Why mentorship matters

At City Year, we believe that Silicon Valley students are the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in this area. Yet, Silicon Valley young people, especially women, are faced with inequitable access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. Our local educational institutions, a natural pipeline for talent to the region’s biggest companies, are reporting stagnant completion of science and engineering degrees by women. The 2018 Silicon Valley Index reported that only 38% of STEM graduates are women, which mirrors STEM graduation rates for the past 17 years. Moreover, nearly three-quarters of Silicon Valley’s women ages 25-44 who are in STEM jobs are foreign born.

How’s City Year tackling educational inequity in Silicon Valley? We believe in the power of mentorship. For nearly 25 years, we have deployed high-skilled and passionate young adults to serve as near-peer mentors and academic coaches for students in East San José. This year, 114 AmeriCorps members serve 8,000+students across 14 public schools delivering high-quality academic, socio-emotional learning, and STEM-focused supports. With these supports in elementary, middle, and high schools, more local students will graduate from high school ready for college and a career. Our data shows that mentorship matters.

At City Year’s annual Women Investing in Education Event, we bring together Bay Area leaders, innovators, and philanthropists to support City Year’s mentorship work while also hosting powerful discussions around women advancement in the workplace. With this special community and supporters like you, we can strengthen the path for underserved youth in Silicon Valley through City Year’s proven supports, helping to grow the local workforce pipeline.

At the Women Investing in Education 2019 Luncheon, in partnership with the PwC Foundation, we will be launching the “City Year Mentorship Initiative,” a supportive community of Bay Area professionals dedicated to the values of equity and inclusivity. This pilot program invites individuals from diverse ages, career fields, and expertise to engage as a mentor or mentee with the goal of advancing women achievement in Silicon Valley through mentorship.

Let’s improve educational equity in the Bay Area together. Join us for Women Investing in Education 2019 by visiting our registration page linked below.