ANHA is the Association of NIST Hispanic Americans, a voluntary employee organization within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which was officially recognized on August 30, 1996 by NIST management. ANHA was formed by NIST Hispanic American employees to advise and support management efforts at creating a diverse NIST workforce, and to foster a greater understanding within NIST of the particular cares, concerns, and aspirations of the U.S. Hispanic community, the fastest growing minority group in the United States.

ANHA's creation marks the first time that an official Hispanic American association has been formed at NIST. By providing a voice to Hispanic American employees, ANHA follows the precedent set by other employee organizations, such as the NIST Committee for Women (NCW), the NIST Association for African-American Staff (NAAS), and the Association of NIST Asian Pacific Americans (ANAPA).

ANHA fosters the following principles:

• Enhance the career development of NIST Hispanic American employees, and provides a supportive network
• Advise and support NIST efforts to diversify its work-force at all levels and to encourage a successful and satisfying career for all of its employees
• Foster aspirations of Hispanic Americans to professional careers, in particular those in science and technology
• Advise the NIST community, as the needs arise, on programs that affect the Hispanic American employees
• Co-operate with NIST organizations such as the Office of Human Resources Management, the Office of Civil Rights, and the Diversity Board in pursuit of the Diversity goals of the President of the United States, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Director of NIST
• Contribute to and promote a better understanding of the diversity of Hispanic people and culture as a contribution to the richness of American life and society

These are just some areas in which ANHA will focus its efforts. Membership is open to all NIST employees, guest researchers, and contractors (who work at NIST) and not limited to Hispanic Americans.

For further information or to become a member, contact Paul Cherny at extension 2686 or Magdalena Navarro at extension 2130.

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