NASA, NAACP Partner to Advance Diversity, Inclusion in STEM Fields

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)

NAACP Board Chair Leon Russell, left, and NASA Administrator Bill
Nelson, right, sign a Space Act Agreement between NASA and the NAACP
during a 5th Annual Hidden Figures Street Naming Anniversary event
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters
building in Washington. NASA/Keegan Barber During an event Thursday,
NASA and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) signed a Space Act Agreement to increase engagement and equity
for underrepresented students pursuing science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and to improve access to
agency activities and opportunities.

“NASA and the NAACP share a longstanding commitment to attracting more
diverse students to STEM education and ultimately careers,” said Shahra
Lambert, senior advisor for engagement and equity, NASA headquarters.
“This agreement reaffirms that commitment and solidifies a partnership
that will enable us to expand opportunities for more students of color
to build their STEM identity and gain real-world experience through
NASA STEM education, mentorship, and career awareness. With the NAACP’s
help we’ll be able to truly impact young minds who will be our future
scientists, engineers, explorers and more.”

As part of the agreement, the NAACP will incorporate NASA STEM lessons,
content, and themes into its Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and
Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) achievement program, which is a series of
competitions where students compete for scholarships and other
incentives in areas ranging from performing and culinary arts to
business and STEM. In turn, NASA will provide guidance on programming,
participate in information sharing, provide mentorship, and facilitate
tours of NASA facilities when appropriate.

“Much like NASA, brave, brilliant, Black women were critical to the
success of the NAACP,” said Leon W. Russell, Chairman of the NAACP
Board of Directors. “For years, we’ve worked to increase the number of
diverse STEM students by providing scholarships and establishing key
initiatives. Through our ACT-SO program and this new partnership with
NASA, both organizations will make even greater progress to help pave
the way for more Katherine Johnsons and Mary Jacksons. By enacting
today’s agreement, we hope to increase the number of Black and
underrepresented students in the STEM fields and help them reach for
the stars.”

While initial efforts will be led by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement,
the umbrella agreement also allows for further collaboration and
partnership in the future. Specifically, the agency and the NAACP will
look to support certain areas of NASA’s Equity Action Plan.

NASA works to explore the secrets of the universe and solve the world’s
most complex problems, which requires creating space for all people to
participate in and learn from its work in space. Providing access to
opportunities where young minds can be curious and see themselves
potentially at NASA and beyond is how the agency will continue to
inspire the next generation of STEM innovators.

For more information on how NASA inspires students to pursue STEM visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources