El Centro’s Star Wars-themed program hits the international stage
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A program born in the low desert of the Imperial Valley is capturing international attention.
STEAM WARS & BEYOND, a unique career guidance project created by Soroptimist International of El Centro, has officially transitioned from a local conference into a globally recognized development program.
The program’s rapid ascent recently took local volunteer leaders from the Imperial Valley to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, which directly led to an exclusive invitation to present on the world stage in Incheon, Republic of Korea.
For years, community projects in smaller, rural regions have struggled to compete with the resources of major metropolitan hubs.
“A lot of planning, but at the same time it was a wonderful feeling because our project is being seen,” said Ivonne Sotomayor Santos, Programs Chair and co-founder of the initiative. “We’re always living under the shadow of the bigger cities like LA and San Diego, but our project…we felt it was a wonderful thing. There was so much that we can expand on and it’s a good idea.”
The presentation took place during the 49th Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) Biennial Convention in South Korea. Local organizers shared their success with delegates representing 21 different countries and territories.
For Sotomayor Santos, visiting Incheon opened doors she never expected.
“To meet with the rest of the countries in our Federation…and to be there in South Korea, a place I never thought I would have the chance to visit, it was amazing” Sotomayor Santos said. “We got to cement partnerships.”
She added that the journey completely shifted the perspective of the local organization.
“It just brought this world of possibility to us because not only are we helping our girls, but we’re helping the women in the club grow, and that’s the beauty of it too,” Sotomayor Santos explained. “You can’t do these programs…without having the core element: You have to dream.”
Hosted locally at Central Union High School, the program targets girls ages 10 to 18. It leverages a creative “Star Wars” theme to make career exploration immersive and engaging.
Participants interact with volunteers dressed as iconic characters before entering workshops spanning science, technology, agriculture, business, finance, and public service.
“The women in those movies are strong and empowered,” explained Maria Carrillo-Martinez, President of Soroptimist International of El Centro. “That is the message we want to get across to our girls: you are also powerful and strong, and you can find your space in these careers.”
Carrillo-Martinez emphasized that the initiative goes far beyond standard classroom teaching. “We’re not just getting a room, throwing a science teacher in, getting kids together, and talking about career paths,” she said. “We are bringing real role models to the girls and saying, ‘Here is a female engineer. This can be you in a few years.'”
The initiative addresses a universal hurdle faced by young women entering competitive industries.
“Females are always struggling to get into those fields or feel like they belong,” Carrillo-Martinez added. “It’s not just girls in Imperial County. It’s girls everywhere saying, ‘I don’t know if I can do that…I’m just a girl.’ But it is possible. We are trying to bring the world to them.”
The program’s unique structure has earned a permanent spot in the Soroptimist International Foundation’s global project portfolio. It stands as the very first locally developed project from an American SIA club to achieve this formal foundation partnership.
This designation places El Centro’s initiative alongside specialized humanitarian sites in Haiti, Nepal, and Sierra Leone.
The international spotlight is also bringing unexpected attention back to the region’s economy.
“We are bringing so much visibility to the Imperial Valley,” Carrillo-Martinez noted. “People from all over the world are asking, ‘Where is El Centro?’ They see it’s in the low desert of California, close to the border, and they think, ‘Maybe I want to invest there.’ There are a lot of possibilities.”
To date, Soroptimist International of El Centro has secured more than $100,000 in multi-year grants, sponsorships, and funding commitments to sustain and grow the program over the next three years.
True to the organization’s strict “pay your own way” tradition, all travel, lodging, and convention registration costs for the delegation to South Korea were personally funded by the volunteers themselves.
Every dollar secured through grants and donations is funneled directly back into training, workshops, and resources for local youth.
Planning is already underway for the next major STEAM WARS & BEYOND conference, scheduled for January 30, 2027.
To learn more about this project or to get involved, you can visit the Soroptimist International Foundation website here.
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