Government Relations
In September, SHPE convened members of its Academic Partnership Council with the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice, to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Affirmative Action. This session provided a crucial platform SHPE’S APC members at institutions of higher education to access resources and navigate the post-ruling landscape, ensuring they were informed and equipped to avoid misinformation of the ruling’s impact.
In October, SHPE chapters in Dallas and Houston, Texas, hosted Congressional staff for the very first-time during a “Noche de Ciencias” and “College Day” in Dallas and Houston, Texas. These events highlighted the outstanding community outreach efforts of local SHPE members, while offering Congressional staff the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities that students and their families get to experience. The ultimate goal of these events were to share the feeling of being inspired to pursue a STEM career, as we recognized the important work of those doing the work locally.
Additionally, SHPE worked with Representatives Tony Cárdenas and Maria Salazar to reintroduce House Resolution 762, which expresses support for increasing the number of Hispanic students and young professionals entering careers in STEM fields. The reintroduction of H.Res.762 highlights the critical role of the Hispanic community in addressing current and future workforce shortages in STEM. Moreover, it acknowledges the rapid growth of both the Hispanic population and STEM employment projections growth, noting the unique opportunity to meet national security and workforce demands with Hispanic talent.
To conclude the year, SHPE participated in the Department of Education’s #YOUBelongInSTEM Coordinating Conference. During this event, SHPE had the opportunity to showcase the commitments it pledged to achieve by 2025 to ensure that all Hispanic students from PreK to higher education can excel in rigorous, relevant, and joyful STEM learning. Out of 90 commitments submitted at the time of the conference, SHPE was one of only six organizations selected to publicly present with a virtual and in-person audience.
Building on the momentum from SHPE’s 2023 National Convention, our Government Relations team participated in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Tech Summit to discuss key findings from the 2023 LDC-SHPE Latinos in Engineering and Tech Report. The presentation highlighted our membership growth, the increasing nationwide presence of Hispanics in tech and engineering fields, and the success of early learning initiatives. Further, the highlights included the persistent challenges and barriers in higher education and the workforce experienced by Hispanic individuals. SHPE’s voice and contribution to the summit underscored the urgent need to reimagine resource allocations for both students and professionals, with the goal of enhancing STEM achievement and closing opportunity gaps in the Hispanic community.
Kicking off 2024, SHPE hosted its first-ever Hill Day, bringing a delegation of nearly 70 students and professional members to Washington, D.C. This event showcased the success of SHPE’s membership through powerful stories shared directly with Members of Congress, effectively raising awareness of Hispanics in STEM and their contributions to industry at both local and national levels. In the meetings, our members drew from their diverse backgrounds to discuss education pathways and speak to the resources that positively shaped their STEM education and careers. Additionally, participants spoke to impactful community outreach programs, such as Noche de Ciencias, Equipando Padres, and Virtual STEM Labs, all of which are instrumental to increasing Hispanic youth and family engagement in STEM learning.
Additionally, SHPE took part in the second Conference for the YOU Belong in STEM initiative, hosted by the Department of Education at the White House. This event gathered STEM advocates, including community-based nonprofits like SHPE, to provide updates on the commitments pledged to advance the initiative’s goals. SHPE was spotlighted once again, with the purpose of sharing its progress and achievements. This event had a national audience, both in-person and virtually, engaging stakeholders from across the country.
Since SHPE’s Hill Day, we have connected Congressional offices with SHPE chapters to participate in local events such as roundtables or Noche de Ciencias. These engagement opportunities offer Member of Congress a closer look at the students and professionals who are serving as role models and making a difference in the state and district. Recently, members of SHPE’s Central Washington chapter organized a roundtable with their Member of Congress, enabling a candid dialogue between Hispanic students and professionals with their Representative, about their aspirations to excel in STEM professions while shedding light on their struggles and achievements. These discussions are crucial in improving pathways of opportunity for untapped Hispanic talent across the nation.
In closing, to further elevate SHPE’s impact within the STEM ecosystem, the Government Relations team has actively supported all 50th anniversary Fiestas by inviting government officials to join these significant celebrations. By involving them in these events, SHPE is not only commemorating its legacy but also amplifying awareness and recognition of local Hispanic talent.