Why Memphis Needs Aerospace Science Academy

Look up in Memphis and you'll see planes. Lots of them. They take off and land day and night.

Those planes mean jobs. Pilots fly them. Mechanics fix them. Engineers help build and improve them. Many of these jobs pay well, and there are more of them every year.

But most families here never hear about these careers. No one shows them the way in.

Here's why...

Getting into aviation is hard.

Training costs a lot of money.

There's no clear path to follow.

Many people get their start because they know someone who already works in the field.

If you don't know anyone, it's tough to even begin.

That has nothing to do with talent. Kids in Memphis are smart, curious, and ready to work. The real barriers are money and connections. In a city where so many families are working hard just to make ends meet, those barriers can feel too big to climb.

And the opportunity is right here. Memphis has the busiest cargo airport in the world. FedEx runs its superhub here. Planes carry wealth in and out of our city every day. Every family should have a fair shot at sharing in it.

That's why we're building Aerospace Science Academy.

ASA will be a tuition-free public school focused on aerospace. It's open to any student who is curious and ready to learn. We're building a new path from the ground up, so students can see these careers, get ready for them, and step into them.

Here's how we'll do it:

• Show what's possible. Students will learn about the many jobs in aviation and aerospace, from pilots to mechanics to engineers.

• Replace "who you know" with "what you know." Students will get hands-on learning, mentors, internships, and job shadowing with local businesses.

• Remove the cost barrier. Tuition is free, and students can work toward real certifications that lead to good jobs.

• Build it with the community. We'll work with local partners, host events, and share the stories of people who made it.

  
  

A good job can change a family's future. It can help pay the bills, build savings, and open doors for the next generation.

Memphis shouldn't be a place where opportunity flies over our heads. Aerospace Science Academy is one way we change that. We're starting with our own kids, in our own city.

Four middle school students collaborate enthusiastically in a bright STEM classroom