Recognizing October 26 to November 2, 2024, as STEM Equity Week in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia is recognized as a hub for science and technology, and therefore must ensure that our STEM talent grows equitably and reflects the diversity of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective (PSEC) provides support to organizations and initiatives dedicated to building equity and increasing the sense of belonging in the STEM industry for Black people, Latinx people, and women in Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, PSEC a collaborative of the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem managed by The Philadelphia Education Fund (PEF) and GSK, strives to increase the number of Black, Latinx, and women Philadelphians going into STEM careers by 2030; and

WHEREAS, PSEC is a 10-year collaborative effort that aims to bring together Philadelphia schools, out-of-school time providers, universities and colleges, businesses, employers, local government, and the philanthropic community using a collective impact approach to identify and close gaps confronting individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM; and

WHEREAS, Black people, Latinx people and women continue to be underrepresented in the STEM Workforce relative to their demographic representation in the Philadelphia working population; and

WHEREAS, The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects STEM employment will increase by 10.4% between 2023 and 2033, adding over 1.1 million new jobs; and

WHEREAS, To advance economic opportunities for citizens, Philadelphia’s students should have access to a high-quality STEM education and a local network to support career advancement; and

WHEREAS, In 2023 PSEC established the first annual STEM Equity Week to unite educators, students, professionals, job seekers, community leaders, and families in both addressing systemic barriers

and

promoting equitable access to STEM fields; and

WHEREAS, This week we celebrate The Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective as it hosts the Second Annual STEM Equity Week bringing industry leaders together to advance educational and economic opportunities for Philadelphia students and promote equitable access to STEM fields; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby recognizes October 26 to November 2, 2024, as STEM Equity Week in the City of Philadelphia and celebrate The Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective as it works to advance inclusivity and opportunities for Black people, Latinx people, and women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics career pathways.

End