The U.S State Department is sponsoring a new educational exchange program for women in STEM– all thanks to the film “Hidden Figures.”
“Hidden Figures” brings to light the story of three African-American women who played an integral role in a mission to send the first American astronaut into orbit around the Earth. Directed by Theodore Melfi, “Hidden Figures” stars actresses Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae.
The empowering film became one of the highest grossing films of 2016 putting it ahead of blockbuster films “La La Land,” “Star Trek Beyond,” and “X-Men: Apocalypse.”
In the history of the U.S. State Department, this will be the first time ever a Hollywood movie has inspired a publicly funded exchange program, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“This movie has taken on a life of its own and sparked things we’ve never seen before,” Liba Rubenstein, head of social impact for 21st Century Fox, told the Hollywood Reporter. “From a social impact perspective, the enduring relevance of this film means there has been no end to the demand for partnerships.”
The new program, which is called #HiddenNoMore will bring 50 women working in science, technology, engineering and math from 50 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America to the United States.
The idea for the program came to fruition as embassies overseas began to flood the State Department with requests for the film. “We really wanted to build on the momentum,” Stacy White, office director of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program told Hollywood Reporter.
The participants are scheduled to arrive in Washington in October, where they will travel across the U.S for three weeks meeting organizations and other groups that support STEM initiatives for women and girls.
Fox, which had donated $400,00, will have other activities planned for the participants as well.
Feature Image via Flickr/WOCinTech Chat
