Photo courtesy of Matthew Bray
Matthew Bray is an intern at the Case Foundation.
Voto Latino is spearheading a new campaign called America4America, which is designed to educate, empower, and mobilize young Latinos for the upcoming presidential election with the help of actress and producer America Ferrera. The non-partisan organization aimed at increasing civic engagement held a press conference in Washington, DC, recently to formally launch the initiative. The America4America campaign seeks to reach civic-minded Latinos of all ages, but will actively target younger Latinos at the grassroots level through modern technology—including the use of mobile apps for smart phones.
As a young Latina herself, Ferrera is passionate about civic engagement among young Americans. During the event she offered several personal accounts about how she has overcome or dealt with adversity in relation to her cultural identity. She encouraged attendees to address the challenges the Latino community faces directly and even quoted Margaret Mead—“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
The event opened with a conversation about the Latino community, with a specific focus on jobs, health care, education, and immigration. Participants also touched upon the complexities of the registration and voting process and its impact on Latinos in the hope to increase voter turnout this fall. Representative Charles Gonzalez (D-TX) reminded the audience, “Democracy works better when more people are involved.”
To underscore the importance of this participation, 50 percent of the population growth in the United States in the last 10 years can be attributed to Latinos. At this rate, Latinos will claim a majority in many states in years to come and therefore their participation is critical. Yet, of the 22 million Latino citizens living in the United States, only six million voted in the 2008 election.
Other notable speakers and organizers of the event included Maria Teresa Kumar [Co-Founder and President of Voto Latino, and a Social Citizens Ambassador], Judith Freeman, Matt Singer, Nancy Tate, Hector E. Sanchez, and Representatives Gonzalez and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ).
What other civic engagement campaigns do you think may have an impact on the upcoming presidential elections?
Visit the campaign site to learn more or get involved with America4America.