In the lead up to the 2016 presidential election, the Unlocking Latino Civic Potential report identifies four priority areas and tactics for unleashing the civic potential of Latinos in the United States. Focusing on immigrant integration and naturalization, voter engagement, civic education, and leadership development; the report offers a comprehensive vision for how to engage the nation’s second largest population group, beyond election cycles, to participate more fully in our democracy.
To read the report go to: http://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/latinos-society/unlocking-latino-civic-potential
“When one in four public school students is Latino and 80,000 Latinos turn 18 every month, the civic health of our democracy depends on ensuring this group is engaged,” said Monica Lozano, Chair of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program.
Historically, Latinos have underperformed relative to other groups in a variety of civic participation indicators. Through this report, The Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program hopes to drive a meaningful increase in Latino civic participation by encouraging stakeholders (funders, researchers, advocacy organizations, schools, policy makers, etc.) to advance and build upon the ideas and recommendations shared.
“This report is the first of its kind bringing the voices of a diverse group of invested organizations and experts to bear upon a long-term, sustained and multipronged approach to activating Latinos civic potential, which is exactly what is required to have a meaningful impact,” said Abigail Golden-Vazquez, Executive Director, Latinos and Society Program.
The report launch featured Monica Lozano, Chair, Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program; Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, NALEO Educational Fund; Cristina Jiménez, Co-founder and Managing Director, United We Dream; Joshua W. Hoyt, Executive Director, National Partnerships for New Americans; Luis R. Fraga, Co-Director of the Institute for Latino Studies, Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame. See the full video of panel discussion here: http://as.pn/civicpotential.
“Empowering the Hispanic community has been at the core of Univision’s mission for close to 60 years. That is why we are pleased to support The Aspen institutes’ efforts to increase civic engagement among U.S. Latinos. This report is both timely and important to achieving this crucial goal,” said Roberto Llamas, executive vice president Human Resources & Community Empowerment, Univision Communications, Inc.
The production, launch, and dissemination of the Unlocking Latino Civic Participation report was made possible in part through important support from Univision Communications, Inc.