ASPIRA recognizes that the lack of representation of Latinos in the Federal Government can have a negative effect on the Latino community when decisions are made regarding funding, applying regulations and others. It also recognizes the extreme and growing under-representation of Latinos in the Federal workforce (7%) vs. the civilian labor force (13%).

• the full implementation of the President’s Executive Order that mandates efforts to increase the representation of Latinos in the Federal workforce;
• efforts to ensure that the Office of Personnel Management report on Latino representation directly to Congress and well as to the President.

Latinos are woefully underrepresented in the Corporate boardroom, in the top levels of management, in the procurement of major corporations and in receiving philanthropy dollars from Corporate America.

• the efforts of HACR to serve as an advocate for inclusion of Latinos in Corporate America in commensurate with the contribution of Latinos to Corporate America;
• programs that expose youth to the corporate setting and role models to encourage them to seek careers in Corporate America.

ASPIRA supports programs that educate Latinos about discrimination and sexual harassment policies, as well as appropriate action to take if necessary.

ASPIRA supports a National Campaign focusing on the crisis of Latino youth as a policy issue.

Workforce development programs are seriously under-funded.

• a significant increase in funding under the Workforce Development Act;

• targeted programs to provide job training to displaced Latino workers, new entrants into the workforce, or high school students who are not intending to go to college;

the strict monitoring of job training programs so they provide meaningful training in areas where employment will be available in the future.

ASPIRA recognizes the importance of entrepreneurship to generate wealth in communities.

• programs that expose youth to business development and the business environment;

• efforts, both private and public, to increase access to capital in Latino communities and to
• support the development of new businesses, especially the SBA.