IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1503860
IPC COMMUNITY 24 SUMMER 2023 underpaid, underappreciated, and can use every bit of support we can give them. IPCEF not only provides support but also offers carefully curated engagement opportu- nities which serve as life-changing moments. We hope to spark a fire in students who may want to pursue careers in engineering or man- ufacturing—or simply open their minds to the world of possibilities. How does IPCEF reach out to under- served communities, particularly women and the African-American community, which are not broadly represented? We are committed to providing equal oppor- tunities for individuals interested in the elec- tronics manufacturing industry and are taking steps to address this issue. For example, at IPC APEX EXPO 2023, we invited more than 500 high school students to attend, and the mix of race and gender among those students more closely resem- bled today's society. This indicated to us that our efforts to attract a diverse range of partic- ipants are paying off. Over the years, the electronics industry has become increasingly diverse, with more women and individuals from underrepre- sented communities taking on senior man- agement roles, so we believe that providing students with real-world examples of success- ful leadership is key to attracting the under- served communities. We want to inspire the next generation of industry leaders by show- casing the accomplishments of individuals from diverse backgrounds. However, there is still more work to be done, and IPCEF is committed to making the industry more inclusive. Ultimately, the indus- try requires the best and brightest talent to address the complex challenges it faces, and discrimination has no place in achieving that goal. Joe, thank you for sharing some of your thoughts on this important work. You're welcome. Educating the next genera- tion is so dear to my heart, and I want to do everything I can to move the work forward.