HIGHLIGHTS: 2023 NYWIFT Creative Workforce STEM Summit

By Oyiza Adaba

Africa-Related New YoRk

The New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), a body which connects, educates and advocates for equality for women in the media, recently held its 2023 NYWIFT Creative Workforce STEM Summit. The three-day hybrid program gathered together "the most unique and diverse voices of women" to establish forward-moving strategies to create change.

**Day 1: Award-winning Aerospace Engineer, Tiera Fletcher delivering her keynote**

The keynote was delivered by Tiera Fletcher, an award-winning Aerospace Engineer who spoke on inspiring the next generation of women aerospace engineers. Her story of persistence in setting and achieving her goals while operating as a minority in her field, left many truly inspired.

Other panel discussions held explored the intersections of filmmaking, with science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through films like “The Human Trial” and “Aftershock”, filmmakers like Lisa Hepner and Paula Eislet brought attention to pertinent issues like diabetes and maternal mortality; while Dr. Marc Schiffman and Dr. Tamatha Fenster humanized the medical field with their groundbreaking studies with ICU and Fibroid patients. William Kenworthey, an urban designer and architect at HOK brought a visual perspective to climate change and the rising sea levels; Catlin Saks explained content strategies behind science-based channels like NOVA.

**NYWIFT Board President Leslie Fields-Cruz in a conversation with Filmmaker Lisa Hepner**

**NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez with Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, at a luncheon by NYWIFT**

During a private luncheon, NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez held a 20-minute Q&A with another keynote, Astronaut Ellen Ochoa - the first Hispanic woman in space in 1993. Now retired, after logging nearly 1,000 hours in space over the course of four missions between 1999 and 2002, Dr. Ochoa brought new insights on the A-Z of space travel with an assimilating video presentation.

**Participants at luncheon during NYWIFT STEM Summit**

The STEM Creative Summit proved a unique opportunity to rub minds and start conversations on how to translate these great ideas into life-changing projects in the near future.

With over 2,500 members and as many as 50 productions each year, the New York Women in Film & Television NYWIFT continues to energize and illuminate the achievements of its members. The prestigious association is led by multi award-winning media strategist Cynthia Lopez, and has Leslie Fields-Cruz, CEO of Black Public Media as its sitting Board President.

NYWIFT is open to new members and donors. Learn more here.