"Whenever anything broke in our house, before we threw it out, my dad would say, ‘Let’s take it apart just to look inside.’ Because it was already broken, we could break it even more. That was a lot of fun."

"Accepting the position directing minority engineering programs, I left a regular, tenured job with academic administration Being told I was making a tragic career move solidified my need to support students who looked like me."

"I do believe that I possess the emotional intelligence to lead through those challenges with grace, respect, integrity, and with an inclusive spirit. My leadership will not only be data-driven but also holistically person-centered."

"I was told that I would never make full professor because I would not be doing funded research or publishing scholarly papers."

"It’s important to have people that you know are interested in you and your career, a parent, mentor or sponsor. Not all of them, but some of them should look like you. You can’t underestimate that."

"I take pleasure in getting African-American students interested in this work, not only in aerospace and mechanical engineering but in any goal that might seem out of reach because they are a minority."

"I’m thrilled to be living at a time where multidisciplinary work is rewarded. For instance, grant sponsors now include multiple disciplines and diversity as part of their funding requirements."

"If we just take the default view today, people will be going to these places with an extractive mindset that says- I have the technology, money and power, and I’ll use these resources until I’m satisfied, and I will not be concerned with other countries and future generations."

"If we don't take a radical shift toward really prioritizing labor rights, it's quite concerning imagining having a company or a government controlling the full life support system on a space station or a physical base on a planet."

"Space truly is useful for sustainable development for the benefit of all peoples."

"Designers and the creative teams are burned out and are producing like robots."

"I see today's fashion industry as a mega commercial machine that creates seasonal trends with a frenzied frequent flow of merchandise that is unprecedented."

"What we see in the stores is the result of that too much, too often, too much of the same, that lacks quality and purpose."

"The history is that Mildred did make those hats."

"They were defined as dressmakers and seamstresses."

"They would be defined as designers."

"The power of fashion lies in its ability to transform identity and culture."

"As an industry, we have dramatically moved away from an artistic and conscious practice."

"We too can have nice homes we too can have fine jewelry."

"In 1939, Blount had a beautiful body of work of these miniature hats and she presented them at the World’s Fair at the time."

"And the story goes that David Selznick’s wife was at the World’s Fair and saw her hats and the hats really depicted the film Gone with the Wind."

"He way he did this was, he had these beautiful portraits of African Americans dressed beautifully, hair, makeup, hats, jewelry."

"They are a courageous breed of designers who are going against the commercialized trend of 'more is more' and giving artistic value, a cultural face, and environmental consciousness to fashion."

"Their market was really targeted to those that really could pay the bills."

"Some stores flow new goods every week."

"I always wanted to elevate those voices, those hidden voices that we really didn’t know about, especially when it comes to black fashion makers who really did make a contribution to fashion."

"I had the time and this was the time to do it."

"What he wanted to do was show that we were lawyers and doctors and school teachers and business people, and that we were a middle class that was upwardly mobile."

"I mean, white women who wanted to have a dressmaker, and many of them, when you look back at what they did, a lot of the fashion press."

"The power of fashion has the unique ability to transform identity and culture."

"This event is a beautiful example of how fashion, influence and service can come together to inspire and ignite lasting change in our communities."

"What really moved me along was what we all witnessed last year, the injustices that were done to the marginalized communities."

"I just felt like this was the time."

"Sometimes in life there are life altering events that help you reshape your perspective and career path."

"They speak highly of these women and the quality of what they make."

"The fashion industry, at large, has become a high speed, disposable garment driven industry fueled by marketing and hype."

"I decided to diversify my skillset and moved to Atlanta to work in the telecommunications sector."

"I worked in infrastructure project management at Cingular Wireless and AT&T."

"Each step we take, big and small, counts in the journey."

"I transitioned positions to work in the Office of Supplier Diversity."

"My story is still being written, and every day is a new day to look at things differently."

"It's a tremendous honor to be recognized alongside such powerful women who are using their voices and platforms to lead with purpose."

"I was responsible for managing shuttle inventory levels, managing technical resources and project deliverables."

"This unsustainable roller coaster has no end in sight."

"My role was to foster business relationships with women and diverse businesses to assist in help in making introductions and serving as a liaison for growth."

"My career started at NASA in the field of logistics."

"My life’s mission changed when I received news from my sister that our mom had suddenly passed away at home, alone at the age of 61."

"I have judged their annual student fashion show and usually publish an editorial piece; review the graduating senior’s portfolio show."

"We share our resources, support, and promote our efforts."