In this episode Erik and JJ connect with Cathy Chen, Executive Director of Fab Lab El Paso. We learn about her and her husband's journey founding a STEM focused nonprofit in a community that was significantly underserved with the number of digital skilling opportunities available prior to Fab Lab's  launch.  Cathy also shares her experience as a first generation immigrant and touches on the gender and cultural gaps that persist in the STEM fields.

Cathy Chen is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Fab Lab El Paso: a digital design, fabrication, and education space. Driven by her passion in advocating for the socialization and democratization of technology, she aspires to combine community-led, user-driven, and service-based model with creative innovation. Cathy champions the Maker Movement and works closely with designers, engineers, developers, and educators to execute high impact programs for the border community. In 2016, she was named STEM Educator of the Year by Chevron. In 2019, she received Innovation Award from Pioneer 21. In 2020, she received funding from Tribeca Film Institute IF/Then to produce a documentary short on a student DIY prosthesis story in El Paso, Texas. She studied Literature at Duke University and KMD Masters at Keio University in Tokyo. She also completed a Certificate of Readiness from Harvard Business School. Cathy is a native of New York City, currently residing in El Paso, Texas.”

You can learn more about Fab Lab El Paso at https://fablabelpaso.org/ or follow them on Instagram: @fablabep