Toledo Middle School Girls Explore Careers in STEM fields

Daily Dose  |  10/07/2025 9:30 am

Today’s economy and tomorrow’s well-being depend on innovations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), but a troubling gap exists when it comes to women in STEM occupations. Women make up almost half of employment across non-STEM occupations but just over 29% of the STEM workforce. That’s why the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, is bringing Go Red for Women®’s STEM Goes Red to Toledo. STEM Goes Red addresses the underrepresentation of women in STEM and inspires young women to pursue rewarding careers in STEM fields.

Toledo STEM Goes Red, sponsored by Owens Corning, brings to life stimulating and impactful careers in STEM and gives participating students access to leading employers, local experts and an insider look at what a career in STEM could entail.

“STEM Goes Red draws on the American Heart Association’s strong legacy of science, education and discovery, offering an immersive experience that propels young women into this exciting world,” said Mindy Hartwick, executive director for the Toledo American Heart Association. “By ensuring a new generation of female scientists, doctors, inventors and changemakers, we’re taking critical steps to secure their future as well as our own.”

Of 100 female students working toward a bachelor’s degree, only three will work in a STEM job 10 years after graduation, leading to persistent disparities in women’s health. By equipping and inspiring young women to pursue STEM careers, we can ensure women are represented in critical sectors that impact health and well-being such as healthcare, research and technology. 

The American Heart Association’s STEM Goes Red launched in 2017 as part of the Go Red for Women® movement. For more than 20 years, Go Red for Women has served as a catalyst for change, improving women’s lives by advancing equitable research and care, advocating for inclusive health policies and raising awareness of women’s No. 1 health threat—cardiovascular disease.