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Creating Space For Women, People Of Color in STEM

Illinois State University

After commonly being the only woman and person of color in STEM circles, Candice Halbert decided to make a change.

Halbert is a scientific associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She founded Yo-STEM, a nonprofit that encourages young women from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Halbert said women and people of color in STEM are held to a higher standard.

“It’s more noticeable if I did something wrong versus somebody else,” she said. “It's just always being under that pressure to make sure that I'm always performing well.”

Halbert said she hopes to level the playing field by encouraging more young women and people of color to seek careers in STEM.

“I believe that it’s our job as scientists and engineers now to go back into the community and work with the youth.”

Halbert is the keynote speaker at Illinois State University’s Charles Morris STEM social for underrepresented students Nov. 7.

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