Hello Collaborative Leadership Team Members, We hope this message finds you well and ready for spring! Here is an update about some of the exciting projects happening across the NGCP network. AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS: On March 1, 2018, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced<https://www.aia.org/press-releases/181136-new-partnership-announced-to-advance-educat> a partnership with the NGCP, to engage more girls in architecture activities and career paths. The partnership includes updated navigability of architecture opportunities in The Connectory, and AIA K-12 National Working Group representation on the NGCP National Champions Board. To be connected with AIA, contact Erin Hogeboom<mailto:ehogeboom@ngcproject.org>, Director of Strategic Partnerships. INTRODUCING LISA MARTEN AND GINA CARTER: We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest NGCP Staff Members, Lisa Marten<http://ngcproject.org/our-team> and Gina Carter<http://ngcproject.org/gina-carter>. Lisa is our Operations and Finance Coordinator, working on contracts and invoicing. Gina is our Program Coordinator, supporting Network Projects and FabFems. Some of you may know Gina, as she comes to us from the Texas Girls Collaborative Project. You can learn more about them on the NGCP website. LEAP INTO SCIENCE WITH THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE: We are proud to be partnering with The Franklin Institute<https://www.fi.edu/> on the National Science Foundation funded Leap into Science<http://leap.fi.edu/> nationwide initiative. Leap into Science integrates open-ended science activities with children's books, designed for children ages 3-10 and families. We welcome teams from Arizona, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia as the first cohort of the Leap into Science National Network. Over the next three years, each state will be recruiting educators to participate in Leap into Science trainings and more states will join the network in 2019 and 2020. Contact Educational Programs Manager, Casi Herrera<mailto:cherrera@ngcproject.org>, with questions. MAY MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEETING: Our next monthly meeting is May 9, 2018 at 1:00PM Pacific/4:00PM Eastern. We will hear from National Champions Board Members who will discuss initiatives and resources available through their organizations. Please join us via Adobe Connect: https://connectpro35337274.adobeconnect.com/ngcplteams. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS BOARD: Over the last several months, we have had a number of impressive leaders join the NGCP National Champions Board. We are pleased to highlight those leaders below. You can see the entire list of our fabulous Champions on the NGCP website<http://ngcproject.org/about/champions-board>. Dr. Patricia Bath<http://ngcproject.org/about/cb/dr-patricia-bath>, Scientist, Inventor, Professor, UCLA Jenn Behrens<http://ngcproject.org/about/cb/jenn-behrens>, Partner, EVP Privacy, KUMA Tiffany Brown<http://ngcproject.org/about/cb/tiffany-brown>, Co-Founder, Urban Arts Collective (and AIA K-12 Working Group representative) Sarah Echohawk<http://ngcproject.org/about/cb/sarah-echohawk>, Chief Executive Officer, American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Paris Forest<http://ngcproject.org/about/cb/paris-forest>, Senior Manager, The Boeing Company Daniel Hatcher<http://ngcproject.org/about/cb/daniel-hatcher>, Director, Community Partnerships, Alliance for a Healthier Generation Jose Antonio Tijerino <http://ngcproject.org/about/cb/jose-antonio-tijerino> , President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES AND AFFILIATIONS IN THE CONNECTORY: It is time to include your summer opportunities in The Connectory<https://www.facebook.com/connectory/?fref=mentions>! Our Getting Started Guide<https://theconnectory.org/need-help> makes it easy. There is a bulk upload option (a dozen or more listings). Contact info@theconnectory.org<mailto:info@theconnectory.org> for more information. New 'Affiliations' in The Connectory are: Leap into Science; AIA; Science Action Club; CryptoClub; ACM (Association of Children's Museums). TOP RATED AT THE NATIONAL AFTERSCHOOL ASSOCIATION CONVENTION: Our collaborative presentation entitled "Moving Forward Together - Unexpected Partnerships," with Daniel Hatcher, NGCP Champions Board Member and Director of Community Partnerships for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation<https://www.healthiergeneration.org/>, was rated in the top 25 of the nearly 170 sessions at the National AfterSchool Association<https://naaweb.org/> (NAA) 2018 Convention. Congratulations to Erin and Daniel for providing such valuable content to the NAA community! Thanks for everything you are doing in your networks to support girls in STEM! Karen Karen Peterson, Founder & Chief Executive Officer The National Girls Collaborative and The Connectory @kpeterson @ngcproject