[gwaMIT] gwaMIT Newsletter, September 21st, 2020

Mon Sep 21 10:44:58 EDT 2020

gwaMIT Newsletter

September 21st, 2020

Dear gwaMIT members,

Today we are excited to share a plan that will outline actionable steps that our organization can take to better serve the Black womxn of our community. These commitments include a number of internal and external reforms, including a significant revision of board position responsibilities, guidance for event planning, establishment of new outreach and diversity initiatives, and mechanisms for accountability. We share this document with all of you not as a solution, but as the beginning of a long journey. This is and will remain a living document, and we welcome your feedback as we continue to strive toward racial justice.

Please find the document on our website at this link<https://gsc.mit.edu/gwamit/mission-and-initiatives/>.

In solidarity,

gwaMIT Executive Board

gwaMIT Advocacy Co-Chair Position Open for Applications!

We are recruiting for the Advocacy Co-Chair position on the GWAMIT Executive Board for the 2020-21 academic year. Prior experience with GWAMIT is not necessary to apply. As we are actively working to create a Board that is representative of the MIT student body, individuals from underrepresented and minoritized groups are especially encouraged to apply. The primary responsibilities include overseeing advocacy and DEI-related initiatives within GWAMIT and at the MIT administrative level. A link to the position description is included in the application form<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D8Mdq1ohrLxBLyCKYSwQ6YCAU9ZezHxGBIHbE_f72vU/edit>. Please fill out the application by Wednesday, September 23 11:59pm EDT.

If you have any questions, please contact us at gwamit-exec at mit.edu<mailto:gwamit-exec at mit.edu>.

gwaMIT Diversity & Outreach Committee Applications Now Open!

gwaMIT is creating a diversity and outreach committee beginning this semester to pioneer major Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives pointed especially at issues related to intersectionality. There are seven open positions available on this new committee. The application form and descriptions of the roles can be found here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfA___TsZLzobLnRlTEacrJrdjd738w8pKUvha1FB6oZaFPDA/viewform>.

Sign Up to Help Organize the 2020 gwaMIT Empowerment Conference

Sign-up link: here<https://forms.gle/ndV6dts3wiCAprG4A>

We are currently accepting sign ups to help plan our annual Empowerment Conference, which will be held virtually from October 26th to October 30th:
* Co-Chairs: Conference Co-Chairs lead the committee members, set the conference theme, and oversee all general planning of the conference.
* Event Leads: Each conference has 4-5 Event Leads who each spearhead a single event (either an invited speaker, a panel, a workshop, etc.).
*Committee Members: attend regular meetings, contribute to theme brainstorming, logistics, publicity, and volunteer during events.
*Please note that the conference will be scheduled during the week of October 26th -October 30th.
Please contact the gwaMIT Executive Board at gwamit-exec at mit.edu<mailto:gwamit-exec at mit.edu> if you have any questions. We also encourage you to read more about previous conferences and events on our website: https://gsc.mit.edu/gwamit/<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gsc.mit.edu/gwamit/&sa=D&ust=1579981460708000&usg=AFQjCNFzQQIGuf4VQCrKR3emy7hdZBoeEQ>. We look forward to working with you!

Did you know? Here is some womxn-related news from around the world:
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on Friday. We are deeply saddened and heartbroken over this terrible loss. Please see this article<https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/us/ruth-bader-ginsburg-dead.html> for the New York Times obituary.

Tennis Pro Naomi Osaka honored victims of violence<https://www-washingtonpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/01/naomi-osaka-facemask-us-open/?outputType=amp> with dedicated face masks at the U.S. Open

Reebok honored Boston nurses<https://www.boston.com/culture/business/2020/09/11/photos-boston-nurses-honored-by-reeboks-new-wonder-woman-shoe?s_campaign=bcom%3Asocialflow%3Afacebook> with a new campaign for the new Wonder Woman shoe line.

Events & Opportunities

  1.  Vaccines don’t make us safe, Vaccinations do (Sept. 21st)
  2.  Methods of Social Change: Education and Allyship workshop (Sept. 22nd)
  3.  MIT AMITA: A Conversation about Equal Pay (Sept. 22nd)
  4.  GSC DEI Conduit Meet and Greet (Sept. 23rd)
  5.  NE GWiSE September Virtual Event (Sept. 24th)
  6.  D. E. Shaw Research -- Virtual Information Sessions (multiple dates)
  7.  MIT SWE 41st Anniversary Celebration (Oct. 5th)
  8.  Grad Technical Leadership Virtual Workshops (multiple dates)
  9.  Public Guest Lectures: Black Mobility and Safety in the US (multiple dates)
  10. US Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Conference (apply by Oct. 7th)
  11. Upcoming WEST Events (multiple dates)
  12. Get ready to vote!
  13. The Social Scientist Mentorship Program (now!)
  14. NE GWiSE Upcoming Virtual Events (stay tuned!)
  15. Outreach Opportunities with Science Club for Girls (now!)
  16. STEMxx Chats Interest Form (now!)
  17. Join the IDHR Student Advisory Committee (now!)
  18. Join MITxHarvard Women in AI Group (now!)
  19. Join GrasshoppHer’s #braveboldboundless (now!)
  20. Fit For Everybody – Call for Volunteers (now!)
  21. MindsMatterBoston – Call for Volunteers (now!)
  22. Join the New Student Advocates for Survivors Group (now!)
  23. Sign up for WEST Dynamic Pod Mentoring (now!)
  24. Become a gwaMIT Department Rep (now!)

  1.  Vaccines don't make us safe, Vaccinations do

How misinformation helps inflame centuries of mistrust among racial minority groups which may reduce intent to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Charles Senteio, PhD, MBA, MSW

When: Sep 21st, 2020 (at 3.00pm ET)

Where: Zoom (https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/93841145971?pwd=QUY3QWkwL1I4SXpJYzJXeXV4bGMyQT09<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fq%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Frutgers.zoom.us%2Fj%2F93841145971%3Fpwd%253DQUY3QWkwL1I4SXpJYzJXeXV4bGMyQT09%26sa%3DD%26source%3Dcalendar%26ust%3D1600274354861000%26usg%3DAOvVaw1HVZ_KP9KpjN9NfdEyhN93&data=02%7C01%7Ccharles.senteio%40rutgers.edu%7C68b446424e3641b28af808d8568cc89b%7Cb92d2b234d35447093ff69aca6632ffe%7C1%7C0%7C637354509988064973&sdata=e3Y3elei%2FKCWDCIvDV4RDzU7tyU6Qack90X70kgfBq0%3D&reserved=0>)

Meeting ID: 938 4114 5971, Password: 513752

Dr. Charles Senteio is an Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science, Rutgers University<https://sph.rutgers.edu/concentrations/biostatistics-epidemiology/faculty-member.php?id=107447> and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Assistant Professor, 2020-2021, MIT Sloan School of Management.

For more information about this lecture, please reach out to Dr Britt Paris (britt.paris at rutgers.edu) or Dr. Shuchi Dutta (sdutta at rcsb.rutgers.edu<mailto:sdutta at rcsb.rutgers.edu>)

2.               Methods of Social Change: Education and Allyship workshop

Sept. 22nd from 5-6 pm EST.

 We will be discussing the use of education as a method of social change. We will also be thinking critically about the purpose of education; in what context education is an effective method for change; and discuss how you can use education to develop allies for a cause that you care about.

RSVP using this link: https://engage.mit.edu/event/6246551

3.               MIT AMITA: A Conversation about Equal Pay

Please join a panel of national thought leaders for a conversation about gender pay equity. This event, co-sponsored by AMITA, (the Association of MIT Alumnae) and a newly formed MIT Equal Pay Working Group, grows out of the work of the AMITA Pay Equity Task Force, co-chaired by Kristin Smith ’04 and AMITA President, Mary Jane Daly MCP ’83.

Date: Tuesday September 22, 2020, 8:00-9:00 PM EST

Moderated by Kristin Smith, this conversation represents a continuation of a series of informal interviews or 'listening tour,' representing the first step of the AMITA task force to establish an online resource for alum and students. Check out the conversations that have been posted thus far: Pay Equity Task Force<https://amita.alumgroup.mit.edu/s/1314/2015/club-class-main.aspx?sid=1314&gid=20&pgid=52842>

Panelists:
Chaya Mandelbaum is Chair of the California Fair Employment and Housing Council and a partner with Rudy Exelrod Zieff & Lowe LLP. In addition to his work in private practice, Chaya was a trial attorney for the Office of the Solicitor at the United States Department of Labor.

Elaine Lin Hering is Managing Partner of Triad Consulting Group. Founded by members of the Harvard Negotiation Project, Triad helps individuals and organizations build capacity to have difficult conversations and work better together.
Pamela Coukos is CEO and co-founder of Working Ideal and a nationally recognized expert on pay equity and gender equity, and the factors that drive successful and unsuccessful responses to workplace discrimination. She led the development of Department of Labor guidance on pay equity reviews.

Siri Chilazi is a Research Fellow at the Women and Public Policy Program and a recognized expert in advancing women and promoting gender equality within organizations.

Sponsored by:

To continue MIT’s efforts to advance pay equity, The Equal Pay Working Group, co-led by Deborah Liverman PhD, Executive Director, MIT CAPD (Career Advising and Professional Development) and Mary Jane Daly, Professional Development Director and Lecturer in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, was formed and consists of CAPD, AMITA, SWE, UPOP, WGS, Sloan CDO, Sloan Alumni Relations, DUSP and MIT’s Communications Labs. The working group is supported by MIT’s Institutional Research Office.

Register Here<https://encompass.alum.mit.edu/s/1314/bp19/interior.aspx?sid=1314&gid=20&pgid=54137&cid=88150>

4.               GSC DEI Conduit Meet and Greet

The Graduate Student Council Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee would like to invite anyone interested in DEI advocacy to our Conduit Meet and Greet next Wednesday 9/23 at 4:30pm! Zoom link<http://link.gmreg5.net/x/d?c=8844532&l=e8be55e4-ece2-4972-a41f-c8ba64adaf39&r=c66d7682-d0ec-468f-9b1d-31f430aa6bba>. This will be the start of a bi-weekly meeting series dedicated to discussing challenges with improving DEI at the departmental level.

 These meetings were directly inspired by our summer series where department advocates (Conduits) connected over their anti-racist work in the wake of #ShutDownAcademia, #ShutDownSTEM, and #Strike4BlackLives. Now, 3 months later, we must continue to tackle these systemic issues at MIT. Join the Conduit Meet and Greets to stay connected with the RISE campaign<http://link.gmreg5.net/x/d?c=8844532&l=f992cbda-0347-47b2-8d07-59d87d818293&r=c66d7682-d0ec-468f-9b1d-31f430aa6bba>, MIT’s Strategic Plan for DEI<http://link.gmreg5.net/x/d?c=8844532&l=268e8dd3-7b9a-402b-bc20-1e12e82fd5b7&r=c66d7682-d0ec-468f-9b1d-31f430aa6bba>, and other department level efforts across campus.

Summary of Agenda

•           Introductions --- name + dept + one thing you would change about MIT

•           Short presentation: GSC Diversity Scorecard --- We’ve ranked each department on how much progress they’ve made towards demands following #ShutDownStem. Can you guess what the most popular demands were? Where has progress stalled?

•           Some open discussion:

o          What issues do you care the most about? Should GSC DEI help advocate for?

o          What challenges have you faced as a grad student advocate?

o          What would you like to get out of these meetings?

Sign up to the DEI mailing list gsc-diversity-all at mit.edu here

For any general questions regarding DEI or how to get involved, please contact us at gsc-diversity at mit.edu<mailto:gsc-diversity at mit.edu>

4.               NE GWiSE September Virtual Event

We're kicking off our brand new virtual series with Prasha (she/her/hers), the host of Her STEM Story<https://wordpress.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f9683091e5e6edc8c7d68e14&id=63f390cba2&e=4ef8a89c6a> - a weekly podcast where she interviews women in STEM from around the world! You can listen to it through a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts<https://wordpress.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f9683091e5e6edc8c7d68e14&id=8c20e9455f&e=4ef8a89c6a> and Spotify<https://wordpress.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f9683091e5e6edc8c7d68e14&id=e6449a6e21&e=4ef8a89c6a>.

During her seminar, Prasha will discuss the importance of listening to and sharing STEM success stories to motivate and inspire the next generation of women leaders in science, engineering, mathematics and technology.

Learn how to effectively use these stories in community-building and advocacy efforts. Come join us!

SEPT. 24, 12 - 1 PM EST, RSVP HERE<https://wordpress.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f9683091e5e6edc8c7d68e14&id=6b17f76eaa&e=4ef8a89c6a>

5.               D. E. Shaw Research -- Virtual Information Sessions

It is our pleasure to invite you to attend a virtual information session about D. E. Shaw Research<https://www.deshawresearch.com/> (DESRES).  Whether you’re familiar with our group, or this is the first you’re hearing of us, this session will offer you an opportunity to learn more about DESRES and our research and engineering projects.  We will also briefly talk about the full-time and internship opportunities in our group.  We will be organizing four such information sessions in the next couple of months (details below) that will include similar content, so please mark your calendar and attend the one that would work best for your schedule.

·         Tuesday, September 22, 2020 – 5:00-6:30 PM ET, https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/wsqjhkjc, Speakers: Albert Pan<https://www.deshawresearch.com/people_c-b_pan.html>, Kayvon Tabrizi<https://www.deshawresearch.com/people_c-b_tabrizi.html>

·         Monday, September 28, 2020 – 9:00-10:30 AM ET, https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/xpdxphwe, Speakers: Fabrizio Giordanetto<https://www.deshawresearch.com/people_c-b_giordanetto.html>, Songela Chen<https://www.deshawresearch.com/people_c-b_chen.html>

·         Wednesday, October 7, 2020 – 6:00-7:30 PM ET, https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/tcqjjxqu, Speakers: Qi Wang<https://www.deshawresearch.com/people_c-b_wang.html>, Daniel Richman<https://www.deshawresearch.com/people_c-b_richman.html>

·         Thursday, October 22, 2020 – 12:00-1:30 PM ET, https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/xeepakcv, Speakers: Elizabeth Decolvenaere<https://www.deshawresearch.com/people_c-b_decolvenaere.html>, Yakov Pechersky<https://www.deshawresearch.com/people_c-b_pechersky.html>

At the time of the event, we would recommend opening the link in a browser on your computer (rather than a phone or tablet).  We hope you will be able to join us.

For more information about the group and current opportunities, please review our brochure<https://www.dropbox.com/s/u71gf7gsquz30iw/DESRES_Brochure_2020_Virtual%20Info%20Session%20%28Combined%29.pdf?dl=0>.  If you’d like to apply, please click on the link in the description of the position that is most relevant to your background

6.               MIT SWE 41st Anniversary Celebration

An Evening of Networking + Mini Career Fair

Monday, 10/5 | 7pm – 9pm EDT

All are welcome; companies including Tesla, Citadel, Optum, and Salesforce are waiting to meet you! You’ll also get the chance to chat with other students and meet members of MIT SWE (think: networking + mini career fair rolled into one).

Register here<https://forms.gle/d9d1kjuVyuBaiH9e6> by 11:59pm PDT on Friday, September 18th to receive two raffle ticket entries for prizes (including AirPods), or by 11:59pm PDT on Sunday, September 27th to receive one raffle ticket entry. You must register to receive a link to join the virtual event!

The Celebration will be held from 7pm – 9pm EDT on Monday, October 5 via Gatherly, an online events platform.

Questions? Contact laurenah at mit.edu or vkchen at mit.edu<mailto:vkchen at mit.edu>.

7.               Grad Technical Leadership Virtual Workshops (Fall 2020)

The MIT-Gordon Engineering Leadership Program (GEL) and the Graduate Student Advisory Group for the School of Engineering (GradSAGE) encourage you to enhance your MIT graduate experience and enroll in the Graduate Certificate in Technical Leadership Program. Linked is a summary of the interim certificate requirements<https://gelp.mit.edu/grad-students/graduate-certificate-technical-leadership-interim-requirements>.

We would also urge you to attend our upcoming Fall 2020 Grad Technical Leadership Workshop Series, which can be used to help satisfy the certificate program requirements. (*Please note— If you are working towards to the Grad Certificate in in Technical Leadership you only need to attend four out of six workshops over the entire course of your time as a grad student.)

All of the following workshops will be held virtually from 5:30-7:30pm EDT:

•           Building Resiliency During Difficult Times - Led by David Niño. Thursday, September 24

•           World Class R&D For Geographically Distributed Markets - Led by Reza Rahaman. Tuesday, October 13

•           Leading at the Intersection of Management and Engineering - Led by Joan Rubin. Thursday, October 22

•           Week of November 2 Workshop TBD - (Speaker and topic to be announced.)

•           Technology Roadmapping and Innovation in the 21st Century (Part 1) - Led by Oli de Weck. Tuesday, November 17

•           Technology Roadmapping and Innovation in the 21st Century (Part 2) - Led by Oli de Weck. Tuesday, December 1

Register for the certificate program and/or any or all workshops by emailing Lisa Stagnone (lstag at mit.edu<mailto:lstag at mit.edu>)

8.               Public Guest Lectures: Black Mobility and Safety in the US

For zoom information, please click here.<https://www.media.mit.edu/posts/public-guest-lectures-black-mobility-and-safety-in-the-us/>

MIT Course Numbers: I Fall 2020 MAS.S63, II Spring 2021 MAS.S63

Ekene Ijeoma’s Black Mobility and Safety in the US<https://www.media.mit.edu/courses/black-mobility-and-safety-in-the-us/?utm_source=MLWeekly&utm_campaign=7e93967084-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_09_03_07_40&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dee7222423-7e93967084-156224157> course this fall will include a series of public guest lectures co-sponsored by ACT around living while Black. The first semester's topics will include birthing, breathing, sleeping, eating, and walking while Black; the second semester will include learning, voting, driving, working, and loving while Black.

The two-semester public lecture series organized by Ekene Ijeoma, founder and director of Poetic Justice at MIT Media Lab, explores issues around mobility (physical, mental, socio-economical, political, etc) and safety for Black Americans. It's organized into two-week topics around living while Black. Read more at: https://www.media.mit.edu/posts/public-guest-lectures-black-mobility-and-safety-in-the-us/.

Fall  (Zoom<https://mit.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqcO-hrz8qGtDBsu_3dCAa5QAi3_x-VnWp>)

September 22 @ 2-3 pm | Birthing while Black II: Professor Cooper Owens<https://www.deirdrecooperowens.com/bio> (UNL<https://history.unl.edu/deirdre-cooper-owens>)

 September 29  @ 2-3 pm| Breathing while Black I:  Marcus Franklin<https://outrider.org/climate-change/articles/marcus-franklin-environmental-climate-justice/> (Environmental Advocate<http://www.naacp.org/climate-justice-resources/fumes-across-fence-line/>)

October 6 @ 2-3 pm | Breathing while Black II: Linda Villarosa<https://www.lindavillarosa.com/> (NYT<https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/magazine/pollution-philadelphia-black-americans.html>)

October 13 @ 2-3 pm | Sleeping while Black I: Tricia Hersey<http://www.triciahersey.com/> (The Nap Ministry<https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/about/>)

October 20 @ 2-3 pm | Sleeping while Black II: Dr. Danielle L. Beatty Moody<http://www.daniellelbeattymoodyphd.org/> (UMBC<https://psychology.umbc.edu/corefaculty/beatty/>)

October 27  @ 2-3 pm | Eating while Black I:  Dr. Ashanté M. Reese<http://www.mamboanthro.com/bio/> (UTA)

November  3  @ 2-3 pm | Eating while Black II:  TBD

November 10 @ 2-3 pm | Walking while Black I: Professor Elijah Anderson (Yale University)<https://sociology.yale.edu/sites/default/files/pages_from_sre-11_rev5_printer_files.pdf>

November 17 @ 2-3 pm | Walking while Black II: Topher Sanders (ProPublica)<https://www.propublica.org/series/walking-while-black>

9.               US Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Conference

The DOE sponsored U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) conference will take place on December 8 and 9, 2020 (it will be a virtual conference):

https://www.c3eawards.org/2020

The conference includes cash awards for winners of the poster competition so please share this email with female-identifying undergraduate and graduate students or postdocs working in any of the following energy areas:

Basic Energy Science, Built Environment and Infrastructure, Climate and Environment, Developing World, Energy Education, Energy Efficiency, Fossil Energy Emissions Mitigation, Nuclear Energy, Policy and Finance, Power Distribution and Energy Storage, Renewable Energy, Transportation

The 2020 U.S. C3E poster competition

Students and early-career researchers are invited to participate in a poster competition at the annual U.S. C3E Symposium and Awards, which will be held online in December. The poster competition exposes symposium attendees to cutting-edge research in a variety of clean energy fields. A poster committee with wide-ranging expertise will select the most compelling poster submissions for presentation at the symposium with an eye toward diversity of institution, topic, and discipline. The poster presenter must be a female-identifying undergraduate student, graduate student, or postdoctoral researcher currently undertaking the research project presented.

Enter by Wednesday, October 7 at 11:59 pm ET. Check out details and apply.<https://mit.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1a57a715520513505ca5cda89&id=5f9cc2ca11&e=46ff92d2e6>

Related: Are you joining the C3E competition? Do you need help on your poster? MITEI will match you with a mentor to help coach you through the process. For more information, please contact Diane Rigos<mailto:rigosa at mit.edu>.

10.            Upcoming WEST Events

9/23: WEST's 20th Anniversary/12th Annual Awards Celebration<https://www.westorg.org/2020-09-23-20th-anniversary-awards-networking>

9/24: Women and Wealth: Setting Your Course to a Strong Financial Future<https://www.westorg.org/2020-09-24-women-wealth-financial>

9/30: Gender Parity Panel Discussion<https://www.westorg.org/2020-09-30-gender-parity-panel>

10/6: Making better decisions: Pre-mortem analysis and other cognitive tools for better outcomes in life, love, and work<https://www.westorg.org/2020-10-06-better-decisions>

10/7: Book Club - The Likeability Trap<https://www.westorg.org/2020-10-07-book-club-likeability-trap>

11.            Get Ready to Vote in 2020! National Voter Registration Day & Vote by Mail Information

MITvote<https://vote.mit.edu/> is a non-partisan student organization actively working to increase voter turnout and civic engagement throughout the MIT community. This election cycle the Presidency, hundreds of congressional seats, and critical state and local offices will be on the ballot across the country. Register to vote and make sure your voice is heard in this important election!

Register to Vote: Register at TurboVote<https://mit.turbovote.org/> - don’t miss these key steps<http://vote.mit.edu/turbovote-help/TurboVote_Instructions.pdf>. Tuesday, September 22 is National Voter Registration Day!

Vote by Mail: If you plan to vote by mail/absentee, please request your ballot ASAP (can use TurboVote<https://mit.turbovote.org/>) and return your ballot as soon as you receive it, either by mail or using a ballot drop box, to ensure that your ballot arrives on time.

Dates and Deadlines: Go to vote411<https://www.vote411.org/select-state> and select your state.

Voting Questions and Resources: Contact MITvote <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYUQwM9_WcuLZxaBVWHfcy3TKGEzJZNiErjFP3t3UMFZxqZQ/viewform> with any voting questions and check out MITvote’s website <https://vote.mit.edu/> for more voting resources.

Motivation to Vote: MITvote members have written a series of non-partisan blog posts through the PKG center about why it’s important for students to vote:

•           Why the STEM Vote Matters<https://pkgcenter.mit.edu/2020/08/11/mitvote-guest-blog-why-the-stem-vote-matters/?fbclid=IwAR1ii9-r9R8ELmMQsdp58ZFiXatBBqoQ_OndraFO1V23bsr7rHkyhgc5MgY>

•           The Importance of State Elections<https://pkgcenter.mit.edu/2020/06/11/mitvote-guest-blog-the-importance-of-state-elections/?fbclid=IwAR1P57zIsbZUGPkqV89ArvMC1xd0S7cxCmrcYitLX1nvNYHCN2QdISOpX_U>

•           Motivated By The Fight for Racial Justice? Vote in your Local Elections<https://pkgcenter.mit.edu/2020/06/29/mitvote-guest-blog-motivated-by-the-fight-for-racial-justice-vote-in-your-local-elections/?fbclid=IwAR10GCOO46F5cC3oazWpIDSYBw7LG1hv0XaCn734jP59bz4LRiZ5AqbAeZo>

•           A Reflection on Absentee Voting<https://pkgcenter.mit.edu/2020/04/29/guest-blog-from-mitvote-a-reflection-on-absentee-voting/>

•           Why I Vote<https://pkgcenter.mit.edu/2020/04/20/guest-blog-from-mitvote-why-i-vote/?fbclid=IwAR1wtO5gNIgkIjq5vEgu40LnAbK8KsCbjiAWwdW5UQWh4i264KoICvaq2Fc>

12.            The Social Scientist Mentorship Program

The Social Scientist is a nonprofit initiative for career guidance and advice in the STEM fields. In order to provide resources for all, The Social Scientist is an online platform for STEM mentorship. Our core program model aims to provide a global community of higher education students and professionals that are accessible and willing to dedicate their time for mentorship. We are an interdisciplinary group of diverse mentors that engage with young students and advocate for those already immersed in the STEM fields.  https://www.thesocialscientist.org

We connect with mentees in an informal setting to encourage a relaxed and easy conversation. The Social Scientist mentors can speak upon their education, career path and provide valuable insight on the nature of their work. From graduate students to industry directors, all of our mentors have diverse backgrounds and endured their own struggles and success with their career trajectory. We currently have enlisted STEM volunteers from across the world in Academia, Engineering, Industry, Writing/Publishing, US Government, Technology, Mathematics and Alternative Careers. We follow up with every inquirer after their chat to ensure a high-quality interaction with the mentors and establish an ongoing relationship between them and The Social Scientist. Additionally, our mentors have set up ongoing communication with their mentees to provide stable and long-term mentorship. Mentorship is critical at every stage of one’s career and we aim to create opportunities in STEM that are not equally and widely available. Currently, 67% of our mentors are women in STEM.

13.            NEGWiSE Upcoming Virtual Events - Check Back for More Details Soon!

October: Creating Environments and Organizations that Effect Change for Minority & First-generation Students presented by Deja Knight (she/her/hers), a Master of Public Health Candidate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the department of Health and Social Behavior. At Harvard, Deja also serves as an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Fellow in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

November: Designing Your STEM Experience with Dr. Ellise LaMotte (she/her/hers), the Director of the Center for STEM Diversity at Tufts University, a role in which she directs the Center as it supports underrepresented populations in STEM fields through programmatic offerings, as well as financial and social/emotional support.

14.            Outreach Opportunities with Science Club for Girls

Science Club for Girls (SCFG)<https://www.scienceclubforgirls.org> is a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to foster excitement, confidence, and literacy in STEM for girls, particularly those from underrepresented communities, by providing free, experiential programs and by maximizing meaningful interactions with women STEM mentors.”

Mentors: SCFG is looking for volunteers to serve as mentor scientists and lead fun, hands-on science experiments with girls of ages ranging from kindergarten to 8th grade. This semester, the program will be virtual via Zoom and all materials will be provided by SCFG. Virtual clubs will run for 8 weeks beginning the week of Oct. 5 and will be held at the following times:

  *   Tuesdays 3-5pm
  *   Thursdays 3-5pm
  *   Saturdays 10am-12pm

There will be a mandatory online training session on Saturday, September 26 from 9:30am-12pm.

Please register to be a mentor by filling out this application<https://www.tfaforms.com/4824242>.

SCFGLive Committee: SCFG is also seeking volunteers to assist with video editing and production, script writing, advertising and outreach, and conducting interviews for their weekly Live SCFG programming<https://www.scienceclubforgirls.org/scfglive>  If interested in joining the SCFGLive Committee, please send an email to hweinstock at scienceclubforgirls.org.

Other Volunteer Opportunities: If you are not able to commit to weekly mentoring or participating in the SCFGLive Committee but would still like to volunteer, you can find other options for SCFG volunteer opportunities here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNw2UKUqiU66lh-npPw0vOp2qAHGfiT4YlFurlcsGupQQitA/viewform>

15.            STEMxx Chats

STEMxx Chats is helping trainees, especially women in STEM, succeed in their career paths and in life. At MIT, our predominant benefit will be to undergrads and graduate students. We will address key gaps in facilitating their career development with particular emphasis on professional development tricks and soft skills that they’re not getting in any systematic way. We hope to offer mentorship, support and guidance while addressing key gaps in facilitating their career development. We hope to create a group culture that is uniquely focused on the person, has a high positive tone, emphasizes positive impact, and seeks to do this in a sustained way and have personal friendships form as opposed to one-and-done activities. We hope that creating a culturally and academically diverse group at MIT will allow you to share similar experiences while benefitting from the resources and events of the greater STEMxx Chats community. Below is the interest form for those wanting to join. We will host monthly meetings in addition to the broader STEMxx Chats events (eg. panels on career decisions, key speakers from top women in STEM, etc). We also have Twitter and Instagram (@stemxx_chats) for those who want to learn about the latest events.

Feel free to reach out to the organizers (Shirley Chen, schenxy at mit.edu and Mariana Avila, avilam at mit.edu) if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you in the fall.

Website: https://aliceestanton.wixsite.com/aliceestanton/stemxxchats

Interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxDhfUz57xILhrgSkIGwUYufkRhrzyxfbRC81wA6pMQByyQA/viewform?usp=pp_url

16.            The IDHR Student Advisory Committee is looking for more students to join this year!

MIT’s Institute Discrimination & Harassment Response<http://idhr.mit.edu/> Office (IDHR) is dedicated to preventing and addressing discrimination and discriminatory harassment across the Institute. The Student Advisory Committee<https://idhr.mit.edu/our-office/get-involved/student-advisory-committee> is made up of undergraduate and graduate students from across the Institute who provide feedback and input to the IDHR office regarding our messaging and outreach campaigns and help us most effectively engage with the student body. In addition to monthly committee meetings, the student advisory committee has two subcommittees focused on: 1) institutional advocacy and 2) messaging & partnerships. To get involved, contact idhr-education at mit.edu<mailto:idhr-education at mit.edu>

17.            MITxHarvard Women in AI Group

Are you interested in Artificial Intelligence? Curious about neural networks, GANs, reinforcement learning, neuro-symbolic approaches, or program induction? If you don’t know what any of those are, but want to learn, think, and discuss not only the technical side of machine learning and AI, but the ethics of AI and applications to biomedicine, cognitive science, environmental sciences, and more! Then we’d love to have you join the MITxHarvard Women in AI Group!!

We are a new initiative spanning both MIT and Harvard, composed of undergraduate and graduate students, seeking to provide a welcoming, supportive community for students excited about AI (no prior background is needed!!)

Our group centers around two prongs: 1) aiming to bring together students of all backgrounds to talk about AI in a supportive community via Zoom paper reading sessions, lightning talks, project sessions, and a fun Slack page! and 2) developing outreach material to get other students excited about AI! We’ve already begun an interview series with amazing women in tech from professors at Harvard, MIT, and Caltech to researchers at DeepMind and Microsoft! This will be posted on our website and YouTube shortly, and we are eager to have more student interviewers on board! If you want to meet other cool students at MIT and Harvard or want to help with our interview series, outreach, and more, please sign-up here: https://tinyurl.com/mitharvardwai<https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2Fmitharvardwai%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR09t8hzcjSGIrTn9svLmU5Xhisb1llWs8ly84av5cDf406_47KdVAEuqBo&h=AT1QrLxISgTmJtxzinOvL3tkkcrqcnRyrang_ahmhjmgHzblO5YayvhoLx4euu9Y4KcMHJt4vbf9BbPHiFWnzY8LuV8voyXFims5iCAonHXAMvb6S_fD9Cuv4Wv8RzcWcVhCq-xvtQg>

Feel free to check out our initial website https://web.mit.edu/women-ai/ or reach out to wai_exec at mit.edu  if you have questions or want to learn more!!

18.            Join GrasshoppHer’s #braveboldboundless

Looking to build your resume and meet company executives?

Want to help solve problems of social equity in the workplace?

We have the perfect opportunity for you!

We are GrasshoppHer, a mobile app for both companies and individuals that connects female and non-binary mentees and mentors, and we are organizing our inaugural #braveboldboundless Ideathon! In the wake of the BLM movement and the COVID crisis, it has become apparent that our workplaces are not as equal as we initially thought. And in true millennial fashion, WE’RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

We want to hear from YOU on how the workplace can become more inclusive across racial and gender lines. Additionally, by participating you will have the chance to win:

  *   A $500 cash prize
  *   Mentorship from a sponsoring company on implementing your idea
  *   An invitation to a winners-round table with sponsoring companies
  *   And many more!

Additionally this ideathon is a great opportunity to build your network as we will have representatives from major firms in consulting, banking, media, tech, retail, CPG and many other industries!

If sparking meaningful change within workplaces across the nation is something you are interested in, check out our ideathon flyer.<https://rlink.re/l/235386c1/c1b5/44e3/bea9/714763a5e230>

19.            Fit For Everybody - Call For Volunteers

Everybody is improving women's clothes sizing and fit based on real women's bodies. By having women take and submit their measurements, Everybody will advise women's apparel designers how to improve their garment sizing to be more inclusive and accurate.

Everybody is looking for female-identifying volunteers to take and submit their measurements from home through our website. All shapes, sizes, and ages over 18 are welcome and encouraged to participate. Participants will be entered to win a luxury gift.

Our website is www.fitforeverybody.com

Our Facebook is @fitforeverybody2

Our Instagram is @_fit_for_everybody_

Our Twitter is @FitEverybody

20.            MindsMatterBoston - Call for Volunteers

Minds Matter Boston is a college access organization that pairs mentors with first-generation, low-income  high school students from local communities to support them to prepare for, apply to, and succeed in college. As part of our general recruitment efforts, we are intentional about recruiting mentors who reflect the backgrounds of the young people we work with, mainly first generation to college and/or people of color.  We take responsibility for creating a diverse and inclusive space for our students and believe that this is only possible when we have more volunteer leaders who reflect, celebrate, and affirm the multi-dimensional identities of our students. There is more info at Minds Matter Boston online<https://www.mindsmatterboston.org/mentors> as well! If anyone is interested in learning more, they can email our Program Associate, Jada Alexander (jada.alexander at mindsmatterboston.com) and set up a call to discuss the mentor position further.

21.            New Student Advocates for Survivors Group

Student Advocates for Survivors, or SAS, is a new student group advocating for better MIT policy supporting survivors and educating students about reporting and support options. This includes advocating for more training for all students and staff around responding to sexual assault, as well as advocating for better Title IX policy and mental health resources at MIT.

We are looking for more people to join us! Here is a list of projects we are beginning to work on. If you are interested, add yourself to sas at mit.edu here. Anyone is welcome to join regardless of your past experiences.

Additionally, if you have any ideas of what we can do to support survivors, please fill out this anonymous form. Feel free to also share any experiences with Title IX, VPR, S3, etc.

22.            WEST Dynamic Pod Mentoring

In the fall of 2020, WEST will pilot a non-traditional, dynamic pod mentoring program.

The 2020 pilot program will be small with 8 mentors and 20 mentees. It will consist of four 2-hour sessions. Mentors and mentees will participate in:

  *   A kickoff meeting on 9/29 (with training information, goal setting exercise, 1 sample pod session)
  *   3 meetings on 10/13, 10/27, and 11/10 (includes networking and 2 pod sessions in each 2 hour meeting)

Total time commitment: four bi-weekly meetings, starting at 6:00 pm and ending at 8:00 pm

In each session, mentees will:

  *   Explore up to 2 topics, with feedback from 1 mentor and up to 3 mentees (i.e., a pod) per topic
  *   Expand their network with 30 minutes of structured networking
  *   Discuss a specific challenge/goal and come out with concrete and actionable feedback

The cost of participation for the pilot program is $50, currently open to WEST members only. If you belong to an underrepresented group in STEM and need a scholarship to cover the cost of a year-long WEST membership and a spot in this mentoring program, please email info at westorg.org<mailto:info at westorg.org>.

23.            Become a gwaMIT department rep!

gwaMIT is accepting applications for the position of department representatives! As a gwaMIT department rep, you'll build connections across MIT and help in the personal & professional development of graduate womxn. It is also a powerful means to bring about department-level change and strive towards a more equitable and inclusive MIT. The position lasts for one year, with an option for renewal. Read more about the role and responsibilities here<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BepM4QWy2tUO7ju1dkIOt69lb9wJb_DIs9Us_ljVqUA/edit>. Fill out the short application form here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxO1KrUGe7rS_tvZsAW8jOOMFNBnv5BdAi4ssn1svoKUqV9w/viewform>. Womxn who are members of underrepresented and minoritized groups are encouraged to apply. The departments with openings are: Sloan, ChemE, Arch, PolSci, HASTS, Humanities, Writing, NSE, CCWCE, CMS, CSB, MAS, CRE, CCE, CTL, EECS. If the position is currently filled, but you are still interested in being involved with gwaMIT, email us to let us know! We have multiple avenues for engagement in gwaMIT's activities and initiatives.

“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time”

-Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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