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51���� awarded AAUW Community Action Grant

51���� was awarded a 2021–22 Community Action Grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). The award funds the HOLA Gems (Girls in engineering, math and science) project which aims to provide early STEM exposure to fifth-grade girls in the Allentown School District.

HOLA Gems activities will be based on male-dominant STEM fields such as physics, engineering, computer science and more. Fifth-grade girls will have the opportunity to have a year of innovative hands-on experiences to explore authentic problems and make meaningful contributions in STEM fields. These activities will take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on numerous Saturdays throughout the year with 51���� faculty, staff and students serving as volunteers.

“Thanks to this support, 51���� is able to strengthen the partnership with community schools and to provide STEM activities with interdisciplinary learning experiences in engineering, electricity, chemistry, robotics and computer science to young girls. This partnership also empowers young girls and women as it provides the opportunity for 51���� women to mentor and collaborate with young girls. We greatly appreciate the support and opportunity,” said Ivonne Miranda, Ph.D., assistant professor in Cedar Crest’s education department.

AAUW is one of the world’s leading supporters of graduate women’s education: Over the past 133 years, it has provided more than $115 million in fellowships, grants and awards to 13,000 women from 150 countries. AAUW is proud to be one of the nation’s largest educational funders for women of color.

For the 2021-22 academic year, AAUW is awarding a total of $5 million through seven fellowships and grants programs to more than 260 scholars, research projects and programs promoting education and equity for women and girls. Despite all the disruption caused by the global pandemic, this year’s awards are at a record-high level.

Since 1972,  have funded individuals, AAUW branches and state organizations and community-based nonprofit organizations to support innovative programs that promote education and equality for women and girls. Currently, these grants fund projects that encourage high school girls to pursue physical sciences or engineering as a career.

“From the time we started giving these awards, the recipients of our Community Action Grants have changed—and improved—the lives of women and girls,” said Gloria Blackwell, AAUW’s executive vice president and chief program officer. “We’re confident that this year’s grantees will make their mark in the same way their predecessors did.”

For more information about HOLA Gems contact Ivonne Miranda, Ph.D. at .

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Learn more and join us at .