Stop & Shop Hosts Private Screening of Hidden Figures for Freeport Middle School Students

In recognition of Black History Month, Stop & Shop arranged for a private screening of the movie Hidden Figures for Middle School students from Freeport, Roosevelt and Westbury Schools at the AMC Theatre at the Roosevelt Field Mall.

“This film tells the story of three African-American women who played a vital role in NASA’s success,” said Nichole Stokes, the Hempstead Stop & Shop Store Manager. “It is important that youngsters understand the value of education, and realize that hard work can help them overcome any obstacle and achieve any dream.”

Carletta Cantres, the Store Manager of the Arverne Stop & Shop, told the 120 students who were invited to the private screening that, “These three women were not welcomed with open arms by their colleagues at NASA, but overcame the overt discrimination of the day to not only realize their personal dreams but, because of their dedication in the classroom, were able to play a vital role in one of the most exciting chapters in our nation’s history.”

“This event was designed for students to get excited about STEM and its connection to real-world careers,” said Cradle of Aviation Education Director, Catherine Bingham. “When we think of NASA, our minds tend to envision astronauts and the vital role they play in space exploration. But it’s so much more than that! From engineers, to scientists, to mathematicians like those in Hidden Figures, teams of people from all different walks of life helped make the dream of space exploration a reality. The era that began with putting brave men into orbit continues to inspire future generations to push boundaries, explore the unknown, and never give up.”

Following the movie, the students learned more about the three African-American women, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who crossed gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big, from educators at the Cradle of Aviation Museum and from African-American representatives of the U.S. Navy. The students heard about the role that Long Islanders played in the U.S. Space Race with the Soviet Union, the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, the stunning achievement that restored America’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world.