This is a press release from The Coca-Cola Foundation
New high school program focuses on early STEM engagement for girls in grades 9-12
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 1, 2016 (PRNewswire) | INROADS, Inc., a non-profit focused on development and career preparation for talented, underserved youth, received a $100,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to support College Links Atlanta: Advancing Female High School Students in STEM/STEAM. Developed in Chicago in 1976, College Links exposes talented, diverse high school students to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) – and STEAM, which adds arts to the STEM subjects – with year-round educational instruction and corporate visits.
Each year, 10,000 Atlanta students drop out of high school, representing $1.28 billion in lost lifetime earnings. Atlanta public schools lag 10 points behind Georgia on the College and Career Readiness Performance Index. At the same time, only 42 percent of Georgia’syoung adults are qualified for the 65 percent of Georgia jobs that will require some form of a college education by 2020. For women, it’s worse.
“Fewer than 1 in 10 employed scientists and engineers are women,” said INROADS President and CEO, Forest T. Harper. “With The Coca-Cola Foundation’s support, College Links-Atlanta will focus the program’s proven ability to improve high school graduation, college enrollment and completion, and eventual career placement, on exposing girls in grades 9-12 to STEM/STEAM careers.”
College Links addresses opportunity gaps between traditional and under-represented college students and increases college success for first-generation and lower-income students, while addressing the need for highly skilled, diverse STEM/STEAM employees. Modeled after INROADS’ highly effective college internship program, College Links’ high-touch programming and blended learning help students develop succeed in college and careers. College Links-Atlanta will partner with several under-resourced Atlanta schools to recruit 30 high-potential students, at least 50 percent of which will be female. Currently, College Links works with underserved high school students in Chicago, Cincinnati, Washington, DC, and Hartford, CT.
About The Coca-Cola Foundation
The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company. Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has awarded more than $830 million in grants to support sustainable community initiatives around the world. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please visit www.coca-colagivingback.com.
About INROADS
Founded in 1970, INROADS develops and places talented underserved youth in business and industry, preparing them for corporate and community leadership that effects community renewal and social change and elevates economic status and quality of life. Throughout its history, INROADS has placed students in over 127,000 paid internships with over 1,000 corporate partners. Currently, INROADS serves nearly 1,500 interns, 90 high school students and 230 corporate clients. To learn more, visit www.INROADS.org.