Newsletter #5

We wish to welcome the Kick Off Conference participants to the Listserv. This newsletter provides information about the SCGCP as well as information from other resources that may be valuable for your programs. If you have suggestions for information to include in the newsletter, please send an email to Martha Peet. If your colleagues would like to join the listserv, ask them to send an email to listserv@unt.edu. The body of an email message should say:

   
subscribe scgcp First_Name Last_Name
 

For example, my email would say "subscribe scgcp Martha Peet" as the message (not the subject).

SCGCP Kick-Off Conference

Almost 120 representatives from K-12 and higher education, non-profit groups, museums, and businesses gathered on September 19 at The Science Place at Fair Park in Dallas for the Kick Off.

The day was full of interesting, informative events. Dr. Mary Ellen Weber's keynote address described strategies for keeping girls motivated to stay in science and math courses. Her keynote culminated in her personal space video, which she narrated herself. After the keynote, participants had time to browse over 20 displays by organizations in the region which support girls in STEM. Participants mingled and made connections for future collaborations.

Before lunch, four groups presented their collaborative activities. We will have their PowerPoints available on the SCGCP Web site as soon as possible.

The afternoon was devoted to identifying and creating strategies to address the issues and barriers that lend themselves to being addressed through the work of the Girls Collaborative. The following topics were identified:

Three ideas for Forum topics were suggested:

  1. Funding opportunities and grant writing, include assessments, objectives, and research
  2. Career Awareness
  3. Building Successful Collaborations – Community Collaboration

Forums will be half-day meetings on a topic of general interest to the Collaborative. The first Forum is tentatively scheduled for February 17, 2006. We want these Forums to be valuable to you, so please suggest other topics by emailing Martha Peet.

SCGCP Web Site

Don’t forget you can now advertise events your organization is planning on the SCGCP Web site. Once we have a few events registered they will begin to appear on the Web site. If your organization has any upcoming events, please register them now.

SCGCP Program Guide

The Program Guide has added 11 organizations in the past month, so be sure to check out the list. The purpose of this guide is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and collaborate on STEM-related projects for girls. We encourage everyone to register in order to maximize the benefits of this powerful collaboration tool. Please register your organization in the Program Guide.

SCGCP ResourceMatchers

Does your organization have NEEDS? Or do you have RESOURCES to share? SCGCP ResourceMatchers will help match needs with resources by sending a monthly listserv e-mail listing specific needs and resources that you have submitted. Watch for the SCGCP ResourceMatchers debut e-mail to learn how to participate!

Funding Opportunities

SCGCP Mini Grants

SouthCentral Girls Collaborative Project Mini-Grants: $1,000 mini-grants will be awarded to a minimum of 25 girl-serving STEM programs (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in the 5-state area to support collaborative projects that encourage girls in STEM activities.

There are a few requirements to get funding. Two or more organizations must collaborate on the grant activities to be considered for funding. Additionally, each of the organizations that are applying for a mini-grant must be registered in the Program Guide. Organizations don't have to have 501(3)c status. The short two-page application which includes a budget of expected expenses is on the website.

The first group of mini-grants awarded will be for projects during the 2005-2006 school year. Phase one applications are due November 1, 2005, with award notification on November 15, 2005.