STEAM WARS & BEYOND: Dream It, Be It is a confidence‑building career pathway initiative designed to strengthen girls’ confidence, curiosity, courage, and leadership. Each session serves as a mission that helps participants explore career pathways, build real‑world skills, meet role models, and step into leadership. In 2026, the programme reached a major milestone when it was formally recognised as a Soroptimist International Foundation (SIF) project. Originally launched as a club and region initiative within Soroptimist International of the Americas, its growing impact and innovative design led to its adoption by the Foundation. Submitted by SI El Centro, the three‑year project began in January 2026 following a highly successful flagship conference in 2025. The SI Foundation contributed USD 10,000 toward the 2026 programme, with additional support from generous sponsors—ensuring expanded access for girls across the region.
The 2026 STEAM WARS & BEYOND Conference welcomed 114 girls aged 10–18 from 29 schools across Imperial County, San Diego, Riverside, Yuma, and Mexicali, with presenters joining from the United States, Mexico, and Italy. Delivered by Soroptimist International of El Centro and supported by Soroptimist clubs, educators, industry partners, and volunteers, the full‑day event offered hands‑on learning, mentorship, and career exploration. While rooted in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics (STEAM), the programme expanded in 2026 to include Business & Finance, Law & Justice, and Agriculture, reflecting the diverse career landscapes shaping the region.
STEAM Professionals gave free lectures and demonstrations throughout the day
The programme has grown considerably since its first conference in 2025. Around 70 girls attended that inaugural event, compared with 114 in 2026, while registrations increased from approximately 113 to 157. Its reach has also extended beyond Imperial County, with participants travelling from across Southern California and from Mexicali, Mexico. This growing multi-county and binational reach is helping more girls access career pathways, mentors and opportunities that may otherwise be difficult to encounter.
Held on 24 January 2026 at Central Union High School’s STEM Building in El Centro, California, the conference provided a structured day of interactive sessions, including an Exhibitor Galaxy Hall, a NASA/STEM keynote panel, a Law & Order panel, robotics and engineering challenges, a rocket‑launch activity, and a Business Empire workshop. A cohort‑based rotation model ensured that every participant had equitable access to all sessions. The event was offered entirely free of charge thanks to sponsors, grantors, and community partners.
An important part of the programme is giving girls direct access to people already working and studying across these fields. Participants met professionals, educators and student leaders, with presenters joining from the United States, Mexico and Italy. The programme is designed not only to introduce possible careers, but to help girls identify their own strengths, practise communication and goal setting, build resilience and connect with mentors and practical next steps towards education and employment.
Evaluation results highlight the programme’s strong impact:
- 92% of participants created achievable goals
- 91% felt prepared to pursue their career ambitions
- 88% reported increased confidence
Feedback also indicates that participants were thinking beyond the conference itself. Of the 77 girls who completed the evaluation, 40 said they planned to research a career or college programme, 32 intended to apply for a programme or scholarship and 28 planned to speak with a counsellor or teacher about their classes. Nineteen said they intended to seek a mentor. The responses also highlighted what girls want next, including greater access to education and career funding and more mentoring from local Soroptimists.
The ambition now extends beyond a single annual conference. The project’s plans include strengthening mentorship, developing follow-up opportunities such as clubs, mentoring and support to navigate scholarships and programmes, and continuing to expand its regional and binational networks. The 2027 conference is targeting 150 participants, while the longer-term aim is to develop more year-round career pathway programming alongside the annual event.
STEAM WARS & BEYOND continues to grow as a high‑impact pathway initiative. Now strengthened by the SI Foundation, the programme is poised to reach even more girls across the region and beyond, expanding access to mentorship, career knowledge, and opportunity for those who need it most.
