Invent Girls: Engineering Confidence and Building Futures

K-12 STEAM education

San Fernando Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Despite living in one of the most innovative regions in the country, girls and gender-expansive youth in the Northeast San Fernando Valley face limited access to STEM education and career pathways. Systemic barriers—from under-resourced schools to a lack of representation—drive persistent gender and racial disparities. Only 28% of U.S. scientists and engineers are women, and just 5% are women of color. This inequality begins early and compounds over time. With 3.5 million STEM jobs projected nationwide, we must act now to ensure equitable access. DIY Girls serves youth in grades 5–12 attending low-income schools where fewer than 50% are proficient in math or science. We engage students before their confidence fades, offering hands-on STEAM learning, relatable mentors, and the support needed to thrive in spaces where they've been excluded. Ninety-four percent of participants are girls and gender-expansive youth of color—85% Latina, 2% Black, 1% Asian, and 6% multiracial or other.

This grant will support Invent Girls, a year-long STEAM program for high school girls and gender-expansive youth from low-income communities in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Offered at three high schools and serving 75 students annually, this year-long program (14 weeks in the fall and 14 weeks in the spring) builds foundational skills in engineering, coding, and design through weekly two-hour, hands-on sessions led by a lead instructor and two instructional aides. The curriculum includes coding, 3D modeling, soldering, Arduino programming, technical presentation, and additional elements, such as field trips and guest speakers from STEM fields.

In the fall, students complete mini-projects on parallel circuits and soldering, 3D modeling with TinkerCAD, and Arduino-controlled NeoPixels. In spring, students will apply these skills to create the LumaRise Alarm Clock—a sunrise/sunset simulation device using an Arduino Uno R4 Wi-Fi, NeoPixel ring, and customizable sound. Designed by DIY Girls staff, this curriculum builds on last year’s Bluetooth speaker project, reinforcing real-world application and design iteration. Invent Girls stands out for addressing students’ holistic needs. By integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL), mentorship, and culturally responsive teaching, the program supports both academic and emotional growth. SEL is especially vital now to help students manage stress, build confidence, and develop the resilience needed to persist and thrive in STEM.

DIY Girls’ success will allow Los Angeles County to become a place where youth from historically excluded communities lead boldly in STEM. In the next year, 75 students will gain access to hands-on learning, mentorship, and the confidence to see themselves in STEM. Many of our program participants begin unsure of their place in STEM—quiet, hesitant, and underrepresented—but leave as confident leaders who collaborate, present ideas, and pursue careers in engineering and technology. Our work changes lives and sparks collective transformation. With every empowered student, families imagine new futures, and industries benefit from voices that reflect LA’s diversity. Long term, we envision a county-wide network of DIY Girls alumni driving change in classrooms, companies, and communities. By 2026–2027, we’ll expand to three more schools and deepen our curriculum to build lasting, inclusive impact. DIY Girls ensures opportunity meets potential and that LA leads in equity and innovation.