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*This post is written by the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Suscribe to their email alerts here.*

This month we've been keeping pretty busy with a number of events across the country, and we've really enjoyed speaking to so many diverse individuals in-person about the work we're doing here at the Department of Energy. Here's a snapshot of some of the events we've gotten a chance to attend this September:

Earlier today, the Department of Energy and the Department of Interior announced nearly $17 million in funding over the next three years to advance hydropower technology. 

"Hispanics United in Strengthening  America," this year's theme for the National Organization for Mexican American Rights, Inc. (NOMAR) Training Conference, speaks to recruiting, training, and engaging a diverse workforce to accomplish our country's goals. 

"To realize more fully the goal of using the talents of all segments of society, the Federal Government must continue to challenge itself to enhance its ability to recruit, hire, promote, and retain a more diverse workforce.  Further, the Federal Government must create a culture that encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness to enable individuals to participate to their full potential." - President Barack Obama

This day in history - in 1990 to be exact - the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This civil rights legislation helps ensure that all citizens, regardless of disability, have the same rights and privileges as all other Americans.

The Energy Department has began a unique partnership between the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and education funding to American Indian students at our Nation’s Tribal Colleges and Universities and other universities.

At the end of March we announced the start of a new mentoring program through our Council on Women and Girls, which matches up female undergraduate students in the DC area with women employees in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM) areas of work. (Check out the blog post here).

A new pilot program to connect Department of Energy Resources with American Indian students

American Indian communities are uniquely situated in the matrix of energy production and energy use and efficiency. Tribal lands are often repositories of coal, oil, and uranium, and have tremendous untapped energy potential in wind, hydropower, and solar resources. However, Tribal Lands are also home to the highest rates for fuel and electricity, and have the highest percentage of un-electrified and un-weatherized homes.

Today the Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program (MEISPP) intern orientation was held at Department of Energy Headquarters in Washington, DC. Students came from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions in states such as California, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico. The interns have various academic backgrounds in the sciences and liberal arts fields.