Outer Space Inspiration Boxes
Donation protected
Hi everyone! My name is Joalda Morancy, and I am currently a third-year majoring in Geophysics and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. I am super interested in the universe around us and just outer space in general, and I love sharing it with others. Today, I am asking you to help me inspire young Black kids to get interested in space!!
The thing is that I didn't become interested in the topic until I was a sophomore in high school, and it is really because I never had access to any resources that would allow me to become interested in the topic. I was low-income growing up, so none of my focus was really on discovering what I was passionate about, but instead learning to survive. I just luckily came across a super interesting YouTube video of an astronaut making a sandwich on the International Space Station, and from there my passion skyrocketed. Along with not having much exposure, the lack of representation in the space community set me up to believe that as a young Black woman, I didn't really have a place in the field.
Fast forward to now, where I have grown a lot and have met so many individuals who have gone through a similar situation. At the start of college, I wanted to make sure that I was doing my best to inspire young kids who might be in a similar position as well and allow them to know that they do have a place in this community. That is how I first met some of the kids at Scott Joplin Elementary School.
I'm a NASA Solar System Ambassador, which allows me to go into my local community and talk about anything space to anyone willing to hear it. I go to school in Chicago, so that's the community I currently have access to. In early 2019, Mrs. Helena Henderson reached out to me regarding an opportunity to speak to a group of students about space since they had done a week of learning on the topic. I put together a presentation about the International Space Station, and a few weeks later presented it to a small auditorium of kids. Even though I was slightly nervous at the time, it was really amazing seeing all these young individuals learn about a topic I was passionate about. I also feel like it especially helped to have someone who looks like them speak to them as well. That morning made me feel really good, and I had an urge to continue to try to inspire the next generation of young scientists and engineers.
So this is where this project stems from. I am putting together a small Outer Space Inspiration Box of things that I think can help inspire these kids to want to get involved with the space community. I'm fundraising for about 90 kids at Scott Joplin, and at the same time I will be contributing a lot of my own money to the project, so any help is appreciated!! Also, if you'd like to contribute some items to the box, that would also be amazing!!
Thanks once again if you have gotten this far, and a big big thank you to everyone who contributes! Even if you can't, a quick share would be amazing!!
ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE OUTER SPACE INSPIRATION BOX
- Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly: I think this book is a great start for getting these kids interested in space while at the same time helping them learn about past Black trailblazers. The stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden are truly inspiring, and watching the film back in high school gave me a lot of hope that I didn't know that I needed.
-Space!: The Universe as You've Never Seen It Before (Knowledge Encyclopedias): I thought this Smithsonian book was super cool and had tons and tons of information on the majority of topics within space. Along with that, it has so many informative graphics and pictures, and I honestly believe that anyone at any age can appreciate the information in this book.
- NASA Meatball T-Shirt: A fun addition to the box since NASA merch is always a great thing to give to someone!
- Water Bottle Rocket: This is a fun project that can help a kid get some initial interest in rocketry! It's an easy and safe project that they could complete and launch and also learn from at the same time! I always wished when I was a bit younger that there was some sort of rocketry club at my high school or something similar, so with this item, I'm hoping to give the kids a bit of that experience.
- NASA Stickers: I mean who doesn't like NASA stickers?? Another fun addition!!
The thing is that I didn't become interested in the topic until I was a sophomore in high school, and it is really because I never had access to any resources that would allow me to become interested in the topic. I was low-income growing up, so none of my focus was really on discovering what I was passionate about, but instead learning to survive. I just luckily came across a super interesting YouTube video of an astronaut making a sandwich on the International Space Station, and from there my passion skyrocketed. Along with not having much exposure, the lack of representation in the space community set me up to believe that as a young Black woman, I didn't really have a place in the field.
Fast forward to now, where I have grown a lot and have met so many individuals who have gone through a similar situation. At the start of college, I wanted to make sure that I was doing my best to inspire young kids who might be in a similar position as well and allow them to know that they do have a place in this community. That is how I first met some of the kids at Scott Joplin Elementary School.
I'm a NASA Solar System Ambassador, which allows me to go into my local community and talk about anything space to anyone willing to hear it. I go to school in Chicago, so that's the community I currently have access to. In early 2019, Mrs. Helena Henderson reached out to me regarding an opportunity to speak to a group of students about space since they had done a week of learning on the topic. I put together a presentation about the International Space Station, and a few weeks later presented it to a small auditorium of kids. Even though I was slightly nervous at the time, it was really amazing seeing all these young individuals learn about a topic I was passionate about. I also feel like it especially helped to have someone who looks like them speak to them as well. That morning made me feel really good, and I had an urge to continue to try to inspire the next generation of young scientists and engineers.
So this is where this project stems from. I am putting together a small Outer Space Inspiration Box of things that I think can help inspire these kids to want to get involved with the space community. I'm fundraising for about 90 kids at Scott Joplin, and at the same time I will be contributing a lot of my own money to the project, so any help is appreciated!! Also, if you'd like to contribute some items to the box, that would also be amazing!!
Thanks once again if you have gotten this far, and a big big thank you to everyone who contributes! Even if you can't, a quick share would be amazing!!
ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE OUTER SPACE INSPIRATION BOX
- Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly: I think this book is a great start for getting these kids interested in space while at the same time helping them learn about past Black trailblazers. The stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden are truly inspiring, and watching the film back in high school gave me a lot of hope that I didn't know that I needed.
-Space!: The Universe as You've Never Seen It Before (Knowledge Encyclopedias): I thought this Smithsonian book was super cool and had tons and tons of information on the majority of topics within space. Along with that, it has so many informative graphics and pictures, and I honestly believe that anyone at any age can appreciate the information in this book.
- NASA Meatball T-Shirt: A fun addition to the box since NASA merch is always a great thing to give to someone!
- Water Bottle Rocket: This is a fun project that can help a kid get some initial interest in rocketry! It's an easy and safe project that they could complete and launch and also learn from at the same time! I always wished when I was a bit younger that there was some sort of rocketry club at my high school or something similar, so with this item, I'm hoping to give the kids a bit of that experience.
- NASA Stickers: I mean who doesn't like NASA stickers?? Another fun addition!!
Organizer
Joalda Morancy
Organizer
Chicago, IL