The impact of on-going Role Model Programs is a proven strategy that can help young people to achieve their potential. For this reason, HISPA presents the following two solutions:

• HISPA ROLE MODEL PROGRAM
  HISPA proposes a Role Model Program that will inspire and motivate students’ performance and achievement by raising awareness about the importance of education as a means to succeed professionally and live up to their full potential.

  Our HISPA Role Model Program is an "on-demand' program that pairs Hispanic/Latino role model volunteers with schools and other community-based educational programs that are geographically close to where they live and/or work. The volunteers’ goal is to share their cultural backgrounds, educational experiences and their professional careers in becoming a role model to whom the students can relate.
  
  The focus of the presentations will be in sharing key experiences that allowed them to achieve their professional goals. The role model presentation will be tailored to the school or educational program requirements ranging from informal classroom presentations to formal auditorium presentations. The main objective is for the students to see themselves in the role models and envision the possibilities of determining and achieving their own dreams.




• HISPA YOUTH CONFERENCES
  As the former Hispanic Association of AT&T Employees, HISPA coordinated and hosted many youth conferences. HISPA has a wealth of experience and expertise and is eager to share “best practices” with other Latino Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). HISPA’s goal is to enable the ERGs that support our Role Model Program and introduce a youth component to their respective annual professional conferences. HISPA, as a project management organization, plans to offer an innovative agenda to students by developing strategic partnerships with local organizations and educational institutions. These events stimulate students to explore career options in a realistic manner and allow them the opportunity to interact with many role models representing many cultural backgrounds and careers through a one or two-day program.

  In June 2007, HISPA teamed with AT&T’s HACEMOS organization and hosted 40 students during their first 2007 HACEMOS Youth Conference, the theme of which was “Life After High School.” HISPA sponsored and led the coordination of this event which included exhibits from ten local Universities/Colleges and three organizations, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), Hispanic College Fund (HCF) and NACME. HISPA is currently coordinating AT&T’s HACEMOS Youth Conference in San Antonio to be held this summer.