Girls Inc. of Lynn to Host Science and Technology Summit for Middle School Girls

Girls Inc. of Lynn announces its SMART (Science Math And Relevant Technology) Girls Summit, to be held June 6^th, 2012 from 9am-1pm at Girls Incorporated of Lynn. The purpose of the summit is to inspire middle school girls to envision wider career options for themselves, especially in the areas of science, math, and technology.

Approximately 120 girls in grades six through eight from the Lynn area schools will be invited to SMART Girls Summit. The girls will participate in hands-on workshops led by women with careers in science, technology, engineering and math. They will then enjoy lunch and a keynote speech from Claritza Abreu, one of Mass. High Tech 2011 Women to Watch. Claritza Abreu currently serves as the Chief Information Officer at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. She is the first Latina to hold a senior technology position with the city of Boston and the commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The girls will also receive resources related to the day’s activities, including a list of web sites and books for girls on science, math, and technology. Resources will also include information for the adults in the girls’ lives, specifically on how they can encourage girls to pursue science, technology and math.

This event doubles as the kick-off for Girls Inc. of Lynn’s Eureka and Bridges summer programs. Eureka is a six-week, full-day math, science, sports, career and personal development program for rising seventh and eighth grade girls. Participants explore science and math through hands-on activities, group projects, and expeditions to enriching locations like the Northeastern Marine Lab or Lynn Woods. Bridges serves as a career exploration and high school preparation program for girls entering ninth grade.

Like Eureka, Bridges focuses on providing exposure to nontraditional careers in technology, math, and the sciences.

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Press contacts:

Kristin Nugent                617.367.0100 ext. 148                kristin.nugent@mgr1.com