Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse Honored with the Women of Achievement Award by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Women in Business Alliance On June 25, 2025, HISPA’s CEO, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, was honored with the Women of Achievement Award by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Women in Business Alliance. Since its inception in 2013, this prestigious […]
Bridging Dreams and STEM: HISPA Inspires the Next Generation at Princeton University June 6, 2025 – Princeton, NJ On June 6, 2025, over 80 8th-grade students from Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No. 27 and Christopher Columbus School No. 15 in Elizabeth, NJ, as well as PACE Charter School in Hamilton, NJ, stepped foot onto […]
April 2, 2025 – HISPA, a nonprofit organization inspiring youth to pursue education and high-skill careers, particularly in STEM, hosted a Youth Conference at Montclair State University on March 26, 2025, celebrating New Jersey STEM Month. Themed “Take Action! Achieve Your Dreams,” the day-long event united more than 100 middle school students from Christopher Columbus School in Elizabeth, Herbert Hoover Middle School in Edison, and Mario J. Drago School in Passaic, NJ, with STEM professionals from nearby businesses, allowing students to explore college life and STEM studies.
The conference was co-sponsored by the Office for Hispanic Initiatives at Montclair State University and co-hosted by Prudential Financial, with additional funding provided by PSEG, the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network, and the Overdeck Family Foundation.
“Research shows that students from low-income communities often have less access to role models in STEM careers, which limits their awareness of and aspirations to pursue these fields,” said Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, founder and CEO of HISPA. “HISPA’s Youth Conferences help bridge this gap by connecting students with relatable role models from STEM-focused companies.”
Hands-on STEM career exploration workshops are central to HISPA’s Youth Conferences. Led by professionals from Prudential, PSEG, Crum & Forster, Verizon, and Merck, the interactive workshops demonstrated STEM’s real-world applications, such as financial planning, scientific experimentation, and engineering challenges, stoking excitement and curiosity about STEM careers.
In addition to STEM workshops, middle schoolers learned about transitioning from high school to higher education through a Q&A panel with college students from Montclair State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Passaic County Community College (PCCC). Attending students were also joined by future educators from PCCC for mentorship and problem-solving activities.
Throughout the day, students heard inspirational remarks from industry leaders, including Nick Fuentes of Medable, Johana Valencia-Duque from Prudential Financial, and Dr. Katia Paz Goldfarb from the Office for Hispanic Initiatives at Montclair State University. They also attended a motivational address delivered by Dr. Michelle Hernandez, Merck’s Director of Occupational Toxicology. Musical performances from The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey ended the day on an upbeat note. Students left inspired and equipped with the knowledge and motivation to make their STEM dreams a reality.
“Exposure to STEM role models is proven to boost students’ interest in pursuing STEM education,” said Dr. Díaz-Claisse. “We are proud to host an event during New Jersey STEM Month that provides students with the role models and experiences they need to envision a future in STEM.”
HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by Founding Partner Verizon, Co-founding Partners and Supporters Merck, Bloomberg, the Delta Dental Foundation, and the PSEG Foundation, and Annual Partners Amazon, Bank of America, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Citi, ETS, Prudential, and Visa. HISPA is a UnidosUS Affiliate.
To view photos from the event, please visit our Flickr.
For more information about HISPA and its Youth Conferences, please visit www.hispa.org.
HISPA was featured in AMERICANO Newspaper for its recent Youth Conferences at Princeton University and AT&T, which inspired future Latino leaders. You can read the article here. You may also view it in its entirety below. HISPA Inspires Future Latino Leaders with Dynamic Youth Conferences at Princeton University and AT&T HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ […]
Dear partners and volunteers of HISPA’s 2024 Youth Conference at Montclair State University, We did it! HISPA’s first Youth Conference at Montclair State University was a great success because of your hard work and dedication. With the support of more than 40 volunteers, we delivered inspiration and information to nearly 150 students. We could not […]
HISPA Hosts Youth Conference at Montclair State University to Empower Latino Middle School Students Passaic, New Jersey — March 27, 2024 — HISPA, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Latino youth through education, hosted its first-ever Youth Conference at Montclair State University yesterday, March 26th. The event, co-hosted by Montclair State University’s Office […]
HISPA, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Hispanic youth, is thrilled to announce the recipients of this year’s prestigious Three Kings Banquet. This fundraising and awards event, which will take place in New Jersey and Florida on January 18 and 25, respectively, will celebrate the achievements of outstanding individuals and organizations and mark a significant […]
United Way Awards Grants to BIPOC Led Organizations
United Way of Greater Mercer County (UWGMC) awarded grants to eight local nonprofit organizations totaling $52,000 as part of the Inaugural Power Up Fund.
The fund was established to support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) nonprofit leaders who share in and align with UWGMC’s commitment to reducing barriers for under-resourced, economically challenged and under-served populations.
The Power Up Fund matters because research has shown that organizations led by leaders of color are under-funded and organizations led by women of color receive even less support. UWGMC is addressing the funding disparity by providing unrestricted grants and connecting BIPOC leaders to valuable organizational resources.
The Power Up Fund is seeded by UWGMC’s endowment. UWGMC is grateful to the Power Up Fund Grants Advisory Committee comprised of community members from a variety of sectors for their role in the grant review and selection. The 2023 Power Up Fund grantees are as follows:
African Link Initiative
Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County
HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement)
HomeWorks, Trenton Inc.
NJ Black Women’s Collective
Princeton Nursery School
Salvation & Social Justice
Womanspace, Inc.
“We are excited to launch the Power Up Fund and to support the capacity of BIPOC led nonprofit organizations. This is new and bold for the organization. Equity and access is at the core of what we do. We are committed to dismantling inequities and building a thriving community for all” said Sandra Toussaint, President, and CEO of UWGMC.
The New Jersey Institute of Technology wrote about celebrating Hispanic Heritage month at HISPA’s Role Model Program Kick-off and Recruiting Event. Read more about it here.
HISPA appears in a recent article published in USA Today, “Latino STEM leaders had major impact in science. Why aren’t we taught about them?” You can read it here.