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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 distribution for space-related information
* Number of Circles may be limited by number of JEDI Padawans and Enclaves

8. 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 distribution for space-related information
* Number of Clusters may be limited by number of JEDI Padawans and Enclaves

9. 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 distribution for space-related information
* Number of Padawans may be limited by number of JEDI Mentors

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.)

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. JEDI Council - Duties Councilor for Outreach Distribution
Establishes and maintains JEDI 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

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