The second day of Kwanzaa recognizes Kujichagulia, which means self-determination and this year is celebrated on Wednesday, Dec. 27.
Each person must ask three basic questions:
1. Who am I?
2. Am I really who I say I am?
3. Am I all that I ought to be?
These are questions of history and culture, not simply questions of personal identity. More importantly, they are questions of collective identity, borne out in historical and cultural practice. And the essential quality of that practice must be the quality of self-determination.
Kujichagulia is exemplified by Brooklyn-based high schoolers, Jia and Taja when they created myNetworkHer, a mentorship organization for girls interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
According to the American Association of University Women, women make up 34% of the STEM workforce and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college.
“There [are] so few women in the STEM industry,” said Jia. “And I know more and more young people are getting into STEM and getting into these fields where for so long have been male-dominated.”
Jia and Taja got the idea for the program when they learned that many top companies that had mentorship programs for their employees resulted in a happier, healthier and more productive work environment. The pair decided to bring that same model to high school as an accessible entry point for women into STEM.
The myNetworkHer program has collaborated with organizations like Girl Up and Boba Talks to bring together world-renowned speakers across the STEM field, including microbiologist Dr. Greetchen Diaz-Munoz and TEDx Speaker Danielle Twum, PhD.
By challenging the norms of which genders society deems are most suitable for certain career paths, the founders of myNetworkHer are determining for themselves their own possibilities and future. That's Kujichagulia.
To read more about myNetworkHer, go here.
Beginning Tuesday, December 26, and for the entire week of Kwanzaa, BK Reader will feature a different local organization or resident whose story this year exemplifies one of Kwanzaa's seven principles!
