Crafting Future STEAM Leaders

DIY (do it yourself) means much more than a five-minute craft to this group of future STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) leaders.

The nonprofit, DIY Girls, founded by Congressmember-elect Luz Rivas, is opening new doors for fifth- to twelfth-grade girls who are often not exposed to the engineering field. The organization partners with schools in the San Fernando Valley to teach STEAM-focused classes where students get hands-on experience exploring different technologies.

"I went to the first school where Luz introduced the program and I was immediately hooked when she showed a video of a girl my age building a game from scratch," said Lori Castaneda, an environmental engineering undergraduate student at the University of California, Riverside.

Castaneda became a DIY Girl in fifth grade when she joined the nonprofit's creative electronics program, but it was in high school where she found her passion for environmental conservation. During a field trip to see the impacts of toxic waste in the area, Castaneda decided to focus her efforts on protecting communities.

"After seeing how Luz gave back to the San Fernando Valley with her education, I decided to follow in her footsteps by studying environmental engineering so I can one day implement water quality remediation in my hometown," Castaneda said.

DIY Girls equipped her with the tools and confidence to tackle challenges head-on. She's completed a handful of projects with the organization since elementary school. Her favorite - building a compost generator for the school garden.

Since 2012, the nonprofit has served over 7,000 girls across 17 schools in the San Fernando Valley. With a shared mission to inspire more innovators in underrepresented communities, Edison International has provided DIY Girls with almost $100,000 in funding since 2016.

"With the support of Edison International we are constantly improving our programming to match the needs of STEAM fields today," said Leticia Rodriguez, executive director of DIY Girls.

In the last year, they added a solar-powered car activity to the elementary school electrical engineering curriculum, and a simple circuit project that teaches students how to power an LED light using a circuit board and 3D pens.

"By supporting young at-risk girls, they gain confidence in their skills in a positive academic environment and exposure to potential careers earlier," said Arcelia Arce, Edison International senior advisor of Public Affairs and DIY Girls board member.

Castaneda and the students in DIY Girls' inaugural cohort actively participate in mentorship programs and networking events, giving them a glimpse at what the new group is learning now.

"When I was that age, it was inspiring to see someone exactly like me could be something so important," said Castaneda. "I hope to encourage the next generation of DIY Girls by combating inequitable water quality issues."

For more information on Edison International's commitment to giving back, visit edison.com/community.