“Get the girl to check the numbers” – John Glenn
Get Informed:
Well, who’s that “girl” you ask, well, more like a woman, but it was no other than Katherine Johnson. Katherine and her colleagues, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were known as the three colored women that did the calculations that guided NASA’s 1962 Friendship 7 Mission through space. These three figures, assisted in finding hidden figures that made history during the space race of the 1960’s.
“Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.” – Katherine Johnson
For many years, STEM related fields were considered a privilege to be practiced by white males. Women of color have persevered through various adversities, to follow their passion, and stand out amongst the crowd to be the FIRST of many things within education and STEM. Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary accomplished one of many victories, that resulted in astronomical progress in the field of STEM. Approximately 30 years later, in 1992, Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman to travel into space, on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Now let’s fast forward just 20 years later, and we can visit Dr. Jedidah Isler, who is the first African-American woman to receive a PhD in Astrophysics from Yale University. Dr. Isler is an award winning researcher and TED fellow speaker. Along with her research on black holes, she continues to speak on the importance of inclusiveness in STEM. KLJ Way takes this time to put spotlight on “hidden figures” in STEM, that have set milestones and strive to make the difference for generations now and to come. Susan McKinney-Steward, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Helen Octavia Dickens, Jocelyn Elders, Treena Livingston Arinzeh, Aprille Ericsson-Jackson, Aisha Bowe, Nola Hylton, Ashanti Johnson, Deena Pierott, and so many more, we recognize, and applaud you for the difference you make for not just women, but women of color!
Upcoming Event:
Did you miss out on Game Night?! Well, we have another opportunity for us all to come together in the name of STEM! KLJ Way is a strong advocate of healthy lifestyles, so we will be hosting a Road Race on Saturday, June 22, 2019. Whether you are a runner, walker, or perhaps a little of both, wogger? KLJ Way’s Road Race is an event that will suit all fitness levels, and all ages. Registration for this event will begin on April 1st, so be sure to follow us via FB and IG to receive updates.
Get Involved:
Interested in volunteering at our next event or upcoming community service? Contact us HERE. To make donations click HERE.