Community WISE (Women Investing in STEM Equity) seeks to build resources and lead change so that every woman and girl in Sonoma County achieves her full potential.
We are a coalition of local employers, education institutions, students and community leaders who work to identify and invest in engaging learning opportunities to inspire and prepare more girls to pursue STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) majors and careers.
Community WISE believes that our STEM workforce issues can only be solved by diverse partners collaborating to create disruptive solutions that promote equity for all girls and underrepresented racial minorities. We are committed to women’s economic self-sufficiency and we believe improving educational and career opportunities for girls and women in STEM fields will empower more women to secure economic independence through greater lifetime earnings and increased entrepreneurial opportunities.
Community WISE is committed to achieving gender equity in STEM fields and invests in programs to support girls and women (regardless of their assigned sex at birth). We use the terms “women” and “girls” and welcome gender-expansive individuals who are supportive of our mission to join us and participate.
Community WISE investments are made possible thanks to the generosity of individual donors, businesses and foundations. Make a gift today!
Our Vision
Community WISE is a North Bay resource for girls and women to access and be empowered as leaders in STEM.
Our Mission
Community WISE invests in STEM initiatives for girls and women to enrich their learning and career opportunities.
Our Investments
Tinker Academy
The Tinker Academy, launched in 2018, is a free two-week program designed to engage and inspire middle school girls in Maker activities that encourage the exploration and development of technical, mathematical and design abilities. The Academy is a partnership between Community WISE and the School of Science and Technology at Sonoma State University.
SWENext
With a goal of increasing access to opportunities for STEM career exploration and career readiness, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Golden Gate Section and CTE Foundation have partnered with funding support from Keysight Technologies Foundation, to bring SWENext clubs to ten Sonoma County high schools by 2023. SWENext clubs, programming and activities is ultimately driven by the members of each school (students). Members of SWE Golden Gate Section will support SWENext Club leaders by providing technical assistance and guidance through the many resources available via SWE to SWENext members as well as by participating in and hosting events alongside club leaders.
STEMspiration Speaker Series
In 2021, Community WISE (Women Investing in STEM Equity) hosted a virtual speaker series to educate, engage and inspire!
Whether you are a STEM-curious student or an expert in your field, we aimed to provide inspiration in your day by introducing you to talented and driven women in STEM fields. Each of our speakers shared their field of expertise, their education and career path and the skills they believe are necessary for success.
Women in Engineering Class, Rancho Cotate High School, Rohnert Park
In the 2018-2019 school year, we invested $20,000 in a course titled “Women in Engineering” at Rancho Cotate High School. The course examines the contributions of women engineers and aims to train the next generation of strong young women to take their place. Students in this predominately female class learn a variety of design principles and building techniques, including CAD, in the state-of-the-art maker space on the RCHS Campus and gain confidence in their abilities to master STEM concepts. Through word-of-mouth, the course became so popular that a second section had to be implemented to accommodate demand from 64 students and the class continues today through sustained district funding.
