Aviation Academy Co-Pilots with the Cade to Uplift Youth
Press release from the Cade Museum
The Cade Museum has partnered with the nonprofit 100 Black Men of Greater Florida GNV to present the 2021 Aviation Academy.
The two-day event launched at the Cade on June 25 with an Aviation Night celebration. The gala invited local youth and their parents to hobnob like the VIPs they truly are before hearing guest speaker James Albury, director of Santa Fe College’s Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, give a compellingly star-struck talk. After his speech, Albury engaged the dressed-up students in an educational Q&A.
Designed to inspire and educate teens about the world of aviation, the two-day academy guided parents and their kids through a series of information stations that delved into weather, aerodynamics, flight patterns, and aviation careers.
After learning about flying, the teens headed skyward for the full experience with guest pilot Courtland Savage of The Culture Inc.
“The 100 Black Men of Greater Florida Aviation Day has provided an opportunity for young people in the greater Gainesville area to learn about all things aviation, STEM, and to ultimately to get a head start on life,” said Matt Bowman, the organization’s Co-Founder and Vice President.
Bowman acknowledged that teens make a large consumer demographic when it comes to technology, and given their ability to learn video games, computer software, and electronic devices at a breakneck pace, they are uniquely positioned to become the innovators of the future.
“We are trying to help them become creators of technology,” Bowman added.
Paving the way for more experimentation and learning in the year to come, the Cade has also provided Aviation Academy youth with free community memberships to the museum.
“We are extremely excited to host our kickoff event at Cade Museum,” Bowman added. “The Cade Museum is one of the top creative centers in the South. Our partnership highlights our commitment to aviation and the future of technology in Gainesville.”
The mission of the Cade Museum is to transform communities by inspiring and equipping future inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. “We are a mission with a museum,” says Senior Director of Outreach Jody Farmer. “100 Black Men gets to the core of what the Cade is all about—believing and investing in the future and encouraging young people in our community. What I love about this partnership is the ‘I can do’ factor. This event allows youth to see a pathway of possibilities for a future of innovation—and not just a future, but a pathway forward today.”
About 100 Black Men
The 100 Black Men of Greater Florida GNV Chapter is a group of Black Men committed to making a meaningful difference in the community they serve. The influence of this chapter is achieved through the cultivation of partnerships with respected social and professional organizations who share a similar passion for affecting positive change.
The first chapter of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. was founded in 1963. The organization was initially a loose association of nine independent groups located in different metropolitan areas. Successful businessmen from a variety of social, educational, and economic sectors came together for a common purpose – to make a difference in the lives of African American youth and their communities. In 1986, these groups joined forces to create a national non-profit federation now known as 100 Black Men of America, Inc.
Since its founding, the “100” has grown to 106 Chapters with approximately 10,000 African American men committed to the organization’s founding mission- to enhance the quality of life in African American communities by improving the educational, economic and social status of African Americans. The organization now serves more than 125,000 youth annually through its mentoring, training and development programs.
For more information about 100 Black Men of Greater Florida-Gainesville, visit 100blackmenfl.org or facebook.com/100blackmengreaterflorida.
About the Cade Museum
In 2004, Dr. James Robert Cade and his family began work on the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention in Gainesville, Florida. The Cade’s mission is to transform communities by inspiring and equipping future inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. Dr. Cade, a physician and professor of medicine at the University of Florida, was best known as the leader of the team that invented Gatorade in 1965. The Cade Museum is located at 811 S. Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601. An independent 501(c)(3) public foundation, the museum receives no operational funding from federal, state, or local governments, or the University of Florida. Visit www.CadeMuseum.org for more information.