Assemble Creates Girls’ Maker Night to Engage Middle-School Girls with Hands-On STEM Classes

For Immediate Release – Pittsburgh, PA

Starting January 5th, Assemble will offer a new “Girls’ Maker Night” (assemblepgh.org/programs/girls-maker-night/), program to engage girls in 6th through 8th grades with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) concepts. Girls’ Maker Night uses hands-on activities to teach tech skills, improve problem-solving, and build confidence. Classes will be held in-house and led by a female Assemble instructor at 5125 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 from 4:00-6:30 PM each Monday. Assemble infuses art throughout all curricula, making STEM into STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math).

Making is for everyone, but Monday nights will be for girls only. Research shows that all-girl classes with female mentors show girls that they belong in, and can get excited about, STEAM education. This leads to more girls going to college for and entering STEAM careers.  Assemble creates a sense of belonging by providing a welcoming learning environment and STEAM role models for girls of all backgrounds and experience levels right in their own neighborhood.

“At Assemble, we believe that everyone, especially girls, should have access to 21st Century skills. That’s why we work hard to ensure accessibility to contemporary technology skills such as robotics and code literacy.  In transforming connotations of girls in society, Girls’ Maker Night helps girls to redefine ‘throw like a girl’ as well as ‘code like a girl.’”  (Nina Barbuto, Founder of Assemble) This free series of classes for girls provides a platform for collaboration, career connections, and access to STEAM topics through project based learning.  To ensure all girls receive personal attention, classes will be limited to 10 girls.  For more information or to set up an interview contact Nina Barbuto, Founder of Assemble, at nina@assemblepgh.org or 412-254-4230.

About Assemble:  
Assemble unites artists, technologists, and makers with Pittsburghers of all demographics by providing a platform for experiential learning, opening creative processes, and building confidence through making.

Assemble hosts affordable classes focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) principles, interactive gallery shows, and learning parties, both in its space and at events throughout Pittsburgh. Assemble is located at 5125 Penn Avenue in the Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

About the Instructor:
Jess Gold is an experienced Assemble instructor. Jess lead another girls-only program, Tinker Squads, last semester through a partnership with the Ellis School.  Jess said, “it was wonderful seeing the girls build confidence and have fun while learning new skills.”  These skills include self-confidence and critical thinking as well as concrete skills such as learning to build a circuit or program a robot.

Media Contact:
Nina Barbuto, Founder of Assemble
nina@assemblepgh.org
412-254-4230.

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