From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

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.
rCLNASA and the NAACP share a longstanding commitment to attracting more diverse students to STEM education and ultimately careers,rCY said Shahra Lambert, senior advisor for engagement and equity, NASA headquarters.
rCLThis 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 NAACPrCOs
help werCOll be able to truly impact young minds who will be our future scientists, engineers, explorers and more.rCY
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.
rCLMuch like NASA, brave, brilliant, Black women were critical to the
success of the NAACP,rCY said Leon W. Russell, Chairman of the NAACP
Board of Directors. rCLFor years, werCOve 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
todayrCOs agreement, we hope to increase the number of Black and underrepresented students in the STEM fields and help them reach for
the stars.rCY
While initial efforts will be led by NASArCOs 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 NASArCOs Equity Action Plan.
NASA works to explore the secrets of the universe and solve the worldrCOs
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
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