6/24/24 - 8/2/24 •Mon-Fri, 9am - 4pm

For High School Girls • $1500 Stipend

What is Sismantle{Tech}?

Sismantle{Tech} is a groundbreaking initiative by BSOC, expanding on our successful Girls Who Code foundation. This program is specially crafted to build a supportive sisterhood that navigates and dismantles the challenges women face in the tech world. Through our unique partnerships with Black Girls Hack and Elizabethtown College's School of Business, along with collaborations with local schools and community organizations, we offer an inclusive, high-quality educational experience that opens doors to exciting and lucrative careers in technology.

What Will You Learn?

Participants will complete Black Girls Hack's We Got Next Cyber program, diving deep into the world of cybersecurity and computer science, gaining hands-on experience and the skills necessary to earn the esteemed CompTIA Security+ certification—a key stepping stone for anyone looking to excel in government contracting and beyond. Participants will also complete Elizabeth Town College School of Business's Backpack to Briefcase program focused on developing essential soft skills, leadership qualities, and financial literacy, ensuring our scholars are well-rounded and ready to succeed in any professional environment.

Sismantle{Tech} is designed to tackle the stark underrepresentation of women in the STEM fields, a gap that widens for women of color. Despite women making up nearly half of the workforce, they hold only 28% of jobs in science and engineering. For women of color, this representation drops to single digits. In technology and cybersecurity, the gap is even more pronounced, with women holding only 25% of computing jobs. This disparity isn't just a problem for the women excluded; it's a missed opportunity for innovation, as diverse teams are known to drive creativity and better solutions.

Sismantle{Tech} aims to change this by offering high school girls, particularly those from underrepresented communities in Lancaster County, a pathway into these high-demand, high-wage careers. Through our program, participants will gain hands-on experience in cybersecurity, learning skills that could lead to careers with a median salary of $99,730, significantly above the national average. Moreover, with less than 20% of tech jobs held by women of color, Sismantle{Tech} not only opens doors to economic mobility for its participants but also contributes to a more diverse, innovative tech industry.