As it marks its 20th anniversary, the nonprofit organization HISPA is continuing its mission to open doors for low-income and minority students across the Garden State. Throughout October, hundreds of New Jersey students gathered at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Rutgers University for dynamic youth conferences designed to expand access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and STEM careers.
The initiatives brought together universities, corporate partners, and relatable professional role models to introduce students to technical concepts while fostering the human-centric skills—such as critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and resilience—needed to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace.
On October 5, HISPA brought 162 ninth- and tenth-grade students from the Passaic and Elizabeth school districts to NJIT for the “Take ActIon: Lead the Next Wave!” conference. Co-sponsored by NJIT, the Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Council, and co-hosted by the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research, and Development (CHPRD), the event featured a student demographic where 94% identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Students dove into practical applications of technology, exploring topics ranging from AI business agents and product development to cybersecurity and entrepreneurship. Workshop highlights included:
- Verizon: Analog AI Prompt Engineering
- NJIT Center for Pre-College Programs: Exploring Binary Code
- Industry Leaders: Sessions led by Citi STEM professionals alongside representatives from AI-powered platforms like Mavity, Supliful, and Veriklick, supported by the NSF-IES INVITE AI Institute.
The impact of the NJIT conference was resoundingly clear in post-event surveys: 100% of responding students reported being inspired to work harder in school and having experienced something new, while 97.3% noted an increased desire to pursue a college degree.
On October 14, the focus shifted to Rutgers University, where students explored engineering, chemistry, biotechnology, and robotics through a program co-hosted by PSEG, Adelante, and the Rutgers University School of Engineering.
The day’s marquee moment featured a HISPA Talk by Dr. Margaret Dominguez, Associate Branch Head of the Optics, Lasers and Photonics Branch at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Sharing her journey from growing up on a farm in Puebla, Mexico, to becoming a NASA optical engineer, Dr. Dominguez encouraged students to follow their curiosity and embrace continuous learning.
Hands-on workshops brought textbook concepts into reality:
- PSEG: “Power Up! Build Your Own Circuit”
- Merck: “Elephant Toothpaste” chemistry experiments
- Bristol Myers Squibb: Strawberry DNA extraction and tablet dissolution challenges
- AT&T: Edison Robot and Coding workshops
By combining technical training with mentorship and personal storytelling, HISPA continues to bridge opportunity gaps for New Jersey youth. Celebrating two decades of impact, the organization relies on the backing of major founding-level funders—including Verizon, SOMOS, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Merck—to help the next generation envision and build their futures in STEM and AI careers.
