FAME, Inc. and the Girl Scouts form an alliance to get girls into cybersecurity

FAME, Inc. — that’s the Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering — is serious about STEM literacy for girls.

On April 1, the nonprofit donated 5,000 cybersecurity career cuides to the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay (GSCB), part of a STEM Literacy Book Drive involving nearly two dozen Girl Scouts at their Newark Resource Center.

According to Cybersecurity Ventures, only 20% of the global cybersecurity workforce in 2019 are women. And while that number is low, that’s almost double the 11% cited in a 2013 Frost & Sullivan report.

Organizations such as the Girl Scouts and Girls Go Cyberstart want to make even more of a dent in the cybersecurity industry.

“As a father of three girls, I understand the need to empower young ladies to be fearless in their pursuit of education and careers,” said Donald L. Baker, FAME, Inc.’s CEO, in a press release. “We know that our collective efforts can help fill the growing demand for an inclusive STEM ready workforce.”

Claudia Peña Porretti, GSCB’s CEO, welcomed the additions to GSCB’s STEM resource library.

“GSCB has one of the leading STEM programs in Girl Scouting nationally and the only LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certified building among the Girl Scout councils,” she said. “We are ‘all in’ on STEM, introducing Girl Scouts of every age to programs that can help them learn how to change the world.”

Eryne Jenkins of Magnolia, who in January achieved the Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, told Technical.ly last year that STEM is a major part of the organization.

“Girl Scouts is a great choice for girls interested in STEM,” she said in 2018. “While we hold true to many traditions such as cookies, camping and crafts, the organization is committed to helping young women be relevant in the 21st century.”

FAME, Inc. CEO Don Baker with Girl Scouts Madison Wells, Troop 396 and Jaime Hoffman, Troop 537. (Courtesy photo)