Imagine this.

DR. CHERYL COOPER

I was sitting across a table of city school board members and pitching an idea about how to bring STEM into the school district. Having prepared all of the relevant information and full of passion, I knew exposing students to STEM would be an introduction to what the future could hold for them. The presentation went off without a hitch. The superintendent, a fellow PhD, seemed pleased with what was said. I asked the board what their thoughts were and if I had the green light to begin implementing the outlined plan.

“Not this year. It just isn’t in the budget. We don’t have the kind of resources that would be needed to make this happen. We are sorry, but it is a no.”

As they stood up to leave the room, I felt like the floor fell out from under me. This couldn’t be happening, could it? How could they not see the benefits to this plan? The Superintendent began to pack up his things, hesitating for a moment as he looked at me with apologetic eyes. If I ever was going to shoot my shot, now was the time.

“Dr. _____, how are you doing with STEM classes in your district?”

“Well, our boys seem to be just fine. We have a variety of offerings for them, but our girls don’t have much, I am sorry to say.”

I knew that was not acceptable. How could we ever expect better futures for our girls if we didn’t show them what was possible? I asked if I planned an off-site, privately funded event for the girls in the high school to introduce them to STEM and technology, would I have his permission to plan it. He agreed. I honestly had no idea how I was going to make it work, but it was important that I try.

That was the first STEM event that I had planned and executed. Shortly after this event, I was so sad and frustrated that this wasn’t a regular part of every school district in the city. I had spent a lifetime without a mentor, from the hood of Kansas City to crossing the stage for my PhD. No one showed me what to do or how to do it. I had to fight my way through all of the “isms” that accompany being a Black woman in corporate America. While lamenting over the unfairness of it all and how unsatisfying it was that no leaders I knew would pick up the baton and run with this idea of mentoring young, underprivileged and marginalized girls, I decided it could be me. I would put my own resources into creating an organization that would mentor young girls and women about the benefits and pathways into Cybersecurity. It was on that day that the idea for Women in Security Mentors (WinS) was born.

I did what I had to do to start WinS, and that included getting other women and allies to help me produce events, raise money, mentor, and promote educational opportunities for young women to learn more about cybersecurity and technology. There are great opportunities to rise within that industry and the entry point is truly accessible to young women. The industry is in desperate need of more women that have been marginalized in some way in society. Yes, we need women, but we especially need women who are all colors and races. The more diverse our workforce becomes, the better off we all will be.

At an event last year, sponsored by T-Mobile, we had 100+ girls from the inner city of Kansas City come to the T-Mobile campus. We treated them like they were special because they are. One of the girls at the end of the day asked if she could come back again. Another said she liked being able to talk to the women who shared their experiences and answered questions. She could see a way for a future where she hadn’t seen before.

Their responses are why I do this work. To give these girls opportunities that they never knew existed. Far too many marginalized kids are written off before they are given a chance. I want to change that. I want WinS to grow so that our girls can grow and become successful in life. I am on a mission to show them what they can be. The company I work for feels that way too. Because of the success of the Kansas City event, I was asked by my company’s leadership team to host similar events in Washington and Texas. These events resulted in over a combined 350 high school girls attending the Cyber and Technology career fest to expose them to career possibilities.

I regret that I didn’t have a mentor in my life when I was their age. I ended up in the drug culture of the inner city of Kansas City. I was married to a drug dealer and enjoyed the product far more than was good for me. To escape that life for me and my young daughter, I chose to join the Navy. That is where I learned technology and have pursued a career in it ever since. As Dr. Cheryl Cooper, I have become as credentialed as one can get in this field. I am a Business Information Security Officer at T-Mobile, a professor, and spend my off-time volunteering for WinS and other organizations that mentor underprivileged and marginalized young women. I am a favorite cybersecurity panelist, a highly sought after speaker, and an author of my memoir, Hood to Hooded

I humbly share what I have accomplished so far because I did this without anyone showing me the way or guiding me. I worked so hard to make something of myself. I want the girls of the future to not have to work so hard to achieve even more than I have. It is possible and I hope that you will help support my efforts.

There are many ways to get involved – from sponsoring an event, to making donations at www.drcherylcooper.com for WinS, to speaking or mentoring our young people. All proceeds from my book, Hood to Hooded, are donated to WinS that help fund materials, training, and scholarships for marginalized and underprivileged girls. I ask that you help however you can.

Together we can make the future so bright for these young people. Please join me.

Dr. Cheryl Cooper is a Business Information Security Office at T-Mobile, founder of Women In Security Mentors, and author of Hood to Hooded.

To make a donation visit www. drcherylcooper.com