Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Inspiring Hispanic Youth
Pennington, NJ – On October 3, 2024, HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) will host its annual Role Model Program Kick-Off and Recruiting Event at Bank of America. Themed “Pioneers of Change: Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” this event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and unites Latino professionals dedicated to inspiring the next generation of leaders by sharing their personal stories of success and perseverance.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps and fulfill their academic and professional potential. Since 2007, HISPA’s programs have reached over 27,000 students in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. local time, with welcoming remarks from Alberto Garofalo, President of Bank of America New Jersey and Head of Global Corporate Security and Executive Protection.
HISPA’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, will then speak on the theme of “Pioneers of Change,” spotlighting HISPA’s ongoing efforts to use the power of sharing our stories to inspire Latino youth and empower our communities.
Attendees will then hear a testimonial from Miguel Hernandez-Delgado, a The College of New Jersey student and alumnus of the New Jersey Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program.
The event will also feature a panel discussion, “Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” moderated by HISPA Board of Directors member Roy Love. Panelists, who will speak on what they believe is the number one attribute of being a “Pioneer of Change” in the Latino community, include:
- Kevin C. Hudson, Associate Director for Institutional Diversity and College Opportunity, Office of the Provost, Princeton University
- Dorca Gilbertson, Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Client Manager, Merrill Lynch and Investment Solutions Group
- Lorena Kuri, Global PBRG Lead OLA (Organization for Latino Achievement), Bristol Myers Squibb
- Ismael Nibot, CIMA®, Talent Acquisition Partner, Community Co-chair, Prudential Financial
Lauren Mugavero, CIMA®, Managing Director, Head of Investment Advisory Specialists at Bank of America, will close the evening by calling the audience to support HISPA’s mission as role models and inspire the next generation of Latino leaders by sharing their own stories. Guests are then welcome to enjoy networking and refreshments, offering an opportunity for attendees to connect, engage, and explore ways to get involved in HISPA’s efforts.
Join us on October 3 and help shape the future of Latino youth! Visit https://hispakickoff.org/ to register.
HISPA is proud to acknowledge its 2024-25 Founding Partner Verizon, Co-founding Partners and Supporters Merck, Bloomberg, the Delta Dental Foundation , and PSEG, and Annual Partners Amazon, Bank of America, Bristol Myers Squibb, ETS, Prudential Financial, and Visa.