Airspace Minnesota

“Reviewed by Board of Directors.”

“Each trustee, officer, member of a committee with board-delegated powers, and employee signs a statement that affirms that such person has received a copy of the conflict of interest/duality policy, has read and understands the policy, and has agreed to comply with the policy.”

“The organization will provide the governing documents and financial statements upon request.”

“AirSpace Minnesota was formed to realize a vision to create an air and space learning center adjacent to MSP International Airport. Cited as a signature project in the Fort Snelling Light Rail Transit and Upper Post Master Plan, this initiative will provide a major catalyst in the critically needed revitalization of one of the state's most historically significant sites and create a new economic asset for the region. The campus plan includes new education resources including a Challenger Space Science Center and an interpretive center that will be home to the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum, Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, Minnesota Aviation History and Education Center, Minnesota Submarine League and the NWA (Northwest Airlines) History Centre - all entities that now lack adequate facilities and resources to preserve and share their priceless stories and artifacts. This will serve learners throughout the region and provide a showcase for today's innovators, which is essential because the current pipeline of future workers literate in science, technology, engineering & math (STEM) will not meet future needs. According to a recent Wilder Research report, 57 percent of Minnesota fourth graders have high interest in science. By high school, however, only 4 percent of high school graduates are both able and interested in STEM. Young people have an innate desire to understand how things work and gain the skills to make things happen - but too few opportunities to see what's possible when dreams and skills connect. AirSpace Minnesota programming will work to provide students with dreams that fuel the motivation to persevere, capacity to attain necessary skills and a path to post-secondary education, training and careers. The three pillars of the mission work together to help learners see what happens when dreams and skills connect. Commemorate: Chronicle the region's innovation legacy and inspire learners through stories of role models past. Steps are underway to bring the history partners to a common base operating level in support of future requirements and projects with support via the Minnesota Historical & Cultural Grant program through the Minnesota Historical Society. The first AirSpace Minnesota Oral History Project, which captured stories of people underrepresented in the historical record, was completed in summer 2014. To build on the Minnesota Aviation & Aerospace Timeline & Interpretive Plan completed in 2013, an Interpretive Plan grant application was successfully submitted to the Minnesota Historical & Cultural Grant program. Target completion is December 2015. A grant supporting collections management enabled purchase of hardware and collections management software, the creation of a Collections Management Policy & supporting procedures, and collections cataloging capacity. Grant requests for the history partner organizations also were successfully made for computer upgrades, collections management software, policies, and training to support the launch of collections inventories. Twin Cities Public Television (tpt) produced five video vignettes for AirSpace Minnesota providing a taste of aerospace innovation, legacy and future opportunities. The videos were promoted to all Minnesota school districts in anticipation of the Founding Flyers Society launch on April 25, 2014 at the Golden Wings Flying Museum at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport. Over 300 guests experienced a once-in-a-lifetime conversation with Dr. Buzz Aldrin (first moon landing) and Dr. Harrison Schmitt (last moon landing) with Dr. John Olson of Sierra Nevada Corporation. Educate: Provide hands-on STEM experiences and grow STEM skills that connect with the classroom. Step one in achieving the long-term vision for a comprehensive air and space learning campus centers on bringing the Aviation Learning Center from the renowned Museum of Flight in Seattle to the Downtown St. Paul Airport. The opportunity to provide a STEM learning resource at the airport,”