OREANDA-NEWS. GE's (NYSE: GE) Hispanic Affinity Group, the GE Hispanic Forum, today hosted a leadership workshop for Hispanic students from communities in need in Chicago. More than 100 local Hispanic students from UNO Charter Schools, Junior Achievement and the Midtown Educational Foundation participated in the event where GE business leaders rolled up their sleeves to help students develop “elevator speeches” and refine their presentation skills for future job interviews. Students had the opportunity to tour a business fair and see firsthand the various STEM-related industries in which GE works. GE executives later held a roundtable discussion with students, sharing the steps they took to build their careers and some of the lessons they learned along the way.

The hands-on leadership event provided students with practical tools they can use in preparation for future careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and showed students:

The value of building a professional network and how in today's environment, having a strong network is equally as important to having a degree and strong presentation skills.

How pursuing an education in a STEM field can lead to greater career opportunities at companies like GE.

How adults from the same cultural heritage achieved success and turned their bilingual skills into a marketable asset.

“Encouraging Hispanic students to engage in the exciting world of science, technology, engineering and math and preparing them for great careers are the primary objectives of the GE Hispanic Forum. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of Hispanic leaders and cultivate lasting interest in STEM careers among Hispanics across the country,” said Beto Casellas, national co-chair of GE's Hispanic Forum and vice president and general manager for GE Capital Retail Finance.

The GE Hispanic Forum, which consists of 3,500 GE employees, has been actively involved in providing career and training opportunities for young Hispanic students across the country with a particular focus on STEM education. Research shows that Hispanic students are showing an increased interest in STEM fields but may not fully understand the academic and career opportunities available to them. In the past year alone, GE Hispanic Forum members hosted 81 events with students in 27 metropolitan cities in the U.S., introducing students to the world of STEM and educating them on basic business and entrepreneurship principles.

"UNO Charter Schools is thrilled to be partnering with GE on its national efforts to support young Latinos and Latinas across the country. Through endeavors like the Hispanic Forum, GE is playing a critical role in helping to advance young Latino and Latina talent and encouraging greater interest in pursuing STEM-related careers," said Dr. Alissa Berg, Master Teacher

The workshop kicked off a two-day summit hosted by GE's Hispanic Forum that brought together top Hispanic talent at GE for professional networking and training opportunities. During the summit, GE employees also participated in outreach activities as part of its ongoing commitment to the local Hispanic community, including filling backpacks with school supplies for local underprivileged students and stuffing teddy bears for children in local hospitals. GE's efforts during the two-day summit will help support nearly 500 local students and others in need in the community.

Since 2011, GE has grown its presence in Chicago, adding more than 500 jobs. The increase reflects GE's desire to build on the company's strong presence in the region and continue to serve current and potential customers. The Windy City is currently home to the global headquarters for GE Transportation, a cross section of GE Capital businesses, and the Monogram Design Center.

The GE Hispanic Forum was established in 1996 as an employee-based affinity group created to attract, retain and develop Hispanic talent within GE. GEHF currently has over 3,500 members in the U.S. and globally who work to engage and support Hispanic communities around the country.