PATHS
Creating visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals working in STEAM & empowering LGBTQ+ youth and young adults to pursue their passions in STEAM fields.
What is paths?
PATHS is a program to inspire and motivate LGBTQ+ youth and young adults interested in careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) fields through storytelling by current LGBTQ+ STEAM professionals.
What do we hope to accomplish with PATHS?
Inspire LGBTQ+ youth and young adults to explore their path in STEAM fields.
Create interactive opportunities to bring together LGBTQ+ STEAM professionals and LGBTQ youth and young adults.
Help LGBTQ+ STEAM professionals pay it forward by inspiring LGBTQ+ youth and young adults to get into STEAM.
By providing a platform for LGBTQ+ STEAM professionals to tell their stories, young people will be able to identify with other LGBTQ+ people that inspire them, find connections with them and their stories, and potentially be empowered to embark on a career path in STEAM. Everyone has a unique story, a unique path, and this program aims to celebrate diversity and differences while seeing the power and connection in our similarities.
Why is PATHS Important?
LGBTQ+ individuals are about 17-21% less represented in the STEM workforce when compared to the percentage of the U.S. population that identifies at LGBTQ+
About 47% of LGBTQ+ STEM professionals report having experienced professional devaluation, compared to 38% of their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts
Over 40% of LGBTQ people in STEM are not out to colleagues
LGBTQ+ STEM professionals are more likely to experience stress from work, minor health problems, and insomnia than non-LGBTQ+ STEM professionals.