In a move to expand career opportunities for Latino and underserved youth in the automotive industry, the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) and the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) jointly donated $35,000 to Identity Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to economic mobility.
The donation, presented Feb. 5 at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show’s Art-of-Motion exhibit, will help fund Identity’s new Automotive Career Program, which connects young people to career paths in the automotive sector. Participants will gain hands-on training, mentorship and workplace skills while exploring various roles in technical, sales, management and accounting fields.
“This program is about creating real opportunities for young people and providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed in a growing industry,” said Diego Uriburu, executive director of Identity.
The first dealership to join the initiative is Chevy Chase Acura in Bethesda, led by Sam Weaver, chair of the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association Foundation and vice president at Chevy Chase Acura. The dealership will work with Identity to develop a scalable model that can be expanded to other dealerships in the region, furthering efforts to build a diverse talent pipeline.
The check presentation took place at the Art-of-Motion exhibit, a multicultural automotive art showcase led by Automotive Rhythms’ Kimatni D. Rawlins. Latino artists Josue Martinez and Dez Zambrano contributed live artwork on a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Kia Carnival, emphasizing the fusion of culture and automotive design.
The donation, comprising $25,000 from MADA and $10,000 from WANADA, marks an investment in workforce development.
