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“Black joy is resistance, it is revolutionary, it is radical. Black joy is playful. Black joy releases endorphins. Black joy is laughter, medicine, anarchy, self-preservation, justice. It is energizing. It is defiance. Black joy is beauty” - Cole Verhoeven

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bell hooks & john a. powell: Belonging Through Connection (Othering & Belonging Conference 2015)

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“I believe everyone in the world is born with genius-level talent. Apply yourself to whatever you’re genius at, and you can do anything in the world.” - Jay Z

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“I believe everyone in the world is born with genius-level talent. Apply yourself to whatever you’re genius at, and you can do anything in the world.” - Jay Z

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Revelations - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

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Revelations - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

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"Don't follow the path. Go where There is no path and begin the trail. When you start a new trail equipped with courage, strength and conviction, the only thing that can stop you is you!" - Ruby Bridges

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"Don't follow the path. Go where There is no path and begin the trail. When you start a new trail equipped with courage, strength and conviction, the only thing that can stop you is you!" - Ruby Bridges

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“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”-Harriet Tubman

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“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”-Harriet Tubman

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“Sueño que un día esta nación se levantará y vivirá el verdadero significado de su credo: "Afirmamos que estas verdades son evidentes: que todos los hombres son creados iguales". Sueño que un día, en las rojas colinas de Georgia, los hijos de los antiguos esclavos y los hijos de los antiguos dueños de esclavos, se puedan sentar juntos a la mesa de la hermandad. Sueño que un día, incluso el estado de Misisipí, un estado que se sofoca con el calor de la injusticia y de la opresión, se convertirá en un oasis de libertad y justicia. Sueño que mis cuatro hijos vivirán un día en un país en el cual no serán juzgados por el color de su piel, sino por los rasgos de su personalidad. ¡Hoy tengo un sueño!” - Martin Luther King

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“Sueño que un día esta nación se levantará y vivirá el verdadero significado de su credo: "Afirmamos que estas verdades son evidentes: que todos los hombres son creados iguales". Sueño que un día, en las rojas colinas de Georgia, los hijos de los antiguos esclavos y los hijos de los antiguos dueños de esclavos, se puedan sentar juntos a la mesa de la hermandad. Sueño que un día, incluso el estado de Misisipí, un estado que se sofoca con el calor de la injusticia y de la opresión, se convertirá en un oasis de libertad y justicia. Sueño que mis cuatro hijos vivirán un día en un país en el cual no serán juzgados por el color de su piel, sino por los rasgos de su personalidad. ¡Hoy tengo un sueño!” - Martin Luther King

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Webinar: Black Lives Matter in the Classroom

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By Colleague, Author & Educator Laleña Garcia

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By Colleague, Author & Educator Laleña Garcia

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Webinar: Black Lives Matter in the Classroom

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“Remember that consciousness is power. Consciousness is education and knowledge. Consciousness is becoming aware. It is the perfect vehicle for students. Consciousness-raising is pertinent for power, and be sure that power will not be abusively used, but used for building trust and goodwill domestically and internationally. Tomorrow's world is yours to build.” -- Yuri Kochiyama

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“Remember that consciousness is power. Consciousness is education and knowledge. Consciousness is becoming aware. It is the perfect vehicle for students. Consciousness-raising is pertinent for power, and be sure that power will not be abusively used, but used for building trust and goodwill domestically and internationally. Tomorrow's world is yours to build.” -- Yuri Kochiyama

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Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Civil Rights Footage and Lyrics)

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bell hooks in conversation with Sharon Salzberg  - What Is Love?

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Apollo Uptown Hall:

MLK, Activism & the Arts
January 17, 2022
11am & 7pm ET
Apollo Digital Stage

In Service:

Young Changemakers

January 17, 2022
6pm ET

Apollo Digital Stage

The hottest show in Harlem returns on February 16, 2022. Get your tickets now!
Tickets start at just $25

HALF OFF FOR HARLEM

Amateur Night at the Apollo is included in our Half Off for Harlem promotion. Harlem residents, employees, business owners, and students can save 50% on tickets to select performances throughout the season.

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A message from Jonelle Procope + Upcoming MLK Events

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Apollo Uptown Hall: MLK, Activism & the Arts January 17, 2022 11am & 7pm ET Apollo Digital Stage In Service: Young Changemakers January 17, 2022 6pm ET Apollo Digital Stage The hottest show in Harlem returns on February 16, 2022. Get your tickets now!

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XFcHljksLI_ZKLriPoJym_TWdlPWaYSPRhGzwid_Dd4/edit

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https://youtu.be/WXDU3n4HTTY

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Kids Recite ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech | All Def

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Chicano Movement/ Hispanic Americans during Civil Rights

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Chicano Movement/ Hispanic Americans during Civil Rights

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part 3--Yuri Kochiyama: On Knowing Malcolm X

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part 3--Yuri Kochiyama: On Knowing Malcolm X

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I think I will call it morning, Jill Scott Heron

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I think I will call it morning, Jill Scott Heron

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Gil Scott-Heron - I Think I'll Call It Morning (Official Audio)

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Black Lives Matter at School An Uprising for Educational Justice by Jesse Hagopian and Denisha Jones

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Black Lives Matter at School An Uprising for Educational Justice by Jesse Hagopian and Denisha Jones

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Chimamanda Adichie Speech at the Humboldt Forum

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Chimamanda Adichie Speech at the Humboldt Forum

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This toolkit reflects our analysis of the interconnectedness of issues and constituencies within the structures of white supremacy. In addition to workshop modules, we offer some of our experiences and lessons learned in working to dismantle structural racism. We know that this is long-term work and…

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This summer, I wrote a book about the guiding principles.

The book just came out on October 27, 2020! You can order it at:

Do you really talk to little kids about Black Lives Matter?

I sure do. Want to know more? Click below to watch me explain what I do in more detail.

And then some! The Thirteen Principles are woven into our Social Studies curriculum, all year long; this year, lots of other schools are also participating in the Year Of Purpose. During the Black Lives Matter in School Week of Action, we focus on the demands. We talk about our responsibility as community members of our larger society to work together for equity. Like many big ideas, the demands are simple when viewed from the point of view of a child. Of course, "kids need teachers to help them make a better choice another time." Of course, "kids should have some teachers who look like them and some teachers who don't; that way they know everybody could be a teacher." And so on and so forth.

Great question! Here are some great articles by two organizations every educator should know about: Rethinking Schools and Teaching Tolerance. Definitely read them both (you can click on the pictures).

To sum up:

2017-18 - goes national: New York City and over a dozen other cities join in

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This summer, I wrote a book about the guiding principles. The book just came out on October 27, 2020! You can order it at: Do you really talk to little kids about Black Lives Matter? I sure do. Want to know more? Click below to watch me explain what I do in more detail.

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Laleña Garcia Publishes "What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book"

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We are happy to share that Laleña Garcia, who works as a facilitator of Gender, Sexuality and the Family trainings at the Institute, in addition to teaching at Manhattan Country School, has announced the publication of her book What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book, illustrated by Caryn Davidson. The guiding principles of Black Lives Matter are a literal blueprint for a better world, and Laleña's kind and powerful voice as a writer, teacher and trainer can guide us on the journey.

More information from the publisher's official announcement:

[ What We Believe] presents the underlying ideas of Black Lives Matter in down-to-earth, child-friendly language, with writing prompts and artistic activities accompanying each principle. Supporting materials guide adults in talking about the movement with children and encourage kids to dream big and take action within their communities.

When the Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013, the three founders-Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi-anchored its work in a list of guiding principles, developed through conversation with other activists. These principles committed the movement to empathy, loving engagement, and just action among its participants; affirmed the importance of Black women, families, elders, and LGBTQ folk; and celebrated the strength and diversity of Black people in their communities and around the globe. Now young people can explore these powerful principles in What We Believe.

The book was originally self-published as a collaboration between Garcia, a kindergarten teacher, and Davidson, a high school art educator, as part of their work with the Black Lives Matter @ Schools organization. Davidson observes, "Many people do not know that the BLM Global Network is rooted in the guiding principles that we explain and illustrate in this book-even people who have been actively supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. As children use this book, they are invited to share with their teachers, parents, and other adults how they experience and understand these principles according to their own lived realities." In adapting the principles for a child audience, Garcia says, "I thought about the developmental needs of young children, the ways in which many of the principles mirrored the environments created in early childhood classrooms, and the support teachers might need in talking about a movement that some people saw as 'controversial' or 'political.'"

Both creators agree these principles are visionary in nature-not reactionary. "They construct a vision for a world in which Black lives unapologetically matter, a world in which saying 'Black Lives Matter' is a given and never a threat; a world in which collective life is organized to restore and uplift rather than deplete Black women, Black families, queer and trans folks-and ultimately, they envision a racially just world in which white and BIPOC people are healed from the impacts of white supremacy."

The earlier edition of the book was widely adopted by educators across the nation, and this extensively revised version has been informed by Garcia's experience in sharing the principles with her own students and the feedback she received from other readers. "I keep hearing from teachers of high school and middle school students that the language I use, while very simple, is helpful for them in beginning to have conversations with students who have never talked about race," she says. "I realize this is because in this country, we are all about five years old when it comes to talking about race: it's not encouraged, so we don't do it, which means we don't get any practice, and so we're not very good at it. While I wish this weren't the case, I feel proud to have made a contribution that supports educators from pre-K to grade 12."

Several prominent educators have spoken glowingly of the new edition of the book:
" What We Believe is simply beautiful. Garcia and Davidson have created a visual, loving example of freedom and the possibilities of using art to create a new world. Each image is drawn with so much love, care, and commitment to the principles of Black Lives Matter, while Garcia's words are inviting, informative, and truth telling. Well done!" - Bettina Love, author of We Want To Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom

"What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Activity Book is a fabulous way for educators, parents, and children to live the principles of the movement. Often, it's hard to understand how the principles impact our everyday lives, but this thoughtful book outlines the many parts of Black Lives Matter and invites conversations and actions that children and their grown ups can undertake together. After working through this text, which connects history to the present moment through an inclusive range of activists, organizers, and everyday folx, readers will understand the movement beyond the slogan and will be prepared to make changes wherever they are, in whatever way they can, for us all to get free." - Kim Parker, Shady Hill School and #disrupttexts co-founder

"This book is perfect for anyone who wants to take young children seriously as actors in the world. It is both informative and open to the creativity and imagination required to lead us forward." - Thomas Nikundiwe, director of the Education for Liberation Network

"I can't wait to see how children fill these pages with ideas, color, stories, and freedom dreams. Those who recognize the uniquely powerful role that young children play in the movement for Black Lives will treasure this rare resource." - Carla Shalaby, co-editor of Planning to Change the World: A Plan Book for Social Justice Educators

" What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book is one of the best tools available to engage students in the Black Lives Matter at School movement! The stunning artwork coupled with insightful connections between students' intersectional identities and the principles of the BLM Global Network make this book essential for every educator." - Jesse Hagopian, Ethnic Studies teacher and co-editor of Teaching for Black Lives

Pre-order copies here:

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Laleña Garcia Publishes "What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book"

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We are happy to share that Laleña Garcia, who works as a facilitator of Gender, Sexuality and the Family trainings at the Institute, in addition to teaching at Manhattan Country School, has announced the publication of her book What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book, illustrated by Caryn Davidson.

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Transcript & Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14GFYWDW_ETEGR6UthGKTDVuy93TPb5LHrrGLq7z2LUs/edit?usp=sharing

Reflection Questions:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PtJ53ucEZPovuF030Q8TOrHfDTRaFslX-wEBWWDulyY/edit?usp=sharing

-Alaina

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Cultivating Genius with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

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Cultivating Genius with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

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Cultivating Genius by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

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Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz "Archeology of the Self" 

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Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz "Archeology of the Self" 

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I made this jamboard.  I left student comments on it.  Feel free to make a copy of it and use in your own class. -Alaina

https://jamboard.google.com/d/1k2-g_EVvSFSW7Q6bwDyITW46Bn3mDDV0j4b1hMbLov8/edit?usp=sharing

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The version of the browser you are using is no longer supported. Please upgrade to a supported browser. Dismiss

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Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz - "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou

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Community Convo April '21: Thriving, Dr. Kia Darling-Hammond

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How Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used preaching traditions to deliver iconic speeches

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of the greatest speakers in history, but how much do you really know about him? And what exactly made his speeches so effective? In short, Dr. King was a master rhetorician who skillfully used aspects of African American Language and rhetoric to engage his audience. Despite his staunch belief in peaceful, non-violent protest, Dr. King was a political radical whose life was eventually taken by those who opposed his call for interracial unity to achieve economic justice. Dr. King’s fixation with upholding human dignity and honoring the labor of each person is directly related to his role as a theologian and pastor in the Christian Baptist church; however, we can also trace this message–and the distinct rhetorical style that he uses to deliver his message–to African American culture.

The African American rhetorical tradition upholds human dignity across difference, as it's born of the racial subjugation in the United States that led to segregated, yet economically and socially diverse, Black communities. In these communities, preachers were teachers, charged with meeting the needs of a wide range of learners. They needed the ability to “make it plain” for all to understand, and Black preachers regularly applied a range of linguistic resources to accomplish this goal. Specifically, “call and response,” discussed in more detail below, provided a constant feedback loop from the audience to the speaker. A preacher that used different language tactics to meet the diverse needs of their audience was successful, and as a public figure, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was able to apply his skills honed in the Black church to engage a multiracial, international audience.

Three linguistic features of the African American preaching tradition

As in any language, there are some linguistic patterns in African American Language that may be found in other languages. But one linguistic pattern or feature does not define an entire language. Rather, the particular combination of features, frequency of their use, and specific contexts of usage are what characterize a language. When discussing the African American rhetorical preaching tradition, you’ll find numerous strategies to persuade an audience, but three of the most prevalent that Dr. King uses are repetition, antiphony, and the Jeremiad sermon structure.

Feature | Definition | Examples from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech

Repetition

The use of repeated sounds or words following each other or near each other in discourse
Parallelism is the use of similar phrases or clauses that have the same grammatical structure

“With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”

Antiphony (call and response) | A form of participatory speech in which a speaker offers a statement (“call”) and the members of the audience offer phrases of affirmation in real time (“response”) | “I have a dream (Well, well) that my four little children (Yes, Sir!) will one day live in a Nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. (My Lord!)”
Jeremiad | A rhetorical structure that includes a dramatic pronouncement of unending affliction and doom followed by a claim of hope and redemption at the end | “One hundred years later, the Colored American lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity…. But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.”

The power of Dr. King’s speeches

Dr. King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream Speech” delivered at the March on Washington is widely quoted, yet his speeches delivered after the March are less well-known. In these addresses, Dr. King explicitly made connections between poverty and racism, advocating for economic liberation and dignity of all groups in the United States. On July 4th, 1965, Dr. King delivered a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia entitled “The American Dream.” He uses the extended metaphor of the dream to assert his dissatisfaction with continued racial and class oppression after the March and after the 1964 presidential election. During the climax of the sermon, when describing the need to treat each person with dignity, as they are all created in the image of God, Dr. King proclaims the urgency of uniting with the labor movement for economic justice. Can you spot the use of antiphony, or call-and-response, here?

This is why we must join the war against poverty (Yes, sir) and believe in the dignity of all work. What makes a job menial? I’m tired of this stuff about menial labor. What makes it menial is that we don’t pay folk anything. (Yes, sir) Give somebody a job and pay them some money so they can live and educate their children and buy a home and have the basic necessities of life. And no matter what the job is, it takes on dignity.

Later in the speech, Dr. King confesses that his famous dream had been shattered several times. Look for the places where he employs repetition and parallelism to make his point:

I’ve seen my dream shattered as I’ve walked the streets of Chicago (Make it plain) and seen Negroes, young men and women, with a sense of utter hopelessness because they can’t find any jobs. And they see life as a long and desolate corridor with no exit signs. And not only Negroes at this point. I’ve seen my dream shattered because I’ve been through Appalachia, and I’ve seen my white brothers along with Negroes living in poverty. (Yeah) And I’m concerned about white poverty as much as I’m concerned about Negro poverty. (Make it plain)

So yes, the dream has been shattered, (Amen) and I have had my nightmarish experiences, but I tell you this morning once more that I haven’t lost the faith. (No, sir) I still have a dream (A dream, Yes, sir) that one day all of God’s children will have food and clothing and material well-being for their bodies, culture and education for their minds, and freedom for their spirits. (Yes)

As a seasoned Baptist preacher, Dr. King is a master rhetorician, and we see the African American preaching tradition of repetition, antiphony, and Jeremiad in these excerpts. He primarily uses a pathetic appeal, meaning he speaks to the emotions and values of the congregation, and they engage in call and response with him throughout to affirm their engagement (“Amen!,” “Make it plain”). His audience provides affirmative feedback by talking back to the speaker, giving frequent assessments of his effectiveness.

The extended metaphor of the shattered dream across the United States, and across racial lines, helps to cement his message of everyone in the country having a common fate. The repeated lines “I’ve seen my dream shattered” create parallelism, a unity in structure that emphasizes the message of unity in the speech’s content. The repetition of three is a specific rhetorical device that evokes the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the last sentence of the excerpt, Dr. King illustrates this technique twice: (food, clothing, and material well-being) and (bodies, minds, and spirits). Overall, the speech follows the rhetorical structure of a Jeremiad, a litany of injustices followed by a hopeful claim (“I still have a dream”).

A legacy of liberation

As we celebrate Dr. King’s birthday and his life of service, let us resist attempts to quench the fire in his words, stemming from the inclusive mission of the African American rhetorical tradition. We cannot forget his radical vision for economic justice across racial lines, a vision that is valiantly upheld by labor unions and activists today. Let us not forget that liberation comes at a cost, that the 8 hour work day and minimum wage were hard won feats, and there remain “many rivers to cross” to ensure that every wage is a living wage. In this period of global pandemics, enormous loss of life, political upheaval, and continued struggles against racism and other forms of human indignities, let us remember Dr. King the preacher-scholar-activist and his timeless call to action:

History is the long story of the fact (Yes) that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges without strong resistance, and they seldom do it voluntarily. And so if the American dream is to be a reality, we must work to make it a reality and realize the urgency of the moment. And we must say now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to get rid of segregation and discrimination. Now is the time to make Georgia a better state. Now is the time to make the United States a better nation. (Yes) We must live with that, and we must believe that.

Live. Believe. Act. This is Dr. King’s legacy and enduring message for today.

“Freedom’s Ring,” an animated version of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech.

Dr. Kahdeidra Monét Martin holds a Bachelor’s degree in African & African American Studies with a minor in Linguistics from Stanford University. She received her Ph.D. in Urban Education from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and researches African American Language, literacy, inclusive teaching, and belonging in schools. In 2020, she co-authored a book, Classroom Talk for Social Change: Critical Conversations in English Language Arts, which received a 2021 Divergent Book Award for Excellence in 21st Century Literacies Research. Currently, Dr. Martin works at two of her alma maters, serving as a Lecturer of Writing and Rhetoric at Stanford and a Scholar in Residence at The Chapin School.

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How Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used preaching traditions to deliver iconic speeches

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“I Have a Dream” remains one of the most powerful addresses in history. An expert explores the language traditions and tools used in Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic speech.

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Projects by Lauren Pruitt and Beth Duffy

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Projects by Lauren Pruitt and Beth Duffy

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BHM Projects: Lauren Pruitt & Beth Duffy

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BHM Projects: Lauren Pruitt & Beth Duffy

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https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B9FbgHcKEdvbfjcwajZDZ0FmdUNkRGRKVkZFeFFPdVFNdHByUkVPVEJOZldqc0F5Y3QwZUE?resourcekey=0-CLFZV1U0gsetbv3ZemlFLg&usp=sharing

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Esperanza Spalding - On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Live 2016)

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Piri Thomas - Every child is born a poet

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Piri Thomas - Every child is born a poet

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https://youtu.be/AwsBqRKEbEo

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Piri Thomas - Every Child Is Born A Poet - 26 - a dialogue with society aka sermon from the ghetto

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https://video.link/w/lRFYc

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Puerto Rico's Bomba, A Dance of The African Diaspora | KQED Arts

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VideoLink lets you share videos on YouTube easily, without distracting third-party content or advertisements.

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NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins will be the first Black woman to complete a long-term mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for the forthcoming SpaceX Crew-4 launch, the space agency announced in a statement. The launch is scheduled for April 2022 and will be Watkins's first voyage into space.

Joined by NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, Watkins will complete a six-month science mission in the ISS's microgravity laboratory and serve as the team's mission specialist. A feat she hopes will set an example to children of color.

"Particularly young girls of color, to be able to see an example of ways that they can participate and succeed," Watkins tells the New York Times' Joey Roulette. "For me, that's been really important, and so if I can contribute to that in some way, that's definitely worth it."

Watkins earned a bachelor of science degree in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University and completed a doctorate program in geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, Robert Lea reports for . Watkins studied landslides on Mars and other surface processes on the Red Planet during her doctorate study. During her Watkins interned for NASA at the Ames Research Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

"Those experiences were really what helped shape me as a scientist and an explorer," Watkins said in a statement.

Soon after completing her doctorate, Watkins worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech). She was a member of the science team that worked on planning missions for NASA's Curiosity Rover, Newsweek reports. While at CalTech, Watkins was selected for NASA's Astronaut Candidate Class in 2017, where she was trained on ISS operating systems and spacewalk simulations, per Newsweek.

The ISS was launched in 1998, and operations began in 2000. Out of all 249 people to visit the station, only seven were Black astronauts, the New York Times reports. Victor Glover, a test pilot and Navy commander, became the first Black crew member to embark on an extended mission aboard the ISS after joining NASA's astronaut corps in 2013. The other six Black individuals to visit the station stayed for 12 days or fewer.

The first Black American to go to space was Guion S. Bluford in 1983, followed by Mae Jemison in 1992, who became the first Black woman to reach the final frontier when she joined the Space Shuttle Endeavor team. NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps was set to be the first Black woman to work and live on the ISS in 2018, but she was replaced by Serena Auñón-Chancellor for reasons unknown and undisclosed by NASA, reports the New York Times.

Aside from completing her mission on the ISS, Watkins is among the 18 astronauts selected to join NASA's Artemis team who will be the first to step on the moon since the Apollo missions 50 years ago, reports Meghan Bartels for . The Artemis program will include the first woman and the first person of color to reach Earth's natural satellite.

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NASA Astronaut Jessica Watkins Becomes the First Black Woman to Join International Space Station Crew

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NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins will be the first Black woman to complete a long-term mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for the forthcoming SpaceX Crew-4 launch, the space agency announced in a statement. The launch is scheduled for April 2022 and will be Watkins's first voyage into space.