Latino and Black Leaders Convene in Philadelphia to Spotlight Economic Pressures, Community Health and Voter Participation

UnidosUS President Janet Murguía, Philadelphia Councilmember Quetcy Lozada and National Urban League President Marc H. Morial meet with community organizations and young voters ahead of the midterm election.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — This week, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía joined Philadelphia City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada and National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial for conversations with residents, community leaders and young first-time voters about the economic pressures facing working families and the importance of civic participation ahead of the midterm election on November 3.

The visit, part of UnidosUS’s On the Move community engagement initiative, brought national and local leaders together to examine how rising living costs, healthcare challenges and concerns about immigration enforcement are affecting Latino working families in Philadelphia neighborhoods, while highlighting efforts to strengthen coalition building between Black and Latino communities.

Murguía began her visit Monday evening with UnidosUS Affiliates and former board members at Congreso’s Education and Training Center, where participants discussed economic opportunity, immigration, community resilience and the role of trusted local organizations in helping families navigate difficult circumstances.

“As part of our effort to highlight the concerns of communities across the country, I was so excited to be joined by my good friend and partner Marc Morial in Philadelphia this week. What we heard across the city is that families are working harder than ever but too many are being forced to make impossible choices between paying their bills, accessing healthcare and providing for their children,” said Murguía. 

“Their experiences need to inform the decisions being made in Washington and here at home. Families deserve economic security, access to opportunity and a meaningful voice in shaping their future and they need leaders who will make those aspirations a reality.”

On Tuesday morning, Murguía joined Councilmember Quetcy Lozada for a walk through Philadelphia’s Fairhill neighborhood and the North 5th Street commercial corridor in the city’s 7th Council District. The discussion focused on the challenges facing working families and neighborhood businesses, including housing and living costs, access to nutritious food and healthcare, and the well-being of young people.

“For families in the 7th District, the rising cost of living is putting pressure on household budgets and neighborhood businesses alike. It’s the cost of groceries, the electric bill, the ability to see a doctor and whether a neighborhood business can keep its doors open,” said Lozada. “Our communities are filled with hardworking people who want the same things every family wants: stability, opportunity and a safe place to raise their children. We need to listen to residents and make sure our investments are reaching the families, small businesses, and neighborhoods that need them most.”

Murguía also met with National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial to discuss the importance of Black-Latino coalitions, voter access, and protecting the right of eligible citizens to participate in elections. The two leaders joined young and first-time Black and Latino voters for a discussion about the issues shaping their communities and their perspectives on civic engagement.

“Black and Latino communities share a powerful history of organizing for civil rights, economic opportunity and greater representation,” said Morial. “Our young people are carrying that legacy forward, and they deserve to know their voices matter. As Election Day approaches, we must ensure every eligible voter has access to trustworthy information, understands their rights and can participate without fear or intimidation. Our democracy is stronger when everyone has a meaningful opportunity to be heard.”

The conversations underscored the importance of continued collaboration among community-based organizations, local officials and national civil rights leaders to address the challenges facing working families and strengthen civic engagement beyond Election Day.

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