STEM Days for Every Community: From Small to Large Impact

Exposing youth to STEM can have a meaningful impact on the future. Ashley M. Mages has led STEM events of all sizes, from intimate gatherings to large-scale initiatives with over 180 participants. She co-leads the Girl Scout Patch Day at Boston Scientific, an event she has volunteered with for over a decade — one of the driving factors behind her decision to join the company. As a Board of Trustees member for Jeremiah Program, a support system for single mothers in college, Ashley saw the need to bring STEM exposure to families in the program. She successfully adapted a large-scale event into a smaller, community-driven model, tailoring activities to younger families with diverse experiences. This session will guide attendees through turning an idea into reality, covering securing funding, building a team, creating lasting impact, and key lessons learned to make STEM events successful at any scale.