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For almost 25 years, Women in Resource Development Corporation (WRDC) has played a key role in advancing gender equality across Newfoundland and Labrador’s workplaces. By supporting its programs, companies reach their corporate social responsibility goals. Programs like STEMforGIRLS.
“Everything we do is about increasing women’s participation in trades and technology,” says WRDC CEO Cheri Butt. “STEMforGIRLS is a great example of that; while simultaneously supporting gender equality, workforce, and community development.”
STEMforGIRLS Club is an interactive, provincewide STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) community geared to skills development, post-secondary exploration, and career discovery. It’s available to all youth, ages 12-17, identifying as female, non-binary, two-spirit, gender fluid, agender, or third gender inclusive across Newfoundland and Labrador. It emphasizes long-term engagement opportunities (available year-round and year-over-year) and leadership development (participants often develop into club mentors and champions).
“The partnership makes it easy for companies to access a diverse workforce and top emerging talent, increasing the innovation potential to solve local and global concerns for everyone,” Butt says, adding: “Many organizations recognize the value of diversity and inclusion but don’t know how to implement systemic change.”
In effect, through STEMforGIRLS and other programs, WRDC acts as an equity, diversity, and inclusion incubator. It’s often the initial point of contact for employers in these areas, and the Corporation’s services support them as they begin to create a more diverse and inclusive work environment.
According to recent Government of Canada research, gender stereotyping and microaggression, lack of transparency and barriers to promotion, unsupportive work environment, and unclear or obstructed career paths uniquely affect women in STEM.
Says Butt: “STEMforGIRLS highlights how WRDC’s mandate and gender equity initiatives link directly to corporate social goals and objectives. When we work together to share expertise and resources, we can create systemic change that will benefit us all.” •
To learn how WRDC can support your CSR goals, visit wrdc.ca
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