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One of this year's recipients of the Brad Sousa Impact Fund, Rosie Riveters is making remarkable strides in empowering young women in STEM fields.
Rosie Riveters is a nonprofit that aims to close the gender gap in today's STEM workforce. They aim to build confidence, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through their hands-on programs. A key part of their strategy is productive struggle, where students are encouraged to embrace challenges and learn from their mistakes in order to build resilience through the necessary problem solving.
Rosie Riveters has a wide range of program offerings in order to reach as many young girls as possible. Currently, the organization offers programs for ages Pre-K to high school in a wide variety of STEM topics including anatomy, coding, DNA, engineering, paleontology, and space.
Rosie Labs, their in-school programming, offers hands-on STEM education that aligns with state learning standards, allowing for access to specialized stem resources during school hours.
They also offer military family programs so students can continue to thrive in STEM fields regardless of where their journeys take them. Outside of STEM education, these programs create a sense of community that is essential for developing the girls' confidence and continued interest in the STEM fields.
While a majority of the in-person offerings are centered in Virginia, Rosie Riveters also offers STEM kits and events to allow for anyone to bring hands-on resources to their community. These kits and events can range from learning about manufacturing processes with the Girl Scouts to the science of sound and music to discover careers in Pro AV.
In addition to their educational programs, Rosie Riveters has an extensive mentorship network to keep students engaged in STEM fields as they grow. By providing young girls with female mentors in these careers, it allows them to see that there is a pathway into STEM careers that is not only possible but that they have the potential to do the same.
With the support of the Brad Sousa Impact Fund, Rosie Riveters will scale their audiovisual STEM kits to even more communities so that young girls can become aware of AV career possibilities.
Whether you're leading an after-school activity, running a booth at a community event, planning a STEM night, or want to bring more specialized education into your classroom, Rosie Riveters is ready to support in any way they can with mentoring, funding, resources, and encouragement, and we feel lucky to support their mission through the AVIXA Foundation in the memory of Brad Sousa.
To learn more about the other recipients of the Brad Sousa Impact Fund, check out Workforce Montgomery and Tech25.
Emily is a recent graduate of the University of North Texas with degrees in Marketing and Instrumental Performance (Clarinet). She has experience in musical theatre, pit orchestra performance, venue management, music education, and social media management. During the summer of 2025 she served as a Content Delivery Intern for AVIXA.
Emily currently attends Montclair State University, pursuing a Master of Music in Woodwind Doubling (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone).
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