Houston’s Black Girls Do Engineering Corporation, founded by Kara Branch, has been named one of the 2024 Black Girls Dream Fund recipients, presented by the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium.
Branch’s nonprofit aims to expose Black girls to STEM education and careers, making significant strides in this area.
“Receiving this grant for the second year in a row is incredibly humbling,” says Branch. “It’s a testament to the importance of the work we do and the impact we’re having.”
Empowering Black Girls in STEM
Black Girls Do Engineering was founded in 2019 by Kara Branch, a chemical engineer and mother of three daughters, who identified the need for representation in the STEM fields, particularly for Black girls.
Today, the organization serves girls aged six to 21, offering membership programs, hands-on STEM activities, mentorship, and college prep under three core pillars: membership, community engagement, and educator support.
The Impact of the Black Girls Dream Fund Grant
Winning the Black Girls Dream Fund grant for the second consecutive year is a significant milestone for Branch’s organization, allowing it to expand its reach and infrastructure to empower more Black girls in STEM.
“The funding has been crucial for us, especially for supporting our operations side,” says Branch. “This grant allowed us to hire 10 new team members, which has been a game-changer in reaching more girls.“
Thanks to the grant, Black Girls Do Engineering has hosted over 30 events this year, reaching beyond Houston to cities like New York and New Orleans, exposing more girls nationwide to STEM fields.
Branch emphasizes the importance of support and the challenges of funding for Black-owned nonprofits in STEM.
Despite these challenges, the Black Girls Dream Fund continues to play a vital role in supporting organizations like Black Girls Do Engineering.
The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium aims to address the funding gap for Black women and girls, with a goal of raising $100 million over the next decade to support initiatives like Black Girls Do Engineering.
With a vision to train 2 million girls in STEM by 2050, Black Girls Do Engineering is committed to empowering Black girls in STEM fields.