Inspire

The acknowledgment and celebration of all people across culture, races, and ethnicities is core to the FIRST^® community. As we collectively empower this generation and the future generations that follow to change the world, we need the voices and perspectives of all people to solve society’s greatest science and technology challenges. 

From September 15 to October 15, we are celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans both past and present. Within the science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) community, Hispanic inventors have been at the forefront of some of the most important discoveries for humankind. Today’s students are on the next wave of STEM innovation. When these young people see themselves reflected in the leaders of this field, they are even more energized to pursue and thrive in similar careers. We highlight and celebrate Hispanic and Latinx individuals within FIRST who serve as role models so that students can “be what they see.” Representation and diversity in STEM create space for innovation, new ideas, and the inspiration to solve problems in communities and throughout the world that would otherwise go unnoticed.

At FIRST, our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is grounded in equal opportunity for all and ensuring that historically marginalized communities are heard, seen, and empowered. We work with FIRST Alliances to reach more students in underserved, underrepresented, and vulnerable communities. Our alliance with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was formed with the goal of increasing the participation of Hispanic/Latinx students in FIRST through the development of new FIRST teams and to align with an organization that supports the development of Hispanic STEM professionals and celebrates the accomplishments of Hispanic STEM professionals. We look forward to deepening our partnership with SHPE to meet this goal and provide students with the opportunity to participate in FIRST.

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ll recognize the contributions Hispanic and Latinx Americans continue to have on society. Follow our series featuring FIRST students, mentors, alumni, and corporate sponsors across our social media channels on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and join in the conversation.

Read more about Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at FIRST

If you have an inspiring story or piece of wisdom that you’ve picked up through your experiences in the FIRST community, please reach out to us at inspire@firstinspires.org and inquire about becoming a guest contributor for Inspire.