Johnson Hosts Mentoring Activities for Together We Stand Tall for Girls Day of Shadowing
A cohort of 11 girls, ages 11 to 17, embarked on a journey at NASA’s Johnson Space Center through the TWST4Girls (Together We Stand Tall for Girls) program on July 28, 2023. The event was driven by the organizations’ shared vision of inspiring young girls to pursue their dreams and reach for the stars.
The joint efforts between TWST4Girls, Johnson’s Center Director Vanessa Wyche, Chief Flight Director Emily Nelson, the External Relations Office, and the Flight Operations Directorate made this unique experience possible.
“Collectively, NASA and Together We Stand Tall for Girls aims to build the confidence of young girls, showing that they belong in the world of space exploration and can achieve greatness in their desired field,” said Wyche.
A dozen dedicated NASA women from various fields volunteered as mentors to showcase career paths within the agency, including flight operations, finance, engineering, medicine, law, and robotics. The girls explored the Mission Control Center, Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. They engaged in an icebreaker activity led by Cortney Blackburn, an Office of STEM Engagement intern and aspiring teacher. The event provided first-hand insights into NASA’s missions, objectives, and the technologies driving space exploration. Students also enjoyed individual meetings to discuss leadership and career opportunities across NASA.
“We were so excited to team up with TWST4Girls and show these young women the diversity of opportunity available to them in what we do here at the Johnson Space Center. We were energized by their curiosity and their eagerness to learn,” said Nelson.
The girls who took part in the TWST4Girls program's day of shadowing at Johnson expressed their appreciation for the invaluable experience of exploring various career options at NASA. They emphasized the value of establishing personal connections with NASA professionals, who not only provided insights into their own careers, but displayed genuine interest in getting to know them. The girls enjoyed witnessing individuals from many backgrounds work together toward a common goal.
Since its establishment in 2014, TWST4Girls has impacted the Houston community by offering free programs to underserved youth to help them discover and achieve their goals. The selection process for this opportunity at Johnson identified candidates who demonstrated a strong interest in a STEM-related career, leadership qualities, consistent pursuit of knowledge, and commitment to fulfilling responsibilities. TWST4Girls sought participants who had consistently shown dedication to their STEM interests through involvement in science clubs, participation in STEM competitions, or engagement in research and projects.
NASA’s collaboration with TWST4Girls is driven by empowering girls of the Artemis Generation with knowledge, experiences, and connections that positively shape their futures and contribute to a more inclusive and innovative future in space exploration and beyond.
Scroll below to enjoy images from the day of shadowing activities.
