16 June 2023
Synergistic with celebrating the federal holiday Juneteenth (Monday, June 19th), the National Space Council and NASA are teaming up with Black in Astro to commemorate Black Space Week (BSW) 2023. The week will feature in-person and hybrid events designed around three goals:
These events will include interactive discussions with industry, government, and academic experts as an onramp to space teaching, learning, and research. Reach out to Ronald Gamble (ronald.s.gamble@nasa.gov) for more information about Black Space Week events and be sure to engage in the virtual events below throughout the week!
NASA will highlight the career paths and contributions of Black people in the space enterprise and catalyze systemic change to create an equitable space ecosystem culture that values diversity and cultivates a space community that reflects society. NASA has organized and will host public virtual events across the agency to promote the on-going support of Black Space Week 2023!!
NASA Black Space Week Virtual Event List:
Wednesday, June 21, 3PM: Marshall Space Flight Center to host a virtual Lunch and Learn Panel discussion. Tune in as Marshall’s brilliant Engineers discuss their contributions to space exploration and to NASA’s mission.
For more information, contact Amanda Otieno, amanda.otieno@nasa.gov.
Link to connect: Click to join the WebEx meeting.
Thursday, June 22, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Goddard Space Flight Center to host a virtual event featuring Dr. Brandon Jones, President-Elect of the American Geophysical Union and Program Director for Education and Broadening Participation in the Geosciences Directorate at the National Science Foundation for a virtual discussion.
For more information, contact Trena Ferrell, Ph.D., Trena.M.Ferrell@nasa.gov.
Link to connect: Click to join the Teams meeting.
Thursday, June 22, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Johnson Space Center to host a virtual event featuring remarks by Dr. Vanessa Wyche, NASA First African American Female Director, followed by highlights of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Chapter chartered by NASA JSC AAERG Staff. A conversation on NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), and a Kahoot game activity on the topic NASA black Space facts.
For more information, contact Darcelle Mitchell, darcelle.mitchell@nasa.gov.
Link to connect: Click to join the Teams meeting.
Friday, June 23, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: NASA Headquarters LGBTQI+ Employee Resource Group to host a virtual event titled “We're Here, Too: A Conversation on Black, Queer Intersectionality in the Space Industry” a panel discussion on the intersectionality of Black, queer professionals in the space industry. Hear from Chasity Williams, NASA Lead HR Specialist, Phillip Hargrove, Mission Integration Engineer, and Tyrone McCoy, Public Affairs Specialist as they speak on the intersectionality of Black, queer professionals in the space industry.
For more information, contact Tyrone McCoy, Tyrone.e.mccoy@nasa.gov.
Link to connect: Click to join the WebEx meeting.