Vanessa also testified before the Ohio State Senate on the importance of STEM accessibility in rural schools. She presented data showing that schools with robust STEM programs saw a 15% increase in graduation rates and a 10% rise in post‑secondary enrollment. Her testimony helped secure a $5 million state grant earmarked for upgrading lab equipment in underfunded districts.
In 2022, Vanessa launched “Sisters Love Me”, a mentorship program for young women interested in STEM. The name reflects a simple belief: when sisters (in the broad sense of community) love and support each other, barriers crumble. sislovesme vanessa marie link
Key features of the program:
| Component | Description | |-----------|-------------| | Monthly Workshops | Hands‑on sessions (e.g., building simple circuits, coding with Python) led by volunteer engineers and scientists. | | Story Circles | Participants share personal journeys, fostering resilience and confidence. | | Career Shadowing | One‑day visits to labs, hospitals, or tech firms, giving real‑world exposure. | | Micro‑Grants | Small seed funds for student‑led projects, encouraging innovation from the ground up. | Vanessa also testified before the Ohio State Senate
Within its first year, Sisters Love Me connected 200+ mentees with 50+ mentors, and several participants earned scholarships to top engineering schools. In 2022, Vanessa launched “Sisters Love Me” ,
Whenever classmates asked “Why this project?” Vanessa answered, “Because every person deserves a chance to hold onto what matters—whether that’s a basketball, a paintbrush, or a child’s hand.” This simple, human‑centered mantra guided all her later work.