September 2020 | The RVP Liaison on the National Board

One of the most critical positions we have on the National Board, is the Liaison between the Board and the Regional Leadership, specifically the Regional Vice Presidents. This year, the Board appointed former Region 7 Vice President Edwin Moure Negron to the role and tasked him with revamping the position and rewriting the role definition.

For background, when the Board was 100% elected and had fairly high turnover of Directors, the RVPs were part of the Board. While that served us well as we were growing as an organization and finding our place in the nation, that approach was very tactical forcing the Board to be consumed with the day-to-day management of the organization. As a result, the long-term strategic thinking needed for the growth and financial stability of the organization was difficult to achieve.

To fix this, we changed the nature of the Board from a tactical one, managing the organization’s daily activities, to a strategic one, focused on the long-term direction of the organization and its financial stability. By appointing a CEO and staff team to manage the organization and freeing the Board to make longer term strategic choices, our organization has evolved into a very stable one with a solid financial position and breaking all kinds of membership, growth, and impact records year-over-year.

Because RVPs are part of operations, as managers of the individual regions, they moved from the Board into Operations. However, they also represent the pulse of the organization, something needed for the Board to make sure they don’t get isolated from the membership. So, at the time we made the Board change, we appointed a Board Director to be the Liaison to the RVPs, with information and perspective flowing back and forth to maintain that connection.

The RVPs are in an unique position to sit at the confluence of strategy and operations as they can feed into strategy what is happening in the organization, what works and what doesn’t, but at the same time they are executing the direction of the organization into their regions and insuring we stay on track. This is a unique and very valuable job that must be well connected to the Board.

For the past year, I joined the RVP team to get a feel for what was and was not working and got very valuable insight on our membership and, in particular, the undercurrents shaping our actions. This past year’s RVP team collaborated in all major issues being addressed by the Board and had significant input in the organization’s actions, from logo design to how to respond to social unrest.

This illustrated to me, and the rest of the Board, how critical the position of Liaison is to the managing of the organization and ensuring the Board is connected to the membership.

On July 1st, I appointed Edwin as the new Liaison to the RVPs, with the express objective of redesigning the role to meet both the RVPs and the Board’s needs. At the September Board meeting, we approved the new role description. This will increase collaboration and efficiency for both the Board as well as Regional Management.

The next few months, as we deploy the new model, will be a learning period intended to result in a well-integrated management team. My commitment is to work each and every issue as it arises with Edwin and the current RVP team, so the position becomes effective and our integration seamless.

Our future remains bright, and our potential as an organization continues to grow by leaps and bounds, more so as our management models mature.

Miguel Alemañy
Chair, Board of Directors

SHPE Distributes Record-Breaking Number of Student Scholarships and Awards Hundreds of Relief Fund Stipends

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2020

Contact: Kathleen DuBois
kathleend@shpe.org
323-725-3970 x109

SHPE Distributes Record-Breaking Number of Student Scholarships and Awards Hundreds of Relief Fund Stipends

Bright Minds Scholarship Campaign and ALL-IN Relief Fund assists members in need

City of Industry, California – SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) was launched in 1974 to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its full potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development.

According to SHPE CEO Raquel Tamez, “Financial need is the number one reason why Hispanic students do not complete a bachelor’s degree. So SHPE is offering thousands of reasons to ensure our members do reach graduation – $620,000 to be exact. With scholarships awarded to 191 students for the 2020-2021 academic year totaling more than $620,000 – a 39% increase over 2019-2020 – SHPE is actively narrowing the gap in the Hispanic STEM education pipeline.” Due to the pandemic, SHPE student members have been faced with unprecedented financial, academic and social challenges, which means scholarship support is more essential than ever.

In addition, the ALL-IN Relief Fund was quickly set up in April to support SHPE members experiencing a financial hardship due to COVID-19. “The pandemic hit many Hispanic STEM students and professionals hard. We received hundreds of applications once the new relief fund was announced, with the greatest reason cited for a stipend being job loss,” said Tamez. So far $112,000 in relief fund stipends to 292 Hispanics in STEM have been awarded since May and the next round will be awarded in September.

SHPE is grateful for the overwhelming generosity from hundreds of contributors including members, chapters and corporations. Many companies established named scholarships including: Apple, Bechtel, Chevron, Eaton, Intel, John Deere, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Spectrum, and Toyota. Bechtel, Cummins, Honeywell and Intel provided seed funds to establish the ALL-IN Relief Fund. And SHPE Board Chair Miguel Alemañy funded the Helen Cuesta Scholarship in honor of his mother – the first named scholarship established by an individual member.

Student and professional members who are struggling due to the effects of the COVID-19 can apply now for an ALL-IN Relief Fund stipend up to $500 by visiting https://smr.to/p65984

Individuals and organizations can make a donation to the Bright Minds Scholarship Campaign or ALL-IN Relief Fund by visiting https://www.shpe.org/support-our-students

———
ABOUT SHPE

SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. To accomplish this, SHPE provides a variety of programming, services, resources, and events, including hosting the largest Hispanic STEM convention in the nation. For more information, visit http://shpe.org.

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August 2020 | Our Mission – Stay Focused

We must stay focused on our mission and the positive change we are effecting for the betterment of the Hispanic Community.

I was asked recently why we exist. The person’s point was interesting; she showed me the efforts companies go to recruit minority employees and the outreach efforts to get these candidates. She felt our work was duplicative to what the industry was doing. It was a good conversation. But in the end, she understood the value we add to what industry does, plus all the work we do that companies do not. She was impressed.

But that made me think…what do we do, and how laser focused are we on our mission given the chaotic world in which we live, and the turmoil we are experiencing every day.

In a nutshell, we raise money from industry and government, along with foundations, private donors, and special programs, so that we can ignite young Hispanic students to pursue a career in STEM, go to college, stay in college, graduate, and then help them find a job that meets their personal needs. In the process, we help better the lives of thousands of students and their families and help the Hispanic community reach its potential in this area. We are looking at expanding our offerings to include K-9 and 3 years after graduation all the way to C-suite. But we want to do this by partnering with other organizations that specialize in those areas, so that we can fully serve the Hispanic STEM community end to end.

We tried to do it all in the past and that diluted our efforts. By focusing on the area where we are best, -3 years from college to +3 years after college, we have become incredibly effective and in fact, our organization has grown by leaps and bounds during the last 5 years. We are effecting a positive change in our society larger than anyone could have imagined 5 years ago, and we are just getting started. We have an exciting bright future ahead of us and can help better the lives of so many more people with our work.

Which is why is critically important we stay laser focused on why we exist, why are we here, and what is it that we do that matters to the population we serve. This is becoming harder and harder every day. From our own internal tendency to proliferate programs and bring new offerings constantly, which at times causes us to dilute our focus as we did years ago when we tried to be all things to all people, to the constant external pressures that make us take the eye off the wheel.

Our programs are great, they add depth to the service we offer and offer a richer experience to our members. The issue is that while this is great, we are asked to create new ones all the time, some of which may not even be within our focus area. New programs create more overhead, which create more complexity, which requires more staffing and attention, which requires more money. Additionally, programs tend to take a life of their own and the program becomes the objective, not the benefit the program creates. So, we must maintain a balance between our increasingly rich experience for our members and the complexity level we create. We are in a good place right now, but we must stay vigilant to maintain a reasonable pace.

Our external forces are the more difficult ones to control because they either affect our ability to deliver our mission directly, like COVID, or tug at our heart and our social conscience, like the recent social events have done. Critically important, we can’t ignore either one. The first forces us to pivot to maintain our service level and quality. If we don’t, we can’t deliver our mission. Our staff is doing an outstanding job adjusting to the new reality and I am very impressed at how they have adapted. Next time you talk to someone in the staff thank them for keeping us on track despite COVID.

The social events forces are easier to control because they don’t hit us directly. However, are much harder to manage because they appeal to our social conscience of fairness and justice. They hit our heart and emotional empathy, and those are powerful drivers. We all want to fix the DACA issue, we all want justice for the people recently killed, we all want a stop to what is happening to minority communities, we all want to help, we want to work to end the situation.

Our challenge becomes how to be part of the solution society needs without losing our mission. If we reallocate all our energy to fighting social issues outside our mission, our mission stops and thousands of Hispanics across the nation could have a major setback in their plans to get ahead. Students would drop out of school for lack of funds, never finished college and their dreams shattered.

Our challenge is to find a way to register our support and help work those issues that hit us without losing focus on our mission, something directly in our control. We would be doing a disservice to our Hispanic community by dropping it in favor or working issues not in our control, and that we cannot deliver to fruition.

It is doable by the way; we can do this! It would take for example a chapter that decides to fund raise for a social cause to also fundraise for SHPE scholarship. Is not “either/or,” it has to be “and…”. Keep the focus on the mission and add helping others if critically important. But, to use the same example, we shouldn’t drop fundraising for SHPE in order to fundraise for a social cause outside the scope of our mission. As I said earlier, we can do this!

We have a bright future ahead of us, and we can continue increasing our impact on society by helping the Hispanic community reach its potential, to do that we must stay focused on our mission regardless of all the distractions thrown our way. It is why we exist.

Miguel Alemañy
Board Chair, SHPE

August 2020 | Our Mission – Stay Focused

We must stay focused on our mission and the positive change we are effecting for the betterment of the Hispanic Community.

I was asked recently why we exist. The person’s point was interesting; she showed me the efforts companies go to recruit minority employees and the outreach efforts to get these candidates. She felt our work was duplicative to what the industry was doing. It was a good conversation. But in the end, she understood the value we add to what industry does, plus all the work we do that companies do not. She was impressed.

But that made me think…what do we do, and how laser focused are we on our mission given the chaotic world in which we live, and the turmoil we are experiencing every day.

In a nutshell, we raise money from industry and government, along with foundations, private donors, and special programs, so that we can ignite young Hispanic students to pursue a career in STEM, go to college, stay in college, graduate, and then help them find a job that meets their personal needs. In the process, we help better the lives of thousands of students and their families and help the Hispanic community reach its potential in this area. We are looking at expanding our offerings to include K-9 and 3 years after graduation all the way to C-suite. But we want to do this by partnering with other organizations that specialize in those areas, so that we can fully serve the Hispanic STEM community end to end.

We tried to do it all in the past and that diluted our efforts. By focusing on the area where we are best, -3 years from college to +3 years after college, we have become incredibly effective and in fact, our organization has grown by leaps and bounds during the last 5 years. We are effecting a positive change in our society larger than anyone could have imagined 5 years ago, and we are just getting started. We have an exciting bright future ahead of us and can help better the lives of so many more people with our work.

Which is why is critically important we stay laser focused on why we exist, why are we here, and what is it that we do that matters to the population we serve. This is becoming harder and harder every day. From our own internal tendency to proliferate programs and bring new offerings constantly, which at times causes us to dilute our focus as we did years ago when we tried to be all things to all people, to the constant external pressures that make us take the eye off the wheel.

Our programs are great, they add depth to the service we offer and offer a richer experience to our members. The issue is that while this is great, we are asked to create new ones all the time, some of which may not even be within our focus area. New programs create more overhead, which create more complexity, which requires more staffing and attention, which requires more money. Additionally, programs tend to take a life of their own and the program becomes the objective, not the benefit the program creates. So, we must maintain a balance between our increasingly rich experience for our members and the complexity level we create. We are in a good place right now, but we must stay vigilant to maintain a reasonable pace.

Our external forces are the more difficult ones to control because they either affect our ability to deliver our mission directly, like COVID, or tug at our heart and our social conscience, like the recent social events have done. Critically important, we can’t ignore either one. The first forces us to pivot to maintain our service level and quality. If we don’t, we can’t deliver our mission. Our staff is doing an outstanding job adjusting to the new reality and I am very impressed at how they have adapted. Next time you talk to someone in the staff thank them for keeping us on track despite COVID.

The social events forces are easier to control because they don’t hit us directly. However, are much harder to manage because they appeal to our social conscience of fairness and justice. They hit our heart and emotional empathy, and those are powerful drivers. We all want to fix the DACA issue, we all want justice for the people recently killed, we all want a stop to what is happening to minority communities, we all want to help, we want to work to end the situation.

Our challenge becomes how to be part of the solution society needs without losing our mission. If we reallocate all our energy to fighting social issues outside our mission, our mission stops and thousands of Hispanics across the nation could have a major setback in their plans to get ahead. Students would drop out of school for lack of funds, never finished college and their dreams shattered.

Our challenge is to find a way to register our support and help work those issues that hit us without losing focus on our mission, something directly in our control. We would be doing a disservice to our Hispanic community by dropping it in favor or working issues not in our control, and that we cannot deliver to fruition.

It is doable by the way; we can do this! It would take for example a chapter that decides to fund raise for a social cause to also fundraise for SHPE scholarship. Is not “either/or,” it has to be “and…”. Keep the focus on the mission and add helping others if critically important. But, to use the same example, we shouldn’t drop fundraising for SHPE in order to fundraise for a social cause outside the scope of our mission. As I said earlier, we can do this!

We have a bright future ahead of us, and we can continue increasing our impact on society by helping the Hispanic community reach its potential, to do that we must stay focused on our mission regardless of all the distractions thrown our way. It is why we exist.

Miguel Alemañy
Board Chair, SHPE

UnidosUS – America in Crisis: Are You Ready to Act and Ready to Lead?

As a leader interested and committed to growing your network in order to work together and find solutions for our community, we’d like to invite you to the FREE 2020 UnidosUS Annual Conference & Virtual Marketplace—America in Crisis: Ready to Act, Ready to Lead—taking place July 27–30.

A few months ago, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that the Conference would be transformed from an in-person event to a virtual experience. This year, registration for the Annual Conference and Virtual Marketplace is free and open to the public.

We support UnidosUS because we believe in its mission to see a strong America where economic, political, and social advancement is a reality for all Hispanics. As part of this mission, UnidosUS hosts one of the most important convening of Hispanic leaders, industry experts, elected officials, and change makers of today and tomorrow at their Annual Conference to address critical issues in our community.

This year’s theme is a reflection of the commitment of UnidosUS to address today’s challenges head on and demonstrate that the Hispanic community is ready to be the driving force in moving our nation forward.

This year’s sessions, as the theme suggests, will present the issues the Hispanic community is currently facing, from the health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to continuing to demand racial justice, to mobilizing the Hispanic community to be informed and empowered voters on the path to the 2020 elections. Their National Latino Family Expo® this year will be presented as a Virtual Marketplace, where top brands and corporate partners will showcase their latest products and initiatives in virtual booths, featuring demonstrations, raffles and contents, and meet-and-greets.

This is an important time to showcase the leadership that is working towards moving this country forward. We encourage you and hope that you will take the time to join UnidosUS at their 2020 UnidosUS Annual Conference and Virtual Marketplace for this important conversation.

REGISTER NOW!

Follow #UnidosUS20 on social for the latest updates. Registration closes this Friday, July 24!

SHPE Encourages Action to Protect International Students and Their Education

Earlier this week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced modifications to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program that would significantly impact international students legally in the country and the colleges and universities where they are pursuing their education. SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) encourages the administration, elected officials, and colleges and universities to act to protect international students affected by these modifications and to ensure they can remain enrolled and take classes. SHPE joined 64 other educational and scientific societies, representing STEM professionals in all fields, both in the U.S. and internationally, that signed a letter asking that the modified rules be withdrawn immediately..

“Many colleges and universities are considering alterations to their Fall 2020 campus plans that will allow students to continue their education while recognizing the threat that COVID-19 poses to public health, including the health of their students and their employees,” said Miguel Alemañy, National Board Chair of SHPE. “The modified rules announced this week would hurt international students and have a negative impact on their ability to earn their degrees.”

“The uncertainties created by COVID-19 call for a flexible and adaptable approach by all institutions and individuals,” said Raquel Tamez, Chief Executive Officer of SHPE. “At a time when many of SHPE’s student members are facing significant obstacles to achieving their dream of a college diploma, we stand united as a Familia in calling for action to preserve the ability of all international students to continue their education at their U.S. colleges and universities.”

In the absence of the withdrawal of the modified rules, we ask Congress to intervene to protect international students and provide students with the ability to attend their colleges and universities and participate in the full range of educational options offered by their schools. We fully support those colleges and universities who are fighting to maintain meaningful educational opportunities for all students and encourage all schools to work with their international students on effective solutions that advance their education.

SHPE is monitoring developments in Washington, D.C., in colleges and universities, and in federal court where Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have filed a lawsuit that seeks to restore students’ ability to pursue their education.

Additionally, SHPE is also exploring resources to assist its members that may be impacted by these changes.

As an organization that has supported Hispanic students and professionals in STEM for nearly 50 years, SHPE understands the value of education and will do what it can to support the international students, especially SHPE members, whose education will be disrupted by these proposed modifications.

———

ABOUT SHPE

SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. To accomplish this, SHPE provides a variety of programming, services, resources, and events, including hosting the largest Hispanic STEM convention in the nation. For more information, visit http://shpe.org.

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SHPE Denounces Systemic Racism, Injustice, And The Continuing Murders Of Black Americans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2020

City of Industry, California — The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was launched in 1974 to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its full potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. As an organization that advocates for diversity and inclusion, and to give a voice to an under-represented community, it’s our responsibility to stand up and fight injustice to our brothers and sisters of color.

We are outraged by the violent deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and the countless victims of systemic racism and brutality against the Black community that has persisted for centuries. To echo the words of National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Board Chair Jocelyn Jackson, these are “all victims of a shameful legacy of hate” and they deserve justice. In solidarity, we must stand up and demand justice. We demand an end to the senseless deadly violence against Black Americans. We demand that our country do better to combat systemic racism. Black lives matter.

SHPE remains focused on our core mission and vision as an organization. However, as part of our call to fight systemic racism, we are committed to make change happen from within SHPE. To that end, we have committed to the following:

  • To publicly support and be allies to the Black community.
  • To organize cultural awareness training for our community to cover topics like intersectionality, colorism, and bias.
  • To encourage members who identify as Afro-Latinx to share their experiences and offer ideas on how we can be more supportive.
  • To work together with other sister organizations to shape and disseminate public statements of solidarity; to create action plans that lift the underserved and underrepresented in STEM fields.
  • To facilitate a series of member dialogues around the topics of cultural awareness, bias, and understanding.
  • To listen to our members’ inspirations and ideas about how to improve.

Also, as a founding member of the 50K Coalition in 2015, along with the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the American-Indian Science and Engineering Society, SHPE has committed to working collectively to increase the numbers of engineering graduates from underrepresented populations to 50,000 by 2025.

The SHPE values have never meant more than they do right now. As we grieve the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed, we look again to our values to guide our response and behavior. Familia means that we take responsibility for our collective strength and challenge each other to be our best. Service means we commit the highest levels of quality, integrity, and ethical behavior; and we act with empathy, patience, and understanding. Education means we are dedicated to continuous improvement and renewal; and we learn from successes, setbacks, and each other. And Resilience means we embrace our diverse cultures and communities, which enable us to adapt, thrive, and persist with optimism.

We embrace these values now more than ever. And we will use them to guide our actions in the days and months ahead as we commit to being an ally to the Black community in the fight for justice and equality.

———

ABOUT SHPE

SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. To accomplish this, SHPE provides a variety of programming, services, resources, and events, including hosting the largest Hispanic STEM convention in the nation. For more information, visit http://shpe.org.

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SHPE & oSTEM Statement of Solidarity

July 1, 2020

Dear Members,


With everything going on in the world, from the growing movement for racial justice to the enormous toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pride Month felt a little different this year.

While the LGBTQ+ community continues to raise awareness and celebrate the progress that’s been made, these efforts are recognized as part of a larger struggle for equality. From criminal justice reform to the recent US Supreme Court decision making it illegal for employers to discriminate based on one’s sexual orientation, the changes we are seeing are a testament to collective action, working together towards a common goal. Our organizations—SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers); and oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)—are proud to stand in solidarity with those on the front lines of that change.

SHPE and oSTEM are united in a steadfast commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity—in all its forms. Over the last three years, we’ve worked together including the creation of the LGBTQ+ Track at the SHPE National Convention.

Our commitment to equity is not the only thing that we share; in their own ways, our respective members have experienced the awful realities of discrimination and harassment. Whether it’s a first-generation Hispanic-American who cannot get a job because of where she was born or a transgender scientist unfairly passed over for a tenure-track position, these experiences are doubled for members who belong to both communities. The struggles may be different, but the impacts—psychological, social, economic, and otherwise—can be similarly devastating.

Evidence of those struggles are reflected in our respective lack of representation in STEM. According to the Pew Research Center, Hispanics occupy a mere 7% of all STEM jobs—despite being 16% of the overall population. Similarly, according to a 2018 article in the journal Nature, LGBTQ+ humans are 17-21% *less* represented in STEM fields than expected.

Yet as history has shown time and again, when traditionally marginalized people come together for a common cause, great change is possible. This is why it is so important that our organizations continue to collaborate—to advocate for greater inclusion across the STEM spectrum, from corporate America to academia.

Taken together, the intersectional identities that encompass our organizations provide a window into a possible future. A future where our communities are central to reshaping America. This work has started but we cannot lose our momentum. Now more than ever, we must continue to move forward—together.

Fifty years ago, this week, members of New York’s LGBTQ+ community came together in remembrance of the Stonewall Riots. At the center of that uprising were Black and Brown gender expansive individuals. Their legacy lives on today as June is globally recognized as Pride Month. Yet, the demonstrations taking place in our cities and towns serve as a reminder that the struggle for equality is not over.

With the recent end of Pride Month, we acknowledge how far we have come and how far we still have to go. Every Pride Month going forward, we must honor the sacrifices of those who came before. We recommit to the work of creating a world that celebrates you as you are, together.

Sincerely,

Lilian Martinez, Executive Director & CEO, oSTEM

Raquel Tamez, CEO, SHPE

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SHPE Offers Face Coverings

SHPE Partners with ReadyOne Industries to Offer Branded Face Mask and Bio Face Covers to Members with Profits Donated to the ALL-IN Student Relief Fund

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing need for personal protective equipment, SHPE engaged ReadyOne Industries in El Paso, Texas to create SHPE-branded ReadyOne protected by Livinguard® Face Masks and Bio Face Covers for sale in the SHPE Mercado. All profits will be donated to the ALL-IN Student Relief Fund to support student members impacted by the coronavirus.

The ReadyOne protected by Livinguard® Face Mask is made of patented technology has the ability to destroy microorganisms upon contact, including bacteria and viruses, and to do so continuously and permanently. Unlike alternative metal-based solutions, Livinguard’s technology has been found to be nontoxic to both skin and lungs. The mask can be worn for seven days before washing and can be worn for 210 days while maintaining protective properties.

The Bio Face Cover with adjustable comfort earloop is made of a patented antimicrobial/antiviral fabric. It re-charges with every wash using EPA-registered chlorine bleach and is durable for at least 75 launderings. Both masks are imprinted with the SHPE logo.

“Twenty six percent of adults in the U.S. have some type of disability and the impact of the global pandemic is magnified within this vulnerable community. That’s why it is so important to me to work with ReadyOne on this initiative,” says CEO Raquel Tamez. “Many members of our Hispanic Community, including SHPE members, are essential and in need of protective equipment like the ReadyOne protected by Livinguard® N95 masks. This is an opportunity to fill that need while also supporting a company that employs a large percentage of individuals with disabilities.”

ReadyOne Industries is a nonprofit agency and part of the U.S. AbilityOne Program whose mission is to create employment opportunities for persons with significant disabilities (PWSD). Seventy-five percent of ReadyOne’s workforce consists of resilient, hardworking persons with significant disabilities as well as service – or combat-disabled veterans. All products produced at ReadyOne Industries are proudly made in the USA. President and CEO Luis Alvarez stated, “We are pleased and honored to work together with SHPE on this vital initiative. We share a mutual goal to enhance the lives of others, now and in the future. Masks may become a part of our everyday existence and we are grateful to be in a position to assist with this need.”

Masks are available for purchase now at shpe.org/mercado.

SHPE Denounces Systemic Racism, Injustice, And The Continuing Murders Of Black Americans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2020

City of Industry, California — The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was launched in 1974 to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its full potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. As an organization that advocates for diversity and inclusion, and to give a voice to an under-represented community, it’s our responsibility to stand up and fight injustice to our brothers and sisters of color.

We are outraged by the violent deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and the countless victims of systemic racism and brutality against the Black community that has persisted for centuries. To echo the words of National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Board Chair Jocelyn Jackson, these are “all victims of a shameful legacy of hate” and they deserve justice. In solidarity, we must stand up and demand justice. We demand an end to the senseless deadly violence against Black Americans. We demand that our country do better to combat systemic racism. Black lives matter.

SHPE remains focused on our core mission and vision as an organization. However, as part of our call to fight systemic racism, we are committed to make change happen from within SHPE. To that end, we have committed to the following:

  • To publicly support and be allies to the Black community.
  • To organize cultural awareness training for our community to cover topics like intersectionality, colorism, and bias.
  • To encourage members who identify as Afro-Latinx to share their experiences and offer ideas on how we can be more supportive.
  • To work together with other sister organizations to shape and disseminate public statements of solidarity; to create action plans that lift the underserved and underrepresented in STEM fields.
  • To facilitate a series of member dialogues around the topics of cultural awareness, bias, and understanding.
  • To listen to our members’ inspirations and ideas about how to improve.

Also, as a founding member of the 50K Coalition in 2015, along with the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the American-Indian Science and Engineering Society, SHPE has committed to working collectively to increase the numbers of engineering graduates from underrepresented populations to 50,000 by 2025.

The SHPE values have never meant more than they do right now. As we grieve the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed, we look again to our values to guide our response and behavior. Familia means that we take responsibility for our collective strength and challenge each other to be our best. Service means we commit the highest levels of quality, integrity, and ethical behavior; and we act with empathy, patience, and understanding. Education means we are dedicated to continuous improvement and renewal; and we learn from successes, setbacks, and each other. And Resilience means we embrace our diverse cultures and communities, which enable us to adapt, thrive, and persist with optimism.

We embrace these values now more than ever. And we will use them to guide our actions in the days and months ahead as we commit to being an ally to the Black community in the fight for justice and equality.

———

ABOUT SHPE

SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. To accomplish this, SHPE provides a variety of programming, services, resources, and events, including hosting the largest Hispanic STEM convention in the nation. For more information, visit http://shpe.org.

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