At the age of 16 years old, Tammera L. Holmes was introduced to the world of Aviation by the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., (TAI) Young Eagles Program sponsored by the Chicago DODO Chapter. That day she took her first flight and it was a life-changing experience for her. She decided then to pursue a career in Aviation. Later enrolled at Southern Illinois University, she majored in Aviation Flight/Management and Spanish. After only 4 weeks of flight training, she was one of the first in her class of over 200 students to solo. She graduated from SIU having completed both the Spanish and Aviation Programs in only four and a half years. She began her professional aviation career in 2001 by assuming employment with Landrum & Brown, one of the nation’s leading Aviation Consulting Firms. In 2008, she launched AeroStar Corporation to pave the way for tomorrow’s leading organizations both within and outside of the Aviation Industry. All of AeroStar’s programs exist with the vision to enhance, promote, and support the academic awareness of aviation and aeronautical career path opportunities for students, particularly female, minority, underprivileged, and at-risk youth. By providing aviation academic curriculum development, programs, activities, and support services for youth Grades K-12, interested in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math, AeroStar has paved the way for the future of our industry. Ms. Holmes has volunteered countless hours as a motivational speaker addressing the topics ranging from careers in aviation to successful leadership and management.

Kenyatta Scott is the self-published author of The Violet Book Series, a morally based children’s book series that builds self-esteem in children and works to combat the mass stereotype that fathers are not present in communities of children of color. The book series was featured on WCIU-TV for black history month as a book series that celebrates cultural diversity and inclusion. Kenyatta is a Chicago native, born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. She attended Morgan Park High School, U.I.C., and Yale University. Her M.A. is in I-O Psychology, from Adler School of Professional Psychology. Kenyatta is the Executive Director of The Violet Foundation, NFP, and supports equal access to high-quality education for all. “Violet Takes Flight” is the 4th book in The Violet Book Series and the 1st collaborative book in the series. In 2005, Ms. Holmes was featured in a publication dedicated to the City of Chicago’s Dynamic Women in Aviation.

Longtime friends, Kenyatta wanted to share one of the books with Tammera, not only as a collaborator from her Violet Book Series “VIOLET TAKES FLIGHT”, but also with the intent to give a portion of proceeds to AeroStar Avion Institute NFP! Kenyatta also surprised her friend with not only an acknowledgment the back cover of the book but also for the pilot to be illustrated in Tammera’s likeness as a tribute. The two women are working together to build self-esteem in black children and combatting the mass stereotype that black fathers are not present in the home while also enhancing, promoting, and supporting academic awareness of aviation and aeronautical career path opportunities specifically for black students.

 Nicci: Can you tell me about the book?

Kenyatta Scott: Violet and her little brother, Derek, are flying on a plane to visit their Step-Mommy, with Daddy. Violet is afraid. She meets a special person in her day that talks to her about “doing it afraid”.

Tammera: This book for me was more than a tool to teach about overcoming fear. It is an opportunity to show children that success is oftentimes just on the other side of something that they must overcome; even the success of becoming a pilot.

I don’t want to give away the storyline so I will ask that you not only buy the book ut follow the ladies here!

AeroStar Avion Institute

http://aerostarcorp.com

The Violet Book Series

https://www.thevioletbookseries.com