Atatiana Jefferson’s family to launch project in her name encouraging kids to pursue STEM careers

The family of Atatiana Jefferson on Friday will launch a project in her name that aims to help children find a path toward careers in science, math, engineering and tech — honoring Jefferson’s goals for the future.

Jefferson was 28 when she was fatally shot by a police officer in her home in Fort Worth. The officer, Aaron Dean, resigned from the force and has since been indicted on a murder charge. It does not appear that a trial date has been set.

Jefferson, who studied biology at Xavier University of Louisiana, had hopes of going back to school, becoming a doctor and helping find a cure for diabetes, with which she had been diagnosed at a young age, her sister Amber Carr said.

Since Jefferson’s death, the family has been quietly planning a way to honor her. The Atatiana Project is still in its early stages, Carr said, but it will kick off with a public celebration on Juneteenth with games, music, and food from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday at 1203 E. Allen Ave. in Fort Worth.

“STEM — it was just her life,” Carr said. “Gaming was her life. Helping others was her life.”

So in her sister’s memory, Carr said the family wants to help show kids that science and technology aren’t boring.

“Atatiana was teaching her nephew gaming and other skills in the [STEM] arena that would benefit him going forward, and they want to continue that particular part of her legacy,” said Dr. Pamela Grayson, who’s on the advisory board of The Atatiana Project.

Jefferson was at her mother’s home in Fort Worth early the morning of Oct. 12, 2019, playing video games with her young nephew when a neighbor called a non-emergency line to request a welfare check at the home, noting that its doors appeared to be open and the lights were on.

Two officers, including Dean, were called to the house about 2:30 a.m. and went into the backyard. Jefferson’s nephew later told authorities that his aunt had gotten her handgun and pointed it at a window after hearing noises outside.

The officers didn’t identify themselves as police officers before Dean shot Jefferson through the window, killing her.

As protesters have taken to the streets over the last several weeks, decrying police brutality and systemic racism, they’ve called Jefferson’s name in response to chants of “Say Her Name.”

Hearing those cries of her sister’s name has given Carr some hope amid months of grief, she said.

“For our family, it’s exciting, because at one point, we felt like she had disappeared, you know?” Carr said. “Nobody was saying her name.”

Grayson said she hopes now people never stop saying Jefferson’s name.

“Atatiana was a beautiful soul. She was a good person. She was extremely smart. She loved her family — she took care of her family. And she deserves this,” Grayson said. “We need people to understand who she was, what we lost, what could have been.”