Maydm is Made By Them
/’meid-’em/
Our Mission
Maydm provides girls and youth of color in grades 6 -12 with the skills, experiences, and connections to pursue careers in and change the face of STEM.
Our Vision
We envision a world where all students know that a career in STEM is possible for them; a world where all students can pursue their dreams as entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, professors, and more.
Our Values
Inclusivity
Quality
Boldness
Reflection
The Issues We Are Addressing
50%
Women in Science & Engineering Jobs
66%
People of color in science & engineering careers
100%
K-12 schools nationwide that teach computer science classes
0
Projected Growth Rate of STEM Jobs
Our Approach to the Solution
Technical & Analytical Skills
Exposure Opportunities
Holistic Development
Internship Opportunities
November 2015
Our Beginning
After an experience in a classroom with very few girls and students of color, our Founder, starts Maydm to provide STEM programming for these traditionally underrepresented populations.
One Year Later
In response to the needs of the community, Maydm begins to focus on inspiring programs that are targeted to girls and youth of color in middle and high school, including expanded program offerings to include electric engineering. We begin to identify opportunities to generate support from various corporate and public agencies. Many of those early supporters are still jointly pursuing the vision of equal opportunities and diverse pipelines in technology.
Total Students Served to date: 174
Our Growth Begins
Maydm hosts our first large scale event at the close of 2017, Circuits, Cards, and Code. 100 middle and high school students learned about electronic engineering while building decorative ornaments and creating STEM-inspired greeting cards for loved ones during the holiday season. We have a 21% increase in the number of programs over the prior year and a 41% increase in number of students served.
Total students served to date: 539
Defining Our North Star
Maydm concentrates our efforts on learners in the very pivotal middle and high school age group. By developing more immersive programs that expose students to the academic and professional STEM fields, we continue to take a holistic approach to preparing our students for a future in these fields.
Maydm also broadened its reach in 2018, holding our first program in Milwaukee. In “Adventures in Programming,” students engaged with local technology companies and institutions of higher education.
Total Students Served to Date: 755
A Record Year
Maydm acquires a dedicated team of five full-time staff members and interacts with more than 500 students. Program offerings expand to immersive summer programs and a variety of single day STEM workshops, as well as contracted programs with community partners and local schools.
In Partnership with Epic, Maydm hosts the fantastic, Maydm’s Maker’s Epic Experience, introducing more than 100 students to graphic animation and hardware programming.
Total Students Served to Date: 1257
Five Years Strong
The year starts with big plans and great support from our community to expand our programs and our team. And then in March, the world-altering COVID-19 virus effects those plans. Maydm quickly pivots and offers its first virtual program over Madison Metropolitan School District’s spring break.
Later this year, we will celebrate our 5 year anniversary with a student showcase and an opportunity for our partners and supporters to celebrate the work of our students.
Students served to date: 1767
Meet Our Team
Christina Outlay
Director of Operations
Why Maydm
As a Black woman with an IT background in corporate and higher education, I am well aware of the challenges and opportunities that exist for women and other underrepresented groups in our industry. I am committed to showing our youth that a future in STEM is possible for them and provide them with the STEM knowledge, training, and opportunities with local employers to be successful.
Background
Christina brings a background in corporate IT, nonprofit leadership, program development, project management, and higher education to her role at Maydm. Her mission is to get more girls, minorities and low-income youth interested in computing careers. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Information Systems from DePaul University and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois at Chicago, along with 12 years of IT corporate experience and 13 years of academic teaching and research experience. Christina was an Associate Professor of Information Technology at UW-Whitewater and nonprofit director prior to joining Maydm.
Outside of work, Christina is a married mom of four and a chronic overachiever who is constantly juggling multiple priorities. She is the President of the Sun Prairie Police Commission, board member for Ghana Code Club, past board member for Collaboration for Good, 2019 Madison Magnet Impact Award finalist, 2018 UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economic Service Award recipient, 2017 Brava Woman to Watch and 2013 UW System Outstanding Woman of Color in Education. She has been quoted in The Capital Times, Madison 365, and Wisconsin State Journal.
Christina Outlay
Executive Director
Rebecca Hildebrandt
Director of Operations
Why Maydm
I want girls and students of color to see their unlimited potential and be empowered with the tools to achieve their goals and dreams.
Background
Rebecca has a background in non-profit development and leadership with a focus on fundraising, collaboration, operations and relationship management. She has a passion for mission based work and connecting organizations and volunteers to the mission to allow for meaningful engagement. Outside of work, she has developed her leadership skills over the past 20 years as a youth hockey coach and community volunteer. Rebecca graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.
Rebecca Hildebrandt
Director of Operations
Melissa Pfahl
Development & Executive Assistant
Why Maydm
Maydm’s mission provides a clear goal for creating an equitable environment for students of color in the STEM community. To be a part of an organization that builds our youth up in an ever growing field is an honor. I want to see a world with a more diverse STEM field and where girls of color know that their dream career is possible for them.
Background
Melissa has a BS in Human Development and Family Studies and a certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Melissa worked as an early childhood educator for two years before entering the nonprofit world. Melissa is passionate about empowering students, specifically students of color in their education. She wants to help build an equitable environment for students of color to have careers in STEM and pursue their dreams.
Melissa Pfahl
Development & Executive Assistant
Carmelo Dávila
Outreach Manager
Why Maydm
As a first generation college graduate, I am aware that a college education is a great gateway to career advancement and upward mobility. This is why I am fully committed to supporting Maydm’s efforts to help young girls and students of color realize that a fulfilling career in STEM is something they can aspire to.
Background
Carmelo joined the Maydm team with several years of experience working in program planning and development, community outreach, and youth development. He is passionate about connecting young people with experiential learning activities, and is a true advocate of the “learn by doing” motto associated with this type of learning. As a first-generation Latino graduating from college, he is committed to supporting girls and youth of color in their quest to identify and pursuit a career path based on their vocational calling. Carmelo earned a BA from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, and a MS from Michigan Technological University.
Carmelo Dávila
Outreach Manager
Ben Pate
Program Manager – Summer & School Immersives
Why Maydm
Having both of my parents having been able to go to college and earn their degrees that is not always the reality for African American youth. Helping students of color reach the reality of getting a degree in STEM and be able to get fulfilling careers in their field is why I joined Maydm.
Background
I went to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for Community Engagement and Educational Development. The past 10 years I worked with youth from preschool all the way up to high school. I worked primarily in afterschool programs in Dane and Milwaukee County. I have a main interest in developing youth in whatever skill I can provide for them. I started in basketball and coaching which lead to the passion of working with youth to help them develop to where they want to be.
Ben Pate
Program Manager – Summer & School Immersives
Anjali Gali
Curriculum Specialist
Background
Anjali is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, pursuing her BSc. Computer Sciences. She grew up in South India before coming to the United States for her higher education. Her focus lies in Computer Science Education and adapting current technologies in AR/VR for educational purposes. Based on her experiences as a Computer Science Student and STEM Major, she is passionate about creating curriculum that centers around girls and youth of color, encouraging them to find their corner in the STEM Industry and helping them bring their ideas to life.
Why Maydm
My journey into the STEM Industry began when I was encouraged by my teachers to pursue Computer Science, and has been propelled by my incredible female identifying and gender nonconforming peers and educators in the field. In working with Maydm, I am a part of the same support systems in my own community for other girls and youth of color, that allowed me to enter this industry. It is an honor to be able to serve the community that has given me the opportunity to learn these new technologies.
Anjali Gali
Curriculum Specialist
Board of Directors
Jeff Mack, Board Chair
First VP Private Banking, Park Bank
Ryan Zerwer, Treasurer
Forward Community Investments, President & CEO
Amy Carrick, Secretary
Owner & Partner, Mindful HR LLC
Anna Burish
Associate Director, The Burish Group | UBS Financial Services Inc.
Mark Gehring
CTO, ImageMoverMD
Gwyn Hughes
Math Teacher, Madison Metropolitan School District
Jeremy Wodajo
Attorney, Quarles & Brady LLP
Jen Ilk
Vice President Information Technology, CUNA Mutual Group
