Supporting Alliances
The African American Automotive Association (AAAA) is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the automotive industry through education, empowerment, and community engagement. Our mission is to bridge the gap between underserved communities and the automotive world by providing access to innovative STEAM-based programs, mentorship, and career development opportunities. We strive to inspire the next generation of automotive professionals by offering hands-on learning experiences, industry exposure, and partnerships with key stakeholders. Through our efforts, AAAA aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable automotive industry, where talent and passion can thrive regardless of background.
The Live To Be Different Foundation, led by NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, was formed in 2017 to lift up individuals seeking a means to fulfill their potential, no matter their age, skin color, disabilities or ambitions. Through a message of compassion, love and understanding, Bubba believes all barriers can be removed so that all dreams can be realized.
Live To Be Different's mission is to encourage the next generation to be better and more inclusive than every generation before it, so that they can achieve anything they put their mind to, just as Bubba has done in his journey as an African-American race car driver.
In doing so, Live To Be Different strives to empower and support disadvantaged individuals with educational, medical, social or other types of assistance needed to help make their dreams reality.
NXG Youth Motorsports, Inc. (NXG) is a 501c3 non-profit entity headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. NXG exists as a driving force to motivate and prepare youth, particularly African Americans and minorities from underserved communities, to be conscientious drivers on the road and in their lives. With karting as the draw, participants learn applications of S.T.E.M. principles and develop life-skills necessary to succeed in life.
The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is one of the largest student-governed organizations in the United States. NSBE, founded in 1975, supports and promotes the aspirations of collegiate and pre-collegiate students and technical professionals in engineering and technology. With more than 600 chapters and more than 24,000 active members in the U.S. and abroad, NSBE’s mission is “to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.”
Our mission is to advance economic opportunity by providing the tools they need to reach their goals. We help individuals of all ages by offering financial education, one-on-one coaching, course on credit score improvement, as well as pathways toward homeownership and starting a business. The cycle of struggling to get by each month has dominated kitchen tables and the desks of small business owners for generations. It is more than just “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps”—it is about knowing how to navigate a financial system that requires knowledge, experience and expertise in order to generate economic security for families and business, and to pass that on to our children.
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1974 by a group of engineers employed by the City of Los Angeles. SHPE is a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement of Hispanics in engineering, mathematics and science. The SHPE professional chapters provide a nationwide network for members who are leaders in their professions and communities.
The student chapters of SHPE promote academic excellence, as well as career development. This professional-student structure provides for the continued enhancement of skills and opportunities, supporting them as they grow from novice to expert, role model to mentor.
SPEED Institute, founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, features rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota Camry. The team, behind Wallace’s Live to Be Different Foundation, has created SPEED Institute, providing professional education and executive development through internships to those in marginalized communities.
STEM Sports® provides turnkey K-8 supplemental curricula that use sports as the real-life application to drive STEM-based, hands-on learning in classrooms, after-school programs, and camps.
The SME Education Foundation inspires, prepares, and supports the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. Since its organization by SME in 1979, the SME Education Foundation works to bring students, educators, industry, and communities together through its SME PRIME program; awards annual student scholarships and conducts the Student Summit Event Series held at SME events in North America.