BETTER
TOGETHER
Habitat for Aviation grew through the support of two nationally respected institutions—Big Picture Learning and BETA Technologies—blending educational innovation with aviation expertise and community-rooted leadership.
BIG PICTURE
LEARNING EDUCATION INNOVATION
Founder Beth White’s 25-year relationship with BPL shaped her commitment to interest-driven, real-world learning that happens both inside and beyond conventional school walls. Over the past eight years, Beth served as Big Picture Learning’s Director of New England Initiatives and Regional Coordinator for the Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative, helping hundreds of young people access paid, mentored, hands-on learning and pathways into the skilled trades.
Habitat for Aviation emerged as a natural extension of this work—an out-of-school habitat where young people and adults learn through real aircraft projects, trusted relationships, and shared purpose.
Big Picture Learning incubated Habitat internally before launching it as a stand-alone nonprofit, following a proven approach used to seed other initiatives, including College Unbound. This structure gave Habitat entrepreneurial focus while benefiting from Big Picture’s operational systems, coaching infrastructure, and governance expertise during its earliest stages.
AVIATION
INNOVATION
BETA TECHNOLOGIES
In 2022, Beth engaged Kyle and Katie Clark of BETA Technologies, whose early alignment brought strategic guidance, in-kind support, and introductions to key industry leaders, including BETA’s first investor, Martine Rothblatt—now a philanthropic supporter. With this dual partnership, Habitat for Aviation launched as a 501(c)(3) in fall 2022 with a founding board that bridged the education and aviation ecosystems.
Today, Habitat for Aviation works alongside experienced airplane mechanics, pilots, educators, and industry mentors—and has already engaged hundreds of participants, including more than 100 women and girls through WOMEN BUILD PLANES—demonstrating both credibility and capacity to grow.
