Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective

Using a collective impact model and harnessing the resources of the Philadelphia STEM  Ecosystem, the Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective (PSEC) was established in January 2020 by GSK and the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem.  It includes support from the Ecosystem’s backbone organization, the Philadelphia Education Fund, engagement with an external evaluator, and competitive programmatic grants for Ecosystem member organizations. Its goal is to cultivate STEM equity, access, and inclusion in STEM career pathways for Philadelphia students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM occupations, specifically: to Increase the number of Black, Latinx and women Philadelphia students going into   STEM careers by 2030.

Group Students Smilling

Established in January 2020, the Collective conducted a series of member meetings as well as one-on-one interviews with a variety of stakeholders and small group discussion resulting in “Guiding Principles” and a “Theory of Change” being developed and established.

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Also from these, our four Workgroups were generated*: 

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  • Home and Community

  • K-12 Education

  • Post-Secondary Education

  • Work Environment​​

*A Student Advisory Council, a Parent Advisory Council and a Measurement and Evaluation team will also be established and will be nurtured by the before mentioned Workgroups.

To learn more about the Workgroups or to get involved,

click the "Collective Workgroups" button below:

Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective 

Guiding Principles 

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  1. Place marginalized individuals in the role of decision-makers and fight systems of oppression.

  2. Proactively build relationships with students and ensure that our actions are guided by the ideas, opportunities and needs that they voice, including those not involved  in STEM.

  3. Engage with all members and stakeholders with humility  and candor.

  4. Hold ourselves accountable to act and implement solutions.

  5. Make and continuously adapt our decisions based on data.

  6. Communicate continuously and transparently within and outside of the Collective about our actions and decisions.

Steering Committee

In March 2021, the Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective began the process of establishing its Steering Committee.  As we strive for a balanced team of representatives on the Steering Committee, we will use Representation and Trait diversity to make final placements. Given this express aim, the Selection Committee*  may opt to state a preference for nominations from specific regions, for women candidates, or for Latinx or Black candidates in any given selection round.

The Selection Committee’s timeline is expected to be:

  • March 5, 2021 - Announcement of Steering Committee Call for Nominations and Application process.

  • March 26, 2021 - Nomination period ends.

  • April 9, 2021 - Application process ends. 

  • May 2021 - Finalists will be notified

  • July 2021 - Selection Committee decision announced.

For mote information on the nomination, application, process and  selection of the Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective Steering Committee, press the button below:

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