On April 17, 2024, SHPE made history by hosting its first Hill Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, bringing nearly 70 of its members to advocate for Hispanics in STEM. Conversations with then members of Congress, and 65 additional meetings with Congressional, Committee, and Leadership office staff focused on bridging the existing workforce gap by leveraging Hispanic talent to meet the demands of STEM industries, emerging technologies, and national security interests. By fostering pathways for student achievement from K-12 and enhancing accessibility to professional development initiatives, SHPE is committed to working with Congress on propelling more Hispanics forward in STEM fields with their help.
As the nation’s largest association representing Hispanics in STEM, SHPE is motivated by the fast growth of the Hispanic community in the country and how they’re uniquely positioned to close the current workforce gap in STEM, as well as, the 10.9 million additional job openings expected by 2031.
During SHPE’s Hill Day, participants asked Congress to work with SHPE on expediting parity between engineering & tech degrees awarded and the proportion of Hispanics in the workforce much earlier than the estimated projection of 2060, recognizing how community-based organizations like SHPE could optimize their impact in the Hispanic community with the direct support of federal investments.
When speaking with Congressional offices, constituents discussed the critical role of SHPE in the STEM ecosystem. With its finger on the pulse of the fastest growing demographic in the country, and 50 years of fostered relationships in the STEM industry, SHPE works directly with the private and public sectors to address job market needs with a diverse talent pool comprised of Hispanic individuals with non-traditional and traditional backgrounds. These partnerships allow SHPE to build a bridge between Hispanics and STEM, effectively creating a superhighway of wrap-around services that attract and retain students from an early age all throughout their professional careers in STEM fields.
By sharing their personal stories, constituents were a testament of success. Their impressive experiences and professional trajectories served as evidence to both Republican and Democratic offices that SHPE is seriously doing a remarkable job in adding highly qualified individuals to the U.S. workforce, approximately 3,000 annually. As a non-profit organization, SHPE remains committed to expanding its reach to various demographics, including first-generation college students, individuals with disabilities, those from low-income backgrounds, residents of remote areas, community college attendees, aspiring and veteran servicemen. This concerted effort aims to bolster a robust domestic pipeline of Hispanic talent thus strengthening our domestic workforce.
Expanding on the experiences shared by constituents, SHPE suggested that federal investments targeting improvements in STEM education and workforce development should prioritize community-based 501(c)(3) organizations as key recipients of competitive grant funding. Both Congressional Representatives and staff supported this proposal, recognizing SHPE’s potential to effectively utilize federal investments in extending its outreach and influence within the Hispanic community. SHPE emphasizes that enhancing the involvement of Hispanics in STEM fields is vital for advancing our domestic economy, enhancing global competitiveness, and meeting workforce demands, provided that appropriate resources are allocated to support these efforts.
The delegation of SHPE members included –
Abel Antonio Barrios
Alberto Alonso Sandoval
Alejandra Taulet
Ana Sofia Camacho
Andrea Carolina Godoy Perez
Andrea Gabriela Rivera
Andrew Isaac Yanez
Andrew Steven Garcia
Anthony Jara
Anthony Martinez Rosales
Bismarck Chiang
Brianna Marlene Soriano
Brissa Yazmin Quiroz Enriquez
Carlos Branco Gutierrez Gil
Catherine Grace Trevino
Cecilia Wingze Ochoa
Christian Presley Newkirk
Daniel Luna Quezada
Darian Uriarte
Denise Garcia Mesa
Diana Elisa Gomez
Diana Vanesa Centeno Maurad
Eduarmar R Flores Sanchez
Edward Miranda
Elany Saavedra
Emily Chavez
Erik Modesto Reyes
Fernanda Maria Ballesteros Paniagua
Hannah Margaret Sierra
Jacobo Miranda
James Narey
Jasmin Emely Lopez
Jeraldin Guerrero
Jessica Marie Flores
Jessica Torres Torres
Jessica Velez
Jocelyn Jacqueline Garcia
John Thomas Paredes
John Wallace
Jose Sergio Garcia, Jr.
Josefina Carmen Alvarez
Julissa Saenz
Karen Lizette Santos Garcia
Karen Yesenia Hernandez
Kelvin Alexander Guzman Baez
Lesly Stefany Rojas Caloca
Margarita Colmenares
Mariana Lopez
Martha Elizabeth Ventura
Melanie Weber
Melissa Villegas Drake
Michael Saony Hidalgo
Natalie Davila Rendon
Nayleth Guadalupe Ramirez Duarte
Nicolas Valencia Diaz
Odalys Lopez
Oscar O Marquina Romero
Stephanie Moreno Rivera
Xitlali Guadalupe Montoya-Hernandez
Zachary Alexander Torres
