Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman French Hill and Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. Announce Three New Participants in HBCU Partnership Challenge

Washington, D.C. (October 5, 2023) — Today,Congressional Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus co-chairs Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12) and Congressman French Hill (R-AR-02) announced the addition of three corporate and community participants to the HBCU Partnership Challenge. The 3 new members include the Security Industry Association (SIA), the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), and Pathway Community Foundation. 

First announced September 2017, the HBCU Partnership Challenge was created to strengthen the future sustainability of HBCUs, increase career prospects for their students, and advance diversity and inclusion within all sectors of employment through the expansion of public-private investments. The challenge consists of a public commitment by partner organizations to take a seat at the table and forge partnerships with our nation’s HBCU. Already, over 100 companies have accepted the challenge. 

"These companies recognize diversity creates a stronger workforce, and that HBCUs play a critical role in building the diverse workforce of the future. I am excited to welcome these three companies and look forward to growing these HBCU partnerships with SIFMA, SIA and the Smart City Challenge from Pathway OZ for years to come" said Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus.

“Companies that participate in the HBCU Partnership Challenge make a public commitment to building strong relationships with HBCUs, offering internships to current students, and recruiting and hiring HBCU graduates. I understand firsthand the impact that these academic-business associations have towards growing opportunities for our HBCUs and their graduates and connecting the business community with talented individuals and the next generation of leaders. I am pleased to welcome SIFMA, SIA, and Pathway OZ to the Partnership Challenge and look forward to seeing their pledge to HBCUs in action in the years to come” said Rep. Hill, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus.

Companies joining the partnership challenge are excited about the opportunity: 

“SIFMA is honored to be accepted into the HBCU Partnership Challenge and to take the public pledge of increased partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country. The financial services sector has long endeavored to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in our industry, and we recognize the vital role that HBCUs play in educating and preparing the next generation of leaders” said SIFMA President and CEO, Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr.

“SIA has worked hard over many years to foster both greater diversity and opportunities for individuals from different backgrounds and experiences to grow and succeed within the security industry. Our work is not done. Proactively engaging with historically Black colleges and universities through the HBCU Partnership Challenge is an opportunity we embrace and fully commit ourselves to through communication and in collaboration with SIA members as hiring organizations as employers,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “As an association, SIA weaves DE&I into the fabric of our culture and overall strategy, as evidenced through SIA initiatives like our communities, award and mentorship programs, special events and more, as well as through engaging with HBCUs to foster an inclusive industry and encouraging our members to do the same, and we look forward to building on this important work by participating in the pledge and lending support to the HBCU Partnership Challenge. There is more we can and will do.”

“Our pledge is to continue forging strategic alliances with HBCUs and cities, unlocking the profound talent within HBCU communities. This ensures that students can truly embrace the advantages of being born in the land of opportunity, while cities are empowered to devise smarter solutions, “says Dr. Earl Turner III, Board Chairman for Pathway Community Foundation and Research Advisor for the HBCU Smart Cities Challenge.

Sixty-seven percent of job seekers say a diverse workforce is important when considering job offers, and organizations that report higher levels of racial diversity bring in nearly fifteen times more sales revenue than their counterparts. The Bipartisan HBCU Caucus believes that to achieve true diversity in our workforce, we must focus on the front-end of this conversation – our students and the schools they attend.

The impact of HBCUs on our workforce is clear. HBCUs produce:

• 27 percent of all African-American STEM graduates;

• 40 percent of all African-American engineers;

• 50 percent of all African-American lawyers;

• 50 percent of all African-American public-school teachers; and

• 80 percent of all African-American judges.

These statistics demonstrate how vital HBCUs are to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

About SIFMA: SIFMA is the leading trade association for broker-dealers, investment banks and asset managers operating in the U.S. and global capital markets. On behalf of the industry’s one million employees, they advocate for legislation, regulation and business policy affecting retail and institutional investors, equity and fixed income markets, and related products and services. SIFMA serves as an industry coordinating body to promote fair and orderly markets, informed regulatory compliance, and efficient market operations and resiliency. They also provide a forum for industry policy and professional development.

About Pathway Community Foundation: Through the HBCU Smart Cities program, Pathway Community Foundation works to utilize Opportunity Zones that empower the residents, businesses, and community organizations in and around HBCUs. The annual HBCU Smart Cities Challenge is their marquee event, which challenges all HBCUs to create a smart city application for their community leveraging IoT, Web3, and other smart technology. For event sponsors, this program represents a unique opportunity to connect with city officials, HBCU students, and community leadership.

AboutSIA: SIA is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,400 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. 

Congresswoman Alma Adams represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County). In 2015, she founded the first bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus in Congress. She is a double graduate of North Carolina A&T, the largest HBCU by enrollment in the United States.

Congressman French Hill has represented Arkansas’s Second Congressional District since 2015. Rep. Hill has been the Co-Chair of the HBCU Caucus since the 117th Congress and has been a strong advocate for HBCUs in his district. He is magna cum laude graduate in Economics from Vanderbilt University.