‘My Sister’s Keeper’: Long Beach Middle And High Schoolers Join State STEM Initiative

LONG BEACH, NY — For 19 Long Beach students, a May 4 STEM event at SUNY College at Old Westbury was a chance to become their sisters’ keepers.

The My Sister’s Keeper Initiative is offered through a partnership between the state university and the New York State Education Department, exposing girls and young women of color to possible careers in science, technology, engineering and math. A Long Beach district spokesperson said that the program focused on narrowing gender gaps and increasing diversity in STEM while developing the leadership of participants.

“Opportunities like this allow our students to see themselves in STEM spaces and understand that their goals are truly within reach,” Long Beach High School Principal Andy Smith said. “We are proud to partner with programs that open doors and expand possibilities for their future.”

The program began with an address by New York State Education Department assistant commissioner for the Office of Access, Equity, and Community Engagement Services Dr. Anael Alston, followed by a breakfast, a guided campus tour and a moderated panel discussion featuring State Education Commissioner Dr. Betty Rosa. That panel discussion, district officials said, featured information on each of the panelists’ professional journeys and encouraged students to pursue careers in STEM.