JEDI Jumpstart to Engineering Design and Invention These ARE the jobs you’re looking for

Purpose: Establish and maintain a mechanism to leverage Space SIG technical activity in a way that inspires Black youth to pursue careers in the space industry. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of practical, hands-on engineering skills. JEDI is an outreach project intended to provide different services to Black youth based on their academic matriculation, ranging from Kindergarten through Undergraduate as well as to university-level institutions.

Problem Statement There is severe underrepresentation of African Americans in the US Space Industry This is reflected in low percentages of African American students pursuing or enrolled in internship and co-op programs throughout the industry This limits African American hiring opportunities

JEDI Outreach Desired results: more students hired into space agencies and companies Younger students = wide net Expose as many children as possible to ideas of careers in space Older students = narrow focus Give detailed attention to high promise students JEDI is also the pathway that allows students to participate in the Space SIG This is an initiative we MUST do

Outreach Philosophy of JEDI Traditional student outreach takes technologists AWAY from their technical work to provide technical outreach unrelated to their work Toothpick bridge building, egg drop, Estes model rockets, etc. Not a bad thing, but not the best use of our limited time JEDI outreach takes technologists AND their technical work to provide technical outreach directly related to their work Component design, fabrication, research for existing Space SIG technical projects (Arusha, Macho Mengi, etc.) We believe the greater relevance will enhance student interest and increase project efficiency

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Youngling Student in grades K-5 Targeted for space-related presentations in group settings SEEK and other NSBE conferences NSBE Bridge Magazine, Websites and Social Media Church, community, or other youth groups May also be engaged via student kits, competitions, etc. Does not receive one-on-one mentorship Parents may also subscribe to JEDI listserv for space-related and career information

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Trainee NSBE Jr. member in grades 6-8 Formally registers as a JEDI Assigned to an Trainee Circle * (group of Trainees in same chapter or city) A circle could be a NSBE Jr. chapter program Each circle is assigned to a Padawan or Enclave Targeted for middle-school level Space SIG competitions and technical project activity On email distribution for space-related information * Number of Circles may be limited by number of JEDI Padawans and Enclaves

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Initiate NSBE Jr. member in grades 9-12 Formally registers as a JEDI Assigned to an Initiate Cluster * (group of Initiates in same chapter or city) A cluster could be a NSBE Jr. chapter program Each cluster is assigned to a Padawan or Enclave Targeted for high-school level Space SIG competitions and technical project activity On email distribution for space-related information * Number of Clusters may be limited by number of JEDI Padawans and Enclaves

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Padawan NSBE member in an undergraduate STEM discipline Applies for acceptance as a Padawan Assigned to a JEDI Mentor Participates in Mentor’s Space SIG technical project(s) Receives academic, career, and engineering research mentorship from Mentor Assists Mentor with outreach May be assigned an Initiate or Circle Cluster to mentor/oversee On email distribution for space-related information * Number of Padawans may be limited by number of JEDI Mentors

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Enclave Academic institution (may partner with other Enclaves and/or Padawans) Must have a faculty member who joins the Space SIG as a JEDI Mentor and research Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator Must have a NSBE Chapter that votes to participate as an Enclave via Executive Board or General Membership vote Chapter designates a lead who becomes Padawan to the Mentor May recruit or be assigned one or more Initiate Clusters * No limit to number of Enclaves

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Enclave May align with one or more Space SIG projects Must contribute some combination of grant/proposal writing, facility or lab space, tools, raw materials, or other equipment Grants/proposals should align with Space SIG’s Academia-NSBE-Industry method Graduate / Undergraduate student engagement must be composed at least 60% of NSBE chapter members (may also incorporate senior design classes, special topics classes, independent/graduate research, etc.) Some Enclave students may also be Padawans, but most are not

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Mentor Space SIG member on a technical project team Each member encouraged to become a Mentor Assigned to mentor an Enclave or a Padawan Assigns and evaluates project-related technical activity Ensures direct relevance of assigned activity to project Provides advice leading to space-related careers Any Enclave assignment includes the Padawan lead of the Enclave, but no other Padawans Prepare Padawan for competitive job application with Mentor’s company/institution

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Mentor Helps technical project team prepare at least one new Youngling or Initiate outreach product (competition, presentation, video, etc.) annually Must be directly based on team’s technical project May be created to generate/provide relevant project data if age appropriate Will build up a library of relevant outreach over time Helps evaluate/judge competition submissions

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Councilor Space SIG member of JEDI Council - coordinates JEDI Recruits Space SIG members to become JEDI Mentors Oversees Youngling, Initiate, and Padawan listservs Creates, distributes, and evaluates Padawan applications Assigns Padawans to Mentors Assigns Initiates to Clusters Maintains tracking data of all JEDI participants

Who is a JEDI? JEDI Councilor Develops and implements metrics to assess overall effectiveness of JEDI Develops and oversees any JEDI-specific competitions Coordinates JEDI presentations at SEEK and other NSBE conferences Coordinates distribution of outreach material to target outlets (e.g. SEEK, YouTube, NSBE PCI leadership, Youngling or Padawan listservs, etc.)

Building the JEDI Council The JEDI Council is the bridge between the Space SIG’s technologists (with their work) and students Who are the Space SIG members who should lead this activity as JEDI Councilors? Generally not the technologists – those should be the JEDI Mentors (invent the technology) Educators / education / youth workers (both professional and volunteer) are ideal (make the technology fun/understandable) How large should the JEDI Council be and how should it operate Twenty-one different Councilors assigned to specific duties

Recruiting JEDI Mentors Encourage all technical project team members to be Mentors Mentor/Padawan relationship is an asset to technical project operations Project team leads weigh in on the assignment of Padawans to their Mentors Each Mentor is assigned only ONE Padawan Invest proper time to build strong personal / professional relationship – mold student into a competitive space professional Padawan is assigned for his/her entire undergraduate matriculation; should become a lifelong mentorship

JEDI Council Chief Councilor Zaire Silva Councilor for Younglings Tyrone Bennett Regional Councilor for Trainees (6) Region 1 Gwen Brantley Region 2 Open Region 3 Open Region 4 Open Region 5 Astra Zeno Region 6 Open

JEDI Council Regional Councilor for Initiates (6) Region 1 Dr. Shermane Austin Region 2 TBD (Dr. Joi Spraggins???) Region 3 Open Region 4 Open Region 5 Rachel Hill Region 6 Dr. Mera Horne

JEDI Council Councilor for Padawans Open Councilor for Enclaves Open Councilor for Mentors Open Councilor for Metrics Open Councilor for Space Camp Jackie Long Councilor for Competitions Open Councilor for Outreach Distribution Open

JEDI Council - Duties Chief Councilor Councilor for Younglings Oversee JEDI Council and implementation of JEDI Report to Space SIG Board of Directors Coordinate JEDI engagement with Aerospace Systems Conference Promote JEDI within other sectors of NSBE Councilor for Younglings Coordinate with NSBE PCI Chairs and staff as appropriate Build database of youth organizations serving grades K-5 for distribution of JEDI outreach material, including SEEK Help technical project teams and their JEDI develop age-appropriate outreach material related to their projects

JEDI Council - Duties Regional Councilor for Trainees Coordinate with regional PCI Chairs and NSBE Jr. chapter officers/advisors Build a database of youth organizations serving grades 6-8 with potential to form Trainee Circles Prepares presentation material for NSBE Jr. conferences Work with Space SIG technical project teams to identify tasks/activities suitable for Trainee Circles Helps recruit/establish Trainee Circles and assigns Circles to project teams Assist the Regional Councilor for Initiates with any JEDI activity occurring at regional conferences

JEDI Council - Duties Regional Councilor for Initiates Coordinate with regional PCI Chairs and NSBE Jr. chapter officers/advisors Build a database of youth organizations serving grades 9-12 with potential to form Initiate Clusters Prepares presentation material for NSBE Jr. conferences Work with Space SIG technical project teams to identify tasks/activities suitable for Initiate Clusters Helps recruit/establish Initiate Clusters and assigns clusters to project teams Serve as primary POC for any JEDI activity occurring at regional conferences

JEDI Council - Duties Councilor for Padawans Councilor for Enclaves Coordinates with NSBE Academic Excellence Chairs Prepares presentation material for NSBE conferences Oversees Padawan application and review process Coordinates with technical project teams to assign Padawans to Mentors Councilor for Enclaves Coordinates with technical project teams and Regions to identify and recruit candidate Enclaves Assist with Academia-NSBE-Industry method proposals Oversees Enclave application, review, and assignment process

JEDI Council - Duties Councilor for Mentors Coordinates with technical project teams to recruit team members to serve as Mentors Assists students recommended by projects with Padawan application process Assists Councilors for Padawans and Enclaves with assignments to technical project teams Develops mentorship training material for Mentors and ensures incorporation in Space Leadership Conference sessions

JEDI Council - Duties Councilor for Metrics Councilor for Space Camp Works with other Councilors to establish and track metrics in respective areas of oversight Prepares quarterly performance reports for distribution to Space SIG Board of Directors and appropriate NSBE boards and committees Councilor for Space Camp Develops and oversees a project to send annual cohorts of NSBE Jr. students as a team to the US Space Camp in Huntsville, AL Works with other Councilors to ensure participant involvement in other JEDI activity before and after Space Camp experience

JEDI Council - Duties Councilor for Competitions Oversees all JEDI competitions Works with appropriate Councilors and project teams to create age-appropriate student competitions based on Space SIG projects Creates necessary descriptive and promotional material Recruits competition judges as appropriate Coordinates with any NSBE boards or conference planning teams or outside agencies as appropriate to secure competition facility or agenda space or other logistics needed to implement competitions

JEDI Council - Duties Councilor for Outreach Distribution Establishes and maintains JEDI email distribution lists Establishes and oversees social media platforms specific to JEDI activity Encourages JEDI use in overall Space SIG and NSBE social media platforms Solicits JEDI Councilors for appropriate outreach material on a regular basis Monitors space-industry news platforms for important information to include in JEDI outreach Solicits co-op and intern information from space-related companies affiliated with NSBE Organizes Space SIG material and space-industry news suitable for distribution at each JEDI level (Youngling, Initiate, Padawan, and Enclave) Posts outreach material on a regular basis to listservs and social media platforms

“Do…or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda Action Point “Do…or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda