interest in computer science, and would they participate in a similar program in the future. Ninety-six percent of the participants would recommend the program to other girls and would participate again. Ninety-two percent of participants stated they are curious to learn more about computer science, coding or technology. And of the 27 adults who volunteered, 100 percent stated they would engage in another volunteer activity with the YWCA.

We worked exclusively with Paul Cuffee School for the App Challenge, pilot program. Twenty-three students from Paul Cuffee signed up. Four additional girls noticed the program posting on our Facebook page and requested to participate.

And Bryant University students fundraised through crowdsourcing, which allowed us to provide every participant with transportation, a backpack, T-Shirts and lunch and snacks.

PBN: Do you see this program expanding statewide?

PERRY: Yes.

By providing girls access to intensive girl-centric training and by connecting them to role models, colleges, universities and industry leaders, it is our goal that YWCA Fantastic Girlstastic Code Company teach 1,000 girls to computer code within 10 years, 70 percent of which enter computer sciences careers and that 50 women leaders employed in the field of computer sciences will serve as mentors and role models.

The program will be expanded to include year-round weekly activities at various sites throughout the state. This year we are focusing on piloting the project and testing various computer challenges to determine what works best.

Ultimately Fantastic Girltastic Code Company will have a tremendous impact on Rhode Island’s overall economy. Short term measurable impact include: Increase in the number of young women involved in design and development technology; increase in the number of young women enrolled in computer science majors in local colleges and universities; and creation of a pipeline of talent to fill technology driven sector positions in Rhode Island. Long-term impacts include: increased statewide economic growth, diversification of Rhode Island’s workforce and enhanced business performance and innovation.

PBN: What other STEM-related programs does the YWCA offer for young girls?
PERRY
: Girls in early adolescence have few, if any, opportunities to learn about careers in STEM, technical or trades-related careers – careers with potential for significant earnings and professional achievement.

Our experience demonstrates that it is not because women and girls don’t want to pursue careers in non-traditional field. It often simply does not occur to them and as a result the YWCA has developed and offers a variety of STEM related programs for girls including:

  • YW Rosie’s Girls: YW Rosie’s Girls takes its name from Rosie the Riveter, the fictional World War II icon who represented the women who went to work in shipyards and factories to fill shortages while men fought overseas.

    Rosie’s Girls summer program is an exciting day camp that helps girls develop and strengthen their capacities and confidence while exposing them to a range of educational and career opportunities in skilled trades and technical fields. We work very closely with the National Association for Women in Construction, Rhoide Island chapter, to deliver this program.

  • Rosie’s Radio: This is an after-school program that provides skills and resources to allow girls the opportunity to create meaningful radio programming relevant to their interests and reflective of their opinions and ideas.

    By equipping girls with the tools and education necessary to produce radio programming, the program guides girls in creating a radio-space in which they can express themselves and their concerns and interest to the community.

  • And soon to be created YWCA Makers: YWCA Makers will be a space where girls can learn by making. This will be a space for girls to work with their hands and design and build projects. It’s a great way to introduce girls to engineering.

PBN: Can you talk about why it’s important for young girls to be exposed to computer science early?

PERRY: Exposure to computer science at an early age raises girls’ ability, knowledge and confidence to engage in computer science activities and to explore career possibilities.

Computer science is an incredibly promising major, especially for a young woman. That and engineering are among the college degrees that can offer the highest incomes and the most flexibility. Writing code and designing networks are also a lot more portable than nursing, teaching and other traditional pink-collar occupations. Yet very few female college freshmen say they intend to major in computer science.

Also, our computer sciences workforce is crucial to Rhode Island’s innovative capacity and economic competitiveness. And computer–based tools are so prevalent in modern life that it might be more useful if more women were involved in developing them. By supporting and encouraging girls to craft a career in computer science, and by making use of female human capital, Fantastic Girltastic Code Company will have tremendous impact on Rhode Island’s economy.

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