JetBlue Reaffirms Commitment to the South Florida Community | News
JetBlue celebrated Women’s History Month by inspiring the next generation of pilots through its annual Fly Like a Girl event, held this year in Fort Lauderdale. Now in its twelfth year, Fly Like a Girl is designed to spark early interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and aviation by providing the opportunity to learn from JetBlue’s female crew members, including pilots, technicians, engineers and leaders, through interactive activities, conversations, aircraft demonstrations and behind-the-scenes experiences that showcase the wide range of career opportunities in the industry.
In partnership with Jetscape Services and JetBlue’s Women in Flight Crewmember Resource Group, the Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact team and the JetBlue Foundation, the event welcomed more than 100 local youth, ages 10 to 14, for a hands-on introduction to the world of aviation, further strengthening the airline’s commitment to inspiring the next generation and connecting with the South Florida community. The event was attended by local government officials, including Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents Florida’s 25th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The return to Fort Lauderdale underscores JetBlue’s longstanding connection to the community, dating back to the airline’s earliest days in business.
“Fort Lauderdale has been part of JetBlue’s story since day one, when our first flights landed here more than 26 years ago, and we are proud to continue investing in the region and its people,” said Ursula Hurley, president of the JetBlue Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of JetBlue. “Bringing Fly Like a Girl back to South Florida reflects our continued commitment to the future of Fort Lauderdale as a critical part of our operation, from the people and culture to the aviation infrastructure that drives our airline forward.”
“This great JetBlue event showcases the much broader world of opportunities for young girls to get involved in aviation, and I look forward to it every year,” said U.S. Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). “Commercial air travel has historically been male-dominated, but programs like this open new horizons in aviation for young women in Florida.”
This year’s event included local participation from JetBlue Foundation grantee the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS), through the presence of MODS STEMobile, a mobile science laboratory that brings high-energy, hands-on STEM education directly to students. Led by expert educators, MODS STEMobile Outreach programs spark curiosity, build critical thinking skills, and challenge students to tackle real-world problems using the engineering design process in fun, new ways.
“Connecting people with inspiring science is our mission, and Fly Like a Girl does just that by making aviation a hands-on, confidence-building STEM experience. Through STEMobile programs and our Aviation Academy, MODS helps students see themselves as future pilots, engineers and innovators,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of MODS.
“Experiences like Fly Like a Girl are powerful because they make STEM tangible and exciting and show kids future career options in real time,” said Icema Gibbs, JetBlue’s vice president of corporate responsibility and impact. “Through the JetBlue Foundation, we want to work with our partners and grantees, like MODS, to expand access to high-quality STEM education and help students see a future for themselves in aviation.”
JetBlue has long been a supporter of South Florida’s aviation ecosystem, employing thousands of crew members throughout the region and maintaining a strong operational presence as the lead airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. JetBlue has continued to build on its significant growth in Florida, with Fort Lauderdale at the center of its expansion in Florida, marking it as a key gateway for the airline’s operations.
To learn more about JetBlue’s community initiatives, visit jetblue.com/jetblue-for-good.
