Readout of White House Meeting with Latino Space Leaders and Students

On Wednesday, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the White House Office of Public Engagement and the National Space Council convened over 100 Latino science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students and leaders from the space sector to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to inspire, prepare, and employ the current and future space workforce while ensuring opportunities reach the Latino community.

Administration officials were joined by Latino leaders, such as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Anna Gomez, the first Latina-American to be confirmed to the FCC in over two decades, who gave testament to the recent establishment of the FCC’s Space Bureau and the role it plays in advancing space equity, accessibility, and innovation. Other speakers discussed the inspirational experience of working in science, opportunities available to young Latinos to advance understanding of space, and the importance of an inclusive and representative workforce.

Community leaders shared personal anecdotes that underscored the value of community-based problem solving, pledging to continue collaborating with the Biden-Harris Administration on the shared objective of expanding Latino access and representation within the realms of space, STEM, and beyond.

Administration Participants Included:

• Stephen Benjamin, Assistant to the President, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement
• Chirag Parikh, Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary, National Space Council
• Anna M. Gomez, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
• Kevin Lima, Deputy Director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics

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