HISPA Launches 20th Anniversary Campaign to Expand Opportunity for Students from Low-Income Communities
Four September events energize professionals to help students see pathways to college, meaningful careers, and brighter futures
Princeton, N.J. — September 16, 2026 — As students return to school, HISPA is launching a four-event Kick-Off and Recruiting series to mobilize professionals who can help young people from low-income communities envision and pursue opportunities they may never have considered possible.
The events will take place across three states:
- Miami, FL: Sept. 3 at Amazon, with support from South Florida Latinos@Amazon
- New Jersey: Sept. 10 at Bristol Myers Squibb
- New York: Sept. 17 at Pfizer, with support from the Pfizer Latino Community
- Palm Beach, FL: Sept. 24 at Palm Beach State College
The annual Kick-Off and Recruiting Events launch HISPA’s school-year programming by bringing together current and prospective volunteers, corporate and educational partners, and community supporters. This year’s series carries special significance as HISPA begins a yearlong celebration of its 20th anniversary.
Why Role Models Matter
Students from low-income communities often face barriers that extend beyond financial hardship. Many have limited access to professionals who share their backgrounds and lived experiences, less exposure to high-skill careers, and few opportunities to explore college campuses or professional workplaces.
HISPA works to close these opportunity gaps by connecting students from middle school through college with positive, successful professionals who help them see what their futures could hold.
HISPA Role Models share their personal, educational, and professional journeys in classrooms, corporate workplaces, and on college campuses. They introduce students to diverse college and career pathways, speak honestly about the obstacles they have overcome, and provide living proof that a student’s circumstances do not have to determine their future.
“For many of the students we serve, meeting a HISPA Role Model may be the first time they see someone with a similar background succeeding in a career they had never imagined for themselves,” said HISPA Founder and CEO Dr. Ivonne Díaz-Claisse. “That moment of recognition can change how a young person sees their potential. Our Role Models show students that their dreams are valid and that education can help place those dreams within reach.”
Twenty Years of Opening Doors
HISPA’s journey began decades ago with a deep commitment to community, education, and representation. In April 2007, its leadership established HISPA as an independent nonprofit organization, building on the foundation created by an AT&T employee resource group and the dedicated leaders who came before them.
Guided by the belief that students cannot be what they do not see, HISPA has since developed partnerships across industries to bring meaningful college and career exposure directly to students. Its programs create opportunities for young people to learn in classrooms, get hands-on experience in professional workplaces, explore college campuses, and build the confidence and human-centric skills—like critical thinking, resilience, and adaptability—needed to pursue their goals.
To date, HISPA’s network of 3,000 Role Models has reached more than 32,000 students. These volunteers do more than introduce careers: they help students recognize their strengths, understand the value of education, and believe that obstacles can be overcome.
A Yearlong Celebration—and Call to Action
This year’s Kick-Off theme, “With Our Voices: Cultivating the Next Wave of Leaders,” highlights the power of professionals sharing their stories to inspire future generations.
The September events begin a yearlong 20th anniversary campaign that will culminate in April 2027 with a signature event showcasing the collective impact HISPA’s students, volunteers, and partners have achieved.
The anniversary also comes at a critical time. As families and schools confront persistent economic challenges, HISPA is calling on professionals and organizations to ensure that students from low-income communities continue to receive the guidance, encouragement, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Community members can support this work by volunteering in HISPA programs, sharing their stories as Role Models, becoming corporate or educational partners, or investing in the organization’s mission.
“Our 20th anniversary is not only a celebration of how far we have come—it is an invitation to help shape what comes next,” Díaz-Claisse said. “Every professional has a story that could encourage a student to keep going. By sharing our voices, we can cultivate the next wave of leaders.”
How to Get Involved
HISPA is recruiting professionals from all backgrounds and industries to serve as Role Models during the 2026-27 school year. Volunteers can participate in classroom visits, career workshops on college campuses, corporate learning experiences, and more.
To learn more about becoming a HISPA Role Model, visit our website.
HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by its 2026-27 Founding-level Funders Verizon and SOMOS, Co-founding-level Funders Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and Princeton Area Community Foundation, and Annual Funders Amazon, Bank of America, Bloomberg, the Delta Dental Foundation, the LSEG Foundation, Prudential Financial, and Visa. HISPA is a UnidosUS affiliate.
Media Contact:
Kelly Grossman
Communications & Development
kelly@hispa.org
609-865-0124
www.hispa.org
