2024 April Intelligence

p re si dent & ce o Forest T. Harper, Jr.

Hello INROADS family!

I hope this letter finds you well and thriving in your respective endeavors. It fills me with immense pride and gratitude to reflect on the incredible INROADS legacy. This legacy is exemplified in the stories you will read throughout the issue. They highlight the remarkable accomplishments of the third African American woman in space, the tireless efforts of our future black history makers to bring about transformation, the influential alumnae who are dedicated to making a positive impact, and our partners who are making a difference in the communities they serve. will also find a tribute to the late James Tolliver, who was an exceptional INROADS employee and friend to many. James impact on INROADS will carry on for generations to come.

We will celebrate James’ legacy and the INROADS legacy at our upcoming annual Benefit Gala in May. We have a distinguished group of individuals who have truly earned their well-deserved awards. Their impact is a testament to the enduring vision of Father Carr, who founded INROADS. It’s truly remarkable that we have carried on his vision for over 50 years. We cordially invite you to join us in Washington, D.C., on May 2, 2024, to celebrate your fellow alumni and INROADS partners. It promises to be a remarkable event that you won’t want to miss.

Your continued support is vital to ensuring that INROADS remains a beacon of opportunity for young talent from diverse backgrounds. Thank you for being an integral part of the INROADS family.

Warm regards, Forest T. Harper, Jr.

ASTRONOMICAL ACHIEVEMENT:

INROADS Alumna Joan Higginbotham

3rd African American Woman in Space

MY EARLY CHILDHOOD

I’m a native Chicagoan. I grew up in Chicago and still consider it my home . I had a pretty typical upbringing. I was the youngest in my family. My mom was a registered nurse who went back to school after having four kids to become an educator. My dad was a dental technician. I went to Whitney Young High School, which was a magnet high school. I love school and always have. Education was incredibly important to my family. My parents expected all of my siblings and I to perform well in school. They wouldn’t accept anything less than our absolute best, and we all did a really good job. In my home, there was never a question of whether we were going to college; rather, the question was, “Where are you going to college?” - which was Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

I couldn’t resist the unique opportunity to work there. I decided to give this a shot for five years, only to find myself committed for two decades. Originally, I had a five-year career plan, aiming to work for NASA and reassess my path afterward. Seven years into my journey, a new colleague asked how long I had been there, making me realize I had forgotten my five-year career assessment. Things were going so well.

WORKING AT NASA

I began my career at NASA as a payload electrical engineer, ensuring that all electrical systems for cargo bay items were in order. I then monitored shuttle launches from the Kennedy Space Center’s firing room, overseeing systems until Houston Mission Control took over. Transitioning to an orbiter project engineer, I owned the entire shuttle, working with system engineers to resolve issues and ensuring readiness for flight.

At the time, I was doing a special assignment. My boss suggested repeatedly that I apply for the astronaut corps. The first time he said it, I just kind of chuckled. Then, about the third or fourth time he said it, I finally capitulated and put in an application.

That year, about 6,000 people applied to be astronauts. Of the 6,000 applications, they interviewed roughly 120 people. I was one of those 120 people, and to this day, I cannot believe it. As the interview process progressed, I really, really hoped to be chosen. But ultimately, they selected 15 people to join the astronaut pool, and I was not one of them. Admittedly, I was a little bit salty about that. I am not one of those people who really takes kindly to someone saying, “You can’t do that.”

I spoke with someone on the astronaut selection committee about how I could position myself to be a better candidate. And he said that the committee felt my graduate degree should be in a more technical area.

I had literally just finished a master’s degree in management. Long story short, I got another degree in space systems, basically aerospace engineering. I updated my application, received an invitation to interview a second time, and was selected for the 1996 astronaut candidate class. In the end, the biggest barrier I needed to overcome was my education.

READY, SET, LAUNCH

I went up on January 16, 2007. We were taking up a piece of hardware called a little trust that formed part of the International Space Center’s assembly. Before reaching space, the sensation of approximately 3.5 G’s is akin to an elephant sitting on your chest, making breathing challenging. After about 30 seconds, entering space brings a sense of lightness. Around 8 and a half minutes into the flight, the crew unstraps. Once in space, we transition to our orange spacesuits and configure the shuttle as our home for the next 12 days.

We did four spacewalks. This was unheard of, and it was a record at the time. Although I didn’t partake in a spacewalk, three crewmates did while I operated the robotic arm, moving hardware to the far end of the space station. It was an incredible experience with a very multinational crew. I don’t even know how to say it. Awesome does not describe it. Incredible does not describe it. There are just no words to adequately articulate how special the time was.

CREATING YOUR LEGACY

I am proud to have been able to do something so incredible for my country, but it's a mixed bag of feelings that I take with that. It's verydiscouraging how few African American women have done it.

“I envision a future where seeing African American female astronauts is commonplace, eliminating the need to highlight numerical milestones. My goal is to normalize diversity in space exploration”.

I like to inspire and encourage these students because there are so few examples, and they need to see people who look like them. It shows them that yes, it is indeed possible, and they can do it.

I love encouraging kids to dream big and to really go after those dreams. But I always try to make it realisticit's not going to be handed to you. You're going to have to work for whatever it is you want. It may take some blood, sweat, and a whole bunch of tears, but it is possible.

In April 2022, I founded Ad Astra LLC drawing on my 35-year career with NASA and experience in the energy, retail, and aerospace sectors. The name "Ad Astra" means "to the stars" in Latin. My consultancy focuses on spacecraft systems development, launch vehicle testing, and crew operations. I o ˛er technical expertise to clients such as Blue Origin, which recently secured a $3.4 billion contract with NASA to work on a lunar lander. At the same time, this venture allows me to set my own schedule and be my own boss. Overall, it has been a successful and fulfilling journey.

"It was an honor to join the small sorority, if you will, of African American women who had traveled to space. It was great to join the ranks of Mae Jemison, who went up in 1992, and Stephanie Wilson, my classmate, who went us in July of 2006." - Joan Higginbotham

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

CELEBRATING WITH INROADS ALUMNAE

During Women’s History Month, INROADS celebrates the remarkable women within its community who are not just breaking barriers but shattering them with resilience and grace. These trailblazers are the architects of change, fearlessly carving paths in industries where their presence was once scarce. Through their achievements and unwavering determination, they inspire future generations to dream bigger, reach higher, and challenge the status quo.

Visit www.INROADS.org under Latest News to learn more!

“I would advise young women to take a chance. Submit that resume; apply to that job because you never know where life could take you. You also never know who you can meet that can help you along the way, so always be open to new opportunities.”

Natalie Dessources Chemist 1 at Laticrete International

BREAKING BARRIERS, INSPIRING CHANGE, AND REWRITING HISTORY

“I am deeply grateful for the people who have supported me all throughout my journey, when I wanted to give up. connect with others who see your potential and can push you forward. INROADS has been an instrumental support during that time in my life and all of my current and future success will always have an imprint from this organization. ”

DeAnna Taylor Founder, CEO & Executive Coach at Mom-Care Oasis

“INROADS provided professional training and development that helped me grow while in college. I was able to network with other interns who would later become friends, confidants, and cheerleaders along my career journey. Those three summers were key for my personal and professional development.”

Amanda Newsome Cambrice Senior Asset Manager at Pattern Energy

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

“The first and most crucial step is to believe in yourself and your abilities. Recognize your worth, embrace your strengths, and have confidence in your skills. Remember, you have the power to shape your own success and make a

Niki Allen

“I deeply appreciate INROADS for laying the foundation for my workforce development and fostering a spirit of community service. I served as a robotics coach, conducted experimental research with NASA’s Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program, and coordinated multiple student programs to engage diverse learners to contact the International Space Station using amateur radio technologies.”

Bejanae Kareem Executive Director/Grant Guru AT BK International Education Consultancy

FACING CHALLENGES, EMBRACING GROWTH, AND REWRITING NARRATIVES

“My journey with INROADS not only equipped me with practical skills, but instilled a mindset of excellence and resilience that continues to drive my accomplishments. I will forever be indebted to INROADS for instilling in me the confidence and determination to pursue my passions and make a meaningful impact in the world.”

Melani (Walker) Dziire Founder & Principal at Desired Outcomes Coaching

“Some of my strongest friendships are with fellow INROADS interns from th San Francisco Bay Area. We have supported each other for almost forty years as we built our careers and families. Through my involvement with INROADS, I was able to envision that someone like me, a first-generation Latina college graduate from an immigrant background, could not only have a seat at the table in the corporate world but also rise to become the CEO of a nonprofit organization dedicated to directing private capital for social impact.”

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

“Overall, my INROADS internship and career preparation provided me with a transformative experience. It provided me with the skills, knowledge, confidence, and connections necessary to transition smoothly from a student to a seasoned professional.”

Brenda R.

Williams

Regional Campus Recruiting Manager

At Moss Adams

“The INROADS internship provided me with a business foundation and understanding of corporate culture, including the importance of building alliances anderation Latina high school and college graduate, my cross-cultural identity and bilingualism allow me to smoothly code-switch between communicating in English with corporate peers and interacting with Publix store associates in Spanish.”

Angela Kim Senior UX Researcher At Publix

Super

Markets

BREAKING BARRIERS, INSPIRING CHANGE, AND REWRITING HISTORY

“My INROADS internship experience was transformational and truly life-changing. The program prepared me for my role in corporate America by providing me with the foundational knowledge required to be a successful, entry-level employee in a professional organization. This included insights on how to dress appropriately, providing me with a network of other racially and ethnically diverse interns that became a support system for lifelong connections.”

Betsy Lopez

Assistant

Director

EY At Americas Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness

“INROADS provided me with hands-on experience in a field I was still exploring, helping me determine that I wanted to become an engineer. As a first-generation student, I really benefited from training that helped me understand how to navigate the professional world. Training included topics I had little to no prior exposure to, including resume building, interviewing skills, and table etiquette.”

Imelda Ruiz Engineer Supervisor (for Substation & Transmission Engineering) Colorado Springs Utilities

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT KAISER PERMANENTE

Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation’s largest notfor-profit health plans, serving 12.5 million members. Kaiser Permanente exists to provide high-quality, health of our members and the communities we serve.

To be our healthiest, we need more than high-quality

to live, enough money to pay the bills, healthy food to eat, meaningful social connections, and easy access to care.

When companies, such as Kaiser Permanente, partner with INROADS, it is a win-win proposition to give back to the community while building more supportive and inclusive workplace cultures.

“INROADS aligns with our strategy to bring in the pipeline of talent that’s connected to what’s happening in our communities. INROADS understands that need for diversity and is brin ing in that talent.”

KAISER PERMANENTE’S CORE AREAS OF FOCUS

1 2 34 5 6 7 8

“

INROADS has done a phenomenal job identifying incredible students and talent to serve as interns at Kaiser Permanente. They are leaders,

better address the needs in the communities we serve.

ROSAN PETRILLO

Senior Manager of Equity, Inclusion & Diversity at Kaiser Permanente

HIRE YOUR 2024 SUMMER INTERNS NOW!

FUTURE EVENTS

INTELLIGENCE THE

INTELLIGENCE THE

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