by Jillian Smith

Consumers are grappling with record-high gas prices and the trickle-down effect is also hurting businesses.

On top of that, energy costs are also contributing to the decades-high inflation numbers.

Business leaders within the Democratic party are putting more pressure on the president to do something to fix record-high gas prices that are hurting the workforce and cutting into companies’ bottom lines.

Many are blaming the Russian invasion of Ukraine for high gas prices but prices were already on the move beforehand.

Javier Palomarez, president and CEO of the United States Hispanic Business Council, says the inflation … Read More >>

by Derek Major

Several leading organizations in the chemical and affiliated industries have announced their DEI program, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI). It has raised $17 million to fund more than 350 students attending HBCU schools.

According to a release by the American Chemistry Council, FOSSI supports students from underrepresented communities pursuing studies in a wide range of STEM fields, including mechanical engineering, chemistry, and environmental sciences.

Last year, the program’s first, 151 scholarships were provided to HBCU students. This fall, FOSSI’s program will support 144 more scholarships for HBCU students as part of its goal to … Read More >>

by Amee Raval

California calls itself a leader in solar energy. While that might be true in white, wealthy neighborhoods, it’s not the case for the more than 70% of low-income Californians who rent — and don’t own a roof or a lot where they can install solar panels. 

Renters and low-income families already suffer disproportionately from the effects of climate change and pollution from our dirty-energy economy. Yet we are denied the environmental, air quality, energy security and economic benefits of owning and generating our own clean, reliable, sustainable energy. 

This must change. 

The State Assembly will vote this week … Read More >>

HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores attended the Hispanics in Energy 2022 Energy Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2022, to participate in the session, “Hispanic Energy Jobs: Increasing Innovation and Employment in the Renewable/Clean Energy Sector.” Panelists discussed STEM education pathways for Hispanics, as well as their representation in the occupational and technical workforce 

HACU also received a special recognition at the Summit. The Southern Company Gas Foundation presented HACU with a $45,000 grant.

“HACU thanks the Southern Company Gas Foundation for the recognition of our Associations’ work with a grant award,” said Flores. This donation … Read More >>

by Mayo Davison

A new summer outreach program aims to get more minority students in STEM.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs plans to invite 24 high schoolers to campus for their free UCCS Stem Outreach Program. From July 18–20, students will be able to experience collegiate-level labs in chemistry, biology, biochemistry and human anatomy.

The UCCS Stem Outreach Program was created by undergraduate student Madison Fox.

“I started this program because I was so inspired by many of my classmates and my dad. He came from impoverished places in Colorado Springs, and became a dentist. He had a complicated … Read More >>

Policymakers along with business and nonprofit leaders are in Raleigh this week for a conference on North Carolina’s transition to clean energy. While technology and policy are key themes, some speakers want to make sure people of color and low-income residents are not left out.

The two-day State Energy Conference at N.C. State University has sessions on solar and wind power, electric vehicles and how Duke Energy and regulators are drafting plans to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

But one panel focused on the risk that current energy reforms will bring new social inequities. Climate justice activist William Barber … Read More >>

by Kale Williams

As a child growing up in rural Oregon, Vanessa Grant Coats loved the outdoors. Exploring the wild areas of the state with her family — camping, hiking and fishing — are some of her favorite memories and led to dreams of becoming a marine biologist.

But as a Black kid romping around a mostly white state, she rarely saw people who looked like her enjoying the same outdoor activities.

“I didn’t always feel like I belonged,” Grant Coats told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “I never saw anyone who looked like me as a marine biologist. I never saw them … Read More >>

by Matt Petras

Martin Rafanan, a retired Evangelical Lutheran Church minister, spent decades as an organizer of primarily Black low-wage workers in the St. Louis area. After moving to the Hill District in 2018, Rafanan’s attention remained focused on social justice. 

“During most of my work, I haven’t been paying as much attention to the environment as I think probably I should have,” Rafanan said. “So over the past couple years, been doing a little more to learn more, be educated and to kind of take small steps in the neighborhood.” 

These small steps include Rafanan and his wife shepherding … Read More >>