Dear Science Club for Girls Community -
At Science Club for Girls, we stand firmly against racism and injustice. Like so many in our community, we are outraged and heartbroken by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubery, Tony McDade, and countless other Black Americans before them—and by the pervasive systemic racism that plagues our nation. We stand in solidarity with the Black community and all of those raising their voices, taking action, and working for justice across our country. This has been a trying and stressful time—particularly for the girls, families, and women of color in our community who have experienced greater stress and trauma due to current events. The physical distancing of our community during these painful times has only made these burdens harder to bear. To all of you in our community who are suffering, we are here for you. Racial equity is at the heart of our mission, and our commitment to this work today is stronger than ever. Science Club for Girls’ staff, board, mentors, and wider community will continue working together to support each other and bring science education, opportunity, and mentorship to girls and young women—especially those who face greater barriers due to their racial identities and backgrounds. This is the time for each of us to stand up and reaffirm our commitment to fighting racism, in our words and actions, individually and together. We remain resolute in our hope and vision that supporting girls from diverse backgrounds in STEM will create a brighter, more equitable future for each of them, and for our world. On behalf of Science Club for Girls' Board and Staff: thank you.
Bonnie Bertolaet, Ph.D. Executive Director, Science Club for Girls