By Natalia Kwak, Founder of the Core Initiative 

 

As a young woman and someone from Chicago’s South Side, I have seen firsthand how access to educational opportunities can differ dramatically between communities. While some students have access to advanced laboratory equipment, robotics programs, STEM competitions, and professional mentors, many students in underserved communities face barriers to these same opportunities. These disparities are not a reflection of ability or potential; they are often the result of unequal access to resources, funding, and support systems.

According to the National Science Foundation, women make up only about 35% of the STEM workforce, with even lower representation in fields such as engineering and computer science. Research has also shown that students from under-resourced schools are less likely to have access to advanced STEM coursework, laboratory experiences, and extracurricular STEM programs. Studies consistently demonstrate that early exposure to STEM education and mentorship increases student engagement, academic achievement, and interest in STEM careers.

These realities motivated me to found CORE Initiative, a youth led organization dedicated to expanding access to STEM education, mentorship, and literacy resources for underserved communities. Since its founding, CORE Initiative has donated more than 200+ pieces of STEM equipment and laboratory resources to community centers, resource centers, libraries, and educational programs, helping provide students with hands-on learning opportunities that may not otherwise be available. We have also developed a database containing more than 300+ summer programs, scholarships, internships, competitions, and educational opportunities to help students access resources that can support their academic and professional growth.

Our mission extends beyond providing materials. We aim to create pathways for long-term success by connecting students with opportunities, information, and mentorship. Through partnerships with schools, libraries, nonprofits, and community organizations, we are working to increase access to resources such as microscopes, laboratory supplies, robotics kits, engineering materials, and science focused books. We also seek to support literacy initiatives by donating educational books, including works by local Chicago-area authors, to schools and libraries.

As a young woman pursuing STEM, I am particularly passionate about increasing representation and opportunity for girls in science and technology. Research consistently shows that mentorship and role models play a significant role in whether young women pursue and persist in STEM fields. By expanding access to educational resources, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences, CORE Initiative seeks to empower students, especially young women and those from underserved communities, to explore their interests, develop confidence in their abilities, and pursue futures in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.