Big news in the fight for gender equity in STEM and skilled trades – the inaugural "Girls Build LA" summer program has wrapped up with a bang, courtesy of Mayor Karen Bass's latest youth-focused initiative. A cohort of high school girls from across Los Angeles has just emerged from a transformative three-week voyage into the heart of in-demand aviation careers, thanks to a team-up between Mayor Bass and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), as reported by the LA Mayor's Office.
"Girls Build LA is about more than career exposure – it’s about power and possibility," Mayor Bass said, highlighting the program's wider mission beyond mere skill building. With site visits to LAX and Van Nuys Airport, workshops on sustainable building practices, and mentorships with women who are killing it in construction, engineering, and public service, these young protégés acquired more than just knowledge. They gained an inside track to the industry – one where women have traditionally been on the outside looking in.
LA's aviation sector opened its hangar doors to give these students a real taste of what's flying off the runway in infrastructure careers. The CEO of LAWA, John Ackerman, echoed Mayor Bass's sentiment, recognizing the powerful impact of engaging young women in the early stages of their careers. "A critical part of LAWA’s capital improvement program is inspiring the next generation of leaders in construction, and Girls Build is an incredible way for us to show young women opportunities across nearly every facet of construction and development process," Ackerman articulated in a statement obtained by the LA Mayor's Office.
Among program participants, Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets High School's own Olinda Fabian expressed her excitement and gratitude. "My passion for engineering has only evolved from this program but also from my desire to see more women thrive in these spaces," she shared in her experience.
