3 min read<\/p>\n
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/nasa-naacp-space-act-agreement-signing-sept-19.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nNAACP 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. <\/div>\nNASA\/Keegan Barber<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDuring 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cNASA and the NAACP share a longstanding commitment to attracting more diverse students to STEM education and ultimately careers,\u201d said Shahra Lambert, senior advisor for engagement and equity, NASA headquarters. \u201cThis 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\u2019s help we\u2019ll be able to truly impact young minds who will be our future scientists, engineers, explorers and more.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch like NASA, brave, brilliant, Black women were critical to the success of the NAACP,\u201d said Leon W. Russell, Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors. \u201cFor years, we\u2019ve 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\u2019s agreement, we hope to increase the number of Black and underrepresented students in the STEM fields and help them reach for the stars.\u201d<\/p>\n
While initial efforts will be led by NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s Equity Action Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\nNASA works to explore the secrets of the universe and solve the world\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For more information on how NASA inspires students to pursue STEM visit:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/nasa-naacp-space-act-agreement-signing-sept-19.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>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.<\/p>\n
\u201cNASA and the NAACP share a longstanding commitment to attracting more diverse students to STEM education and ultimately careers,\u201d said Shahra Lambert, senior advisor for engagement and equity, NASA headquarters. \u201cThis 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\u2019s help we\u2019ll be able to truly impact young minds who will be our future scientists, engineers, explorers and more.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch like NASA, brave, brilliant, Black women were critical to the success of the NAACP,\u201d said Leon W. Russell, Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors. \u201cFor years, we\u2019ve 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\u2019s agreement, we hope to increase the number of Black and underrepresented students in the STEM fields and help them reach for the stars.\u201d<\/p>\n
While initial efforts will be led by NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s Equity Action Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n NASA works to explore the secrets of the universe and solve the world\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n For more information on how NASA inspires students to pursue STEM visit:<\/p>\n