Global Kids, LinkNYC and DoITT Celebrate Women’s History Month
Links Throughout New York City Will Display Students' Illustrations of Women of Color Pioneers in STEM Fields
NEW YORK – Global Kids, LinkNYC, and the New York Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) announced today a new collaboration celebrating women of color in STEM fields on Links across New York City in honor of Women’s History Month. Global Kids students have highlighted five prominent women of color in STEM fields who made a significant impact in New York:
Jane Cooke Wright – a pioneering cancer researcher and surgeon noted for her contributions to chemotherapy.
Marie Maynard Daly – the first African-American woman to obtain a Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States.
Mabel Keaton Staupers – a pioneer in the American nursing profession.
Sinah Estelle Kelley – a chemist who worked on the mass production of penicillin.
Susan McKinney Steward – the third African-American woman to earn a medical degree and the first in New York State.
The students developed the artwork for this campaign through a digital learning and design project with Global Kids, and their static portraits will be featured on Link’s 55” displays throughout the five boroughs from March 1 – March 31, 2019.
“It was great to learn about and be able to make others aware of women who did important things but aren’t well known,” states Gabriela F., Global Kids 7th grader at Manhattan East School for Arts and Academics - MS 224, located in East Harlem.
“Women are too often overlooked or completely left out of the history of science and technology. We are thrilled to highlight women innovators on Links to celebrate their accomplishments and significant contributions to their fields. Links throughout the five boroughs will showcase the digital illustrations of Global Kids students to raise awareness of these pioneers and hopefully inspire more young women along the way,” said Ruth Fasoldt, Link’s Director of External Affairs.
This is Link’s second collaboration with Global Kids. Last year, Global Kids students at PS 96 produced portraits of influential black scientists such as Garrett Morgan and Mae Jemison in celebration of Black History Month. For this project, Global Kids youth from Manhattan East School, Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, and Renaissance Charter High School conducted research and then selected these women to honor.
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About LinkNYC
LinkNYC is the first-of-its-kind communications network replacing the city’s payphones to build the world’s fastest and largest free public Wi-Fi network. Since Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the public launch of LinkNYC in early 2016, more than 1,770 Links are active across all five boroughs.
LinkNYC provides important tools to communities to access connectivity and social services. More than 6 million people have used the free gigabit Wi-Fi service, with tens of thousands of new users joining the network each week. The system sees 600,000 phone calls made every month, and the most commonly dialed number is for the NY State EBT customer service line, which helps families connect to food stamps and other assistance. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers access 311 and Aunt Bertha, a platform to connect with local nonprofits and services, via Link tablets every month to access housing and other resources. All of Link’s services are 100% free for users and come at no cost to taxpayers. For more information and to find a Link near you, visit link.nyc.
About Global Kids
Global Kids, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization for global learning and youth development, works to ensure that youth from underserved communities have the knowledge, skills, experiences and values they need to succeed in school, participate effectively in the democratic process, and achieve leadership in their communities and our world. Global Kids is celebrating 30 years of award-winning, innovative programming this year.
Global Kids offers in-school and out-of-school time programming in New York City and Washington, D.C. public schools and at the agency’s headquarters in Manhattan, reaching over 13,000 youth and educators each year. Global Kids is currently active in 28 sites in New York City and Washington, D.C. and works with over 3,000 students weekly, building their global competency as well as civic participation and leadership skills. Consistently each year, over 95% of Global Kids seniors graduate from high school, and over 90% go on to higher education.
Media Contacts
LinkNYC: [email protected]
Global Kids:
Yesenia Reinoso
Communications Manager (212) 226-0130, ext. 127