A Latinas Represent Guide to Making a Voting Plan

Latinas Represent aims to empower and encourage Latina participation in the electoral process. One of the most effective ways to ensure your vote counts is by making a comprehensive voting plan. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the voting process with confidence and ensure your voice is heard.

Embracing Diversity: Latinas Represent on World Day for Social Justice

As the world recognizes World Day for Social Justice, it’s crucial to reflect on the diverse voices that contribute to the fabric of our societies. Latinas, with their rich cultural heritage and unique experiences, stand at the intersection of multiple identities, making their voices all the more vital in the pursuit of social justice. Amid ongoing struggles for justice, equality, inclusivity, and peace, it’s imperative to highlight the perspectives of those often marginalized and underrepresented.

“SÍ, SE PUEDE” Book Giveaway

Latinas Represent is thrilled to join Penguin Random House and Ten Speed Graphic this holiday season to bring you a fantastic giveaway!  We’re giving away three copies of the inspiring graphic novel “SÍ, SE PUEDE,” authored by Julio Anta and illustrated by Yasmín Flores Montañez! “SÍ, SE PUEDE” shines a spotlight on Latino rebels, artists, and activists who have shaped American history. Check out some excerpts from the book below!  In the book you’ll learn more about incredible Latina leaders like Dolores Huerta….  And Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez… In addition to activists and political leaders, this vibrant graphic novel is filled with stories of trailblazing Latinx scientists, musicians, athletes, and historical figures who make us proud. We can’t wait to send these books out to three lucky winners! See details and entry requirements below to enter for your chance to win. Details: Entry Period: December 5th to December 12th. Eligibility: Open exclusively to residents of the United States. Prizes: Three lucky winners will each receive a copy of “Sí, Se Puede.” Winner Announcement: Mark your calendars for December 13th, when we’ll announce the winners. How to Enter: Fill out our Google Form.* (required) For additional entries: Follow @LatinasRepresent on Instagram. Like our most recent Giveaway post. Tag three amigas who inspire you in the comments!  

Five Indigenous Elected Officials You Should Know About

As November unfolds, Latinas Represent is excited to continue celebrating Native American Heritage Month! Join us in a collective celebration, where we pay homage to the remarkable cultural richness and invaluable contributions of Indigenous peoples. Below we’ve created a list spotlighting five inspiring Indigenous elected officials who are trailblazing toward a more inclusive and representative democracy for us all. Check out their amazing stories and share them with your amigas! Elsa Mejía, Madera (CA) City Council, District 5 Elsa Mejía is the first Mixteca to serve on a U.S. city council. She is the proud daughter of Indigenous immigrant farmworkers from Oaxaca, Mexico. Elsa was involved in social justice causes, including immigration reform and workers’ rights, since she was a teen. As a high school student, she advocated before the city council to secure land for Madera’s first community garden. Photo credit: Facebook (@CouncilwomanElsaMejia) Alicia Kozlowski, Minnesota House of Representatives, District 8B Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Alicia Kozlowski is the child of a Mexican father and a Fond du Lac Band Ojibwe mother. From 2019 to 2021, Alicia worked as a community relations officer for the City of Duluth and Mayor Emily Larson where they helped create a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People Reward Fund, the first in the state. In 2022, Alicia was elected to represent District 8B in the Minnesota House of Representatives, making them the first ever non-binary person elected to the Minnesota Legislature . Photo Credit: Twitter (@LiishKozlowski) Sally Ann Gonzales, Arizona State Senate, District 20 Sally Ann Gonzales was born in Brawley, California and raised in the Yaqui community of Guadalupe, Arizona. Sally holds a Masters in Multicultural Education from the University of Arizona and was a full time education professional before beginning her political career. In 1992 she was elected…

“Latina Voices Against Domestic Violence” Panel

On November 2, we were proud to partner with Esperanza United and MANA: A National Latina Organization to host ‘Latina Voices Against Domestic Violence,‘ a virtual event in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Our incredible speakers, Shay Franco-Clausen, Rocio “Chío” Núñez Ruiz, and Mayor Martha Cardenas-Singh, provided incredible insights as to how elected officials and community members can support survivors and address issues of gender-based violence in their comunidades. Throughout our conversation, we were continuously moved by their wisdom. Our speakers emphasized the importance of meeting survivors where they are, providing wraparound services, and having even more Latinas running for office to represent their communities.  Watch the entire conversation below and access more resources here!

Latina Voices Against Domestic Violence as Elected Officials

Did you know that approximately one in three Latinas will experience intimate partner violence during their lifetime? It’s a startling statistic that underscores the prevalence of domestic violence in our communities.   Now, here’s another statistic that also demands our attention: Latinas, who make up about 9.3% of the population, represent less than 3% of officeholders in statewide executive offices, Congress, and state legislatures. And even more disheartening is the current reality that Latina survivors of domestic violence face even greater underrepresentation in public service.    This October, during National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, Esperanza United is partnering with Latinas Represent to highlight this pressing issue. In our upcoming virtual event and below, we explore why we need more Latina survivors in public office and how they can drive positive change in our communities and beyond.   Why do we need more Latina survivors in elected office?  Due to their lived experience, Latina survivors of domestic violence have many of the skills that would make them successful in elected office. They also have vital perspectives and unique insights to bring to the policy-making process.   In elected office, Latina survivors can serve as powerful advocates for policies aimed at preventing and addressing domestic violence. Specifically, Latina survivors can speak directly to the need of bolstering financial support for shelters, enhancing accessibility to healthcare and mental health services, and fortifying educational programs dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence.    The power of representation When Latina survivors hold positions in elected offices not only do they govern effectively, but they also inspire and empower others who have endured similar experiences. Their presence sends a strong message that it is possible to overcome adversity and step into positions of leadership and influence. This visibility can encourage other survivors to come…

Closing the Gap: A Path Towards More Latina Representation in Politics

Political representation is more than just a concept in a nation as diverse as the United States; it is a fundamental pillar of democracy and one that is still under construction. Across the country, communities of color are grossly underrepresented in elected offices, and that is especially true for Latinas.    Despite being about 9.3% of the population, Latinas are less than 3% of officeholders elected to statewide executive offices, Congress, and state legislatures. Currently, there is only one Latina serving in the U.S. Senate and just three Latina mayors in the 100 most populous U.S. cities. These numbers are far from proportional, and they fail to capture the wealth of talent, knowledge, and wisdom Latinas bring to the table.   Why are Latinas underrepresented in politics? The answer is rooted in historical, cultural, and systemic factors. Latinas, like many other marginalized groups, face unique challenges when considering a career in politics. Gender bias, racial prejudice, and socioeconomic disparities all play a role in limiting their political ambitions.    Yet, while there are barriers to entering politics, we know that success is possible and that we, as a community, can have the power to elect more Latinas and create a healthier democracy that represents us.   The importance of Latinas holding political office cannot be overstated. Political representation matters because it ensures that the concerns and experiences of Latinas and our communities are heard and acted upon in the corridors of power. It inspires younger generations to aspire to leadership roles, showing them that they too can shatter glass ceilings. It diversifies the perspectives brought to the policymaking process, leading to more well-rounded and effective solutions for our nation’s challenges.   We should take inspiration from the successes of Latinas like U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and mayors like Paulette…

Latina Elected Official Highlight: Flor Alvidrez

Headshot of Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez

Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez is a newly elected member of the Denver City Council, representing her hometown of District 7. She is a lifelong Southwest Denver resident, business owner, mother, and community leader. She credits Southwest Denver with shaping her into the person she is today. Councilwoman Alvidrez describes her childhood as full of adventures around the district, including visits to Huston Lake Park, Washington Park, and Athmar Park Library. District 7 is where she learned the value of community, hard work, and service. In fact, her first leadership role was being on the student council at Valverde Elementary School!  She was mobilized to take action in 2020 after a shooting took place in her community. She brought her neighbors together to talk about community safety issues and helped provide a space for healing and advocacy. On July 17, 2023, Councilwoman Alvidrez was sworn in as a member of the Denver City Council, joining a historic number of Latinas on the council! She sat down with Latinas Represent to talk about her experience running for office and what representing her hometown means to her below.    NOTE: This interview has been edited and condensed for length, clarity, and formatting.   What specifically inspired you to take the leap to run for office?  I talked to a few mentors and former elected Latinas to get their advice, and everyone was like, “Do it! We need that representation.” And it’s funny because they say a woman needs to be asked many more times [than a man], so I did get asked a few times, and also no one told me “No, [don’t run].” But I wonder if someone would’ve said, “No, don’t do it. You’re not the right fit”, if I would have backed down? So, for those who hear a “no,” don’t…

RepresentWomen’s 2023 Gender Parity Index

RepresentWomen has just released their 2023 Gender Parity Index, marking the 10 year anniversary of the GPI!  For those who are not familiar with the GPI, here is a quick rundown: This index examines women’s representation in each state at the local, state, and congressional levels. A gender balance score is created for each of these levels and then added up! The total score is on a scale from 0-100, with 50 being perfect gender balance. Based on the state’s score, they are given a letter grade for how well they did – please reference the below map to see how your state did! RepresentWomen gathered data from the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University, Ballotpedia, and the National Conference of State Legislatures. A huge thanks to these groups for providing numbers on women in Congress, state executive office, state legislatures, and mayoral office! If you would like to request a copy of the data, please contact RepresentWomen’s research team at info@representwomen.org. Here are a few highlights from this year’s index: Two states have achieved an “A” grade for the first time. Maine ranks first, with a rounded score of 54/100. Oregon ranks second, with a score of 53/100. The U.S. is a little over halfway to Parity with an Average Parity Score of 27. The new record-high for women governors has boosted state grades in the last year, bringing the national average to 27 in 2023 from 25 in 2022. About half of US states (24) earned a “D” or worse in the 2023 GPI. With a low score of 9/100, Louisiana has achieved an “F” for the eighth year in a row. The GPI lays the groundwork for RepresentWomen’s signature research and support for systems-level solutions, like gender-balanced recruitment and funding targets (RUN), single- and multi-winner ranked…

7 PACs that Support Latina Candidates

Two women at a table speaking to one another.

As campaign season approaches, you might hear buzz around endorsements and donations from political action committees (PACs). But what exactly is a PAC, and should it be on your radar for your campaign aspirations?    In simple terms, a PAC stands for Political Action Committee, an entity formed to pool funds from individuals in support of candidates or causes. A PAC can be critical to the success of a campaign, especially for first-time candidates or candidates who may not have access to a large political network.    PACs provide financial backing, resources, and advocacy that can grant Latina candidates access to essential donors, volunteers, and mentors crucial for a successful campaign journey. For these reasons, we want to encourage aspiring Latina candidates to research PACs that align with their own campaign goals and values.     To kickstart your exploration of which PACs to connect with and apply to, we’ve compiled a list of 7 PACs dedicated to uplifting Latina candidates. Discover the list below, and explore each PAC’s website to learn more about their endorsement process and requirements.    PODER PAC: PODER PAC is a political action committee founded by and for Latinas to elect pro-choice Latinas to Congress. PODER provides resources and support to Latina candidates running for federal offices who have demonstrated a commitment to the Latino community.  Latino Victory Fund: The Latino Victory Fund is committed to increasing Latino representation in government to be commensurate with Latino population growth. To that end, the Latino Victory Fund supports progressive Latinx candidates at every office level to build a more reflective government.   Higher Heights for America PAC: Higher Heights for America PAC is a political action committee providing Black women with a political home exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power. They aim to advance progressive policies and expand…