YWCAs’ Programs Address Girls’ Resiliency, STEAM Proficiency

YWCA Glendale and YWCA Pasadena will offer a new, once-a-week after-school program for girls ages 12-15 this school year.
The Girls Circle model is a structured support group and integrates resiliency practices and skills training in a format designed to increase positive connection and personal and collective strengths in girls.
Glendale Girls Circle will be held on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m., and Pasadena Girls Circle will be held on Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for the first school semester, with sessions beginning on Sept. 8 and 10.
The two YWCAs will also jointly implement programming known as TechGYRLS quarterly to empower young girls in the areas of STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — and encourage them to pursue careers within these fields. 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, or STEM. Currently, women make up only 24% of California’s STEM workforce.
TechGYRLS activities include coding camps, STEAM career presentations and robotics workshops to inspire girls to take on challenges and pursue interests and careers to lessen the gap and bring an empowered female presence to the STEAM workforce.
These free programs can be offered in partnering schools.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Girls Circle and TechGYRLS programs will be offered virtually.