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SHPE on the Hill

Building a Local STEM Pipeline: SHPE Dallas–Fort Worth Chapter Hosts Advocacy Day at Dallas City Hall

  • Mariana Acuña Delgado

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On September 1, the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) Professional Chapter hosted its first advocacy day at Dallas City Hall with City Council members and other city government leaders. Chapter members shared their experiences as STEM professionals and highlighted SHPE’s work to support young learners, families, college students, and working professionals across the region. Together, participants explored how SHPE and the city can prepare Dallas residents for the high-wage jobs driving the city’s growth. 

That conversation was especially timely because the DFW region broke into the top 10 of RCLCO’s annual STEM Job Growth Index for the first time in 2025. Building on that momentum will require a skilled workforce for employers in critical sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and technology. Developing that workforce locally means reaching residents long before they apply for their first job and supporting them throughout their education and careers. 

SHPE’s network of STEM professionals and college students is well positioned to support this work through three core priorities that guide Dallas residents from their first exposure to STEM through their development as industry leaders:  

  • Early STEM Engagement: Early exposure to STEM helps students develop the foundational skills they need to succeed in higher education and the workforce. Through hands-on programs such as Noche de Ciencias, Día de Ciencias, and Equipando Padres, SHPE chapters spark curiosity, connect students with mentors from the STEM community, and involve families in their children’s education. 
  • Higher Education Retention and Career Readiness: Building on that early foundation, students need support to complete their degrees and move successfully into the workforce. Texas has set a goal of achieving 60% postsecondary credential attainment by 2030, and programs such as InternSHPE, MentorSHPE, and ScholarSHPE contribute to that goal by strengthening college retention and preparing students for their first professional roles. 
  • Leadership and Workforce Competitiveness: Once in the workforce, professionals need continued development to grow into the region’s next generation of industry leaders. SHPE’s National Institute for Leadership Advancement (NILA) prepares chapter presidents to lead their chapters effectively, strengthening the programs Dallas-area chapters deliver while building leadership skills that carry into members’ careers. Events like the National Convention help members align their skills with what employers need, build relationships that lead to career opportunities, and return to Dallas better prepared to contribute to the region’s growing industries. 

Developing talent at each stage is essential, but a strong pipeline must also connect skilled people with the employers who need them. DFW members identified Dallas’ business community as a key partner in this effort, and SHPE’s Junior, Student, and Professional chapters are well positioned to help build those connections. Through continued collaboration with the City Council and other city government leaders, including the Office of Economic Development, SHPE members can align their efforts with the city’s workforce and economic development priorities, help retain locally trained talent, and help businesses recognize skilled people within their own communities. 

Dallas’ growth presents an opportunity to prepare more local residents for jobs in the region’s expanding industries. SHPE is ready to advance that effort as a community partner by bringing professionals, students, families, employers, and city leaders together to build a stronger Dallas STEM workforce. We thank every council office that met with us and look forward to continuing this work together. 

The DFW chapter’s experience also offers a valuable model for SHPE chapters nationwide, partnering with local government can be a powerful way to advocate for their STEM communities and strengthen local workforce development.