Nonprofit helps Memphis youth soar to new heights

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Giving young kids in Memphis a chance to dream is the mission of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals and FedEx by taking the next generation to the skies.

100 students in Shelby County and surrounding areas are getting the chance to learn all things aerospace. The phrase of the day is “The sky is the limit.”

17-year-old Deirdre Newcomb’s dream of becoming a Navy pilot began to soar after a chance to encounter different activities with pilots of color.

“We made some clay balls, and the lights came on. We had to put a battery in and try fixing it with a positive and negative side so the lights could turn on,” said Newcomb.

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Newcomb and about 100 others, ages 14 to 18, spent their Thursday at the Renasant Convention Center with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) and FedEx.

The nonprofit aims to encourage and advance minorities in all aviation and aerospace careers.

“Look at what’s going on in the community today. What we have is a lot of children who don’t have a vision. They don’t know that they can have beyond what they have. It’s our job as FedEx and OBAP to show them what’s possible,” said Anthony Glenn, MD-11 Captain with FedEx.

Glenn used to be one of the kids you see today. He described how this program helped him and will hopefully help the next generation too.

“When you start to talk to them about how they can take away the financial aspect and that there are multiple avenues to get the dream of becoming a pilot or an aerospace professional, they start to really believe that they can do it, and they will,” he said.

According to OBAP, only 4% of pilots are Black.

“With this, you know, with the short percentage of African American people in this field, it’s just very important for me to be here,” said Newcomb.

Newcomb and Zach Neal are soaring to new heights and proving the sky is their only limit.

“I practiced a landing when I was flying and it was just really fun and I like flying,” said Neal.

If you know anyone interested in becoming a pilot or an aviation professional, click here.

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