Senator Bob Corker celebrated Women’s History Month at the Senate with Million Women Mentors. From left, Michelle K. Lee, director, Under Secretary of Commerce & Director of US Patent and Trademark Office; Edie Fraser, STEMConnector and MWM; Senator Bob Corker, and Sheila Boyington, Thinking Media and MWM.
Leaders from the U.S. Congress and the Administration met in the Russell Senate Office Building to recognize Women's History Month and the Million Women Mentors movement.
Million Women Mentors, an initiative of STEMconnector, announced its commitment of 650,000 Mentor pledges-- out of a goal of one million mentors by 2019-- to guide girls and women interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers.
Edie Fraser, CEO of STEMconnector and MWM, has long championed diversity, STEM education and workforce development. With her team, she has built a respected consulting and communications firm, which covers 6,600 organizations and has over 150 paying members. MWM works in collaboration with more than 65 partners, 48 corporate sponsors, 35 state leadership teams, and thousands of groups and individuals interested in advancing the movement.
Senator Bob Corker, a featured speaker at the event, was introduced by Sheila Boyington, owner of Chattanooga-based Thinking Media/Learning Blade who also serves as the National States chair for Million Women Mentors movement. Senator Corker used the platform to express the need for women in STEM and highlighted the Tennessee statewide adoption of the Learning Blade STEM career awareness curriculum for middle school students. Furthermore, he communicated how this need relates to his End Modern Slavery Initiative, which focuses on eliminating slavery and human trafficking around the globe.
“It is an absolute honor to not only introduce Senator Bob Corker at such a historic event, but also witness his support and leadership of the Million Women Mentors initiative in TN and nationally and dedication to the safety and success of both women and men,” said Ms. Boyington.
The attendees at the luncheon included over 20 Congressional and government leaders, plus corporate executives and representatives from nonprofits nationwide. These men and women include Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY);Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); ), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH); Maize Hirono (D-HI); Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH); John Boozman (R-AR); Sherrod Brown (D-OH); Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); Joni Ernst (R-IA; Bob Casey (DPA); Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); Barbara Comstock (R-VA); Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL); Under Secretary of the USDA, Dr. Catherine Woteki.