Empowering Thought Leadership: Girl Scouts Honoring Hidden Figures

On Sunday, April 6, Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital had the honor of attending the Hidden Figures Brunch at the Kennedy Center, where CEO Kim R. Ford moderated a powerful conversation with former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr. and acclaimed actress and director Debbie Allen. The event paid tribute to the African American women whose critical contributions advanced early space exploration and shaped the future of the space industry.

Charles Bolden Jr. reflected on his path from the U.S. Naval Academy and as a Marine aviator to becoming an astronaut, offering inspiring insights from his extraordinary career. Debbie Allen shared moving stories about her mother, Vivian Ayers Allen, poet, activist, and a true “Hidden Figure”—whose work played a vital role in NASA’s Apollo program, highlighting the often-overlooked brilliance behind one of America’s greatest achievements.

The conversation between panelists shared the emphasis on how the arts and science go hand in hand together. How the power of dreaming and creation ties into scientific exploration. Debbie Allen shared excerpts from Vivian Ayers Allen’s poem “Hawk” which is displayed at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston:

“And then one night, unwittingly, I walked out, looked up and discovered a diamond-studded sky… I would convert this energy to the wings and take to the stratosphere/ I’d soar up there.”

The involvement of Girl Scouts at the Hidden Figures brunch underscored the organization’s commitment to fostering thought leadership among youth members. By engaging directly with pioneers like Bolden and Allen and hearing their stories, Girl Scouts were not only witnesses to history but participants in shaping the narrative of women's contributions to STEM and the arts.

This experience reinforced the importance of representation and mentorship, empowering these young leaders to envision themselves as the next generation of innovators and changemakers.