UnidosUS Civics For All program reminds Latinos there’s still time to vote and offers many ways to engage democratically, even for those who can’t
For decades, Latinos have been a growing sector of the U.S. population, representing the second largest voting-age population in our country, with 80% of Latino registered voters having participated in the 2020 presidential race.
UnidosUS has been hard at work trying to instill this in participants through its latest edition of their Civics for All program, which seeks to raise Latino civic engagement and awareness at a time when both leading U.S. political parties are struggling to engage the ever-growing Latino community.
Its goal is to address some of the key issues Latino voters say they’re most concerned about in the November 5 elections. According to a recent survey by UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota of 2,750 Latino voters, longstanding concerns over security and the cost of living have intensified as a result of inflation. However, this year, Latino voters reported that their most prominent concerns have shifted to gun violence, crime and abortion. The study also revealed that more than half of Latino voters are unwilling to support candidates endorsed by white supremacist or nationalist groups.
The program was developed by UnidosUS, and has been implemented at 11 UnidosUS Affiliate locations, including: Amistades Inc. in Tucson, AZ, Youth Policy Institute Charter Schools (YPICS) in Southern California, the Chicano Federation of San Diego County, Inc. in Southern California and Many Languages One Voice (MLOV) in Washington, DC.
Inspired by an earlier UnidosUS initiative,the High School Democracy Project, Civics for All aims to engage Latinos as catalysts for change within their communities. By nurturing a culture of civic responsibility and democratic participation, UnidosUS hopes Latino families will feel more empowered to exercise their constitutional rights.
“The program’s dual focus on education and systematic change promises to build civically minded families who serve as role models for their school-aged children,” the Civics For All toolkit explains.
A Holistic Program for Civic Engagement
The program is divided into six sections with easy-to-use resources and engaging activities that help participants gain a better understanding of what democracy means; the role Latinos can play in civic engagement; how to register to vote; why voting matters to democracy; how the voting process works; and how to foment a culture of civic engagement at home.
For example, Session I, Understanding Our Democracy: A Family Workshop on Civic Engagement, provides families with the basics of how government decisions are made at the federal, state and local level. First it explains the balance of powers between the federal government’s legislative, executive and judicial branches; then it highlights state roles such as governor and state legislators; and then moves into county and city roles such as mayor, councilmember, sheriff and school board.
“Across all levels, elected officials must balance the needs and desires of their constituents with legal and ethical considerations, budgetary constraints, and the influence of other stakeholders,” the curriculum explains. “They are held accountable through the electoral process and expected to serve the public interest.”
While elections might be the most obvious way of getting politicians to adhere to community demands, other forms of civic engagement include volunteering for campaigns, contacting representatives, serving on a jury, running for office and taking on a public service role within the government.
One way families can learn to engage elected officials is by writing to them about their concerns, so the program provides a template to go with a corresponding letter writing activity in which participants do just that.
At UnidosUS Affiliate Amistades Inc. in Tucson, Arizona, a local accountant named Leonor Mendoza said the program helped her to show up to town hall meetings.
“I now feel confident in voicing my opinions and advocating for positive changes,” she said.
In Session 2, Family Civics Engagement, educators encourage families to get creative in their community advocacy by brainstorming about the issues they care about most and how they think voting and other activities can have an impact. This is followed by the most emblematic hands-on aspect of the program, Session 3: How to Register to Vote, which starts a historical overview of voting rights in the United States.
“Initially, voting was a privilege mostly reserved for white, property-owning males in the early years of the republic,” the program explains. “Over time, through amendments, legislation, and social movements, the franchise expanded to include a broader swath of the American population.”
The program notes that extending the vote to historically underserved populations has been a hard-won effort, but it also shows how easy it is today for eligible voters to now exercise that right through the ballot.
Session 5: Voting Process Education for Parents, takes the mystery out of the ballot casting process by reminding parents, caretakers and their young adult children of the value voting represents in a democracy.It also provides a step-by-step check-list detailing how to find a polling location, use an electronic voting machine or mail in a paper ballot.
The program also aims to empower individuals who may not be eligible to vote, such as undocumented people, to learn how to safely raise their voices by looking at state and local laws, as well as considering the social and political climate of their environment before deciding which form of civic action to take.
“Some communities may have more opportunities for undocumented residents to engage civically without fear of repercussions, while in other places, such activities may come with significant risks,” the program explains.
Finally, Session 6: Discussing Civic Engagement at Home is key to ensuring all family members, whatever their age, have the awareness and inspiration they need to learn about civic engagement and utilize any of the related tools that fit their unique circumstance. This largely centers on children who aren’t yet able to vote but can prepare for that option in the future. For younger children, this can come through coloring activities and role-playing using crayons and markers.
“Begin by asking your child what they know about their community and the people who make decisions in it (like the mayor, council members, etc.),” the curriculum explains. This can be followed by role-playing activities in which children learn age-appropriate forms of civic engagement.
But engaging adolescents is even more critical since so many of them will soon be eligible to cast ballots. According to data collected by Pew Research, an estimated 4.1 million Latinos have turned 18 since the 2020 elections and they make up half of the overall growth in eligible U.S. voters.
The program offers 10 teen-oriented strategies that include discussions on history and current affairs, engaging in respectful dialogue, leading by example and role playing.
“With a growing Latino electorate including 1 million Latino youth becoming eligible voters each year, increasing civic participation and engagement is critical to elevating the voice and needs of the community around the most pressing issues including the economy, housing affordability, education, and health care,” said UnidosUS Vice President of Education Elizabeth Zamudio. “Empowering Latino families to be catalysts for change in their communities through civic participation ensures elected officials and local governments are responsive to the needs of their constituents and the growing Latino population.”
SUGGESTED LINKS:
- Become a Voter – UnidosUS
- UnidosUS | Latino Voting Media Resources
- Hispanic Electorate Data Hub | UnidosUS
–Author Julienne Gage is a former UnidosUS staff member and longtime contributor to the Progress Report blog. She is currently obtaining her PhD in Anthropology at Florida International University’s Global and Sociocultural Studies Department.
