FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2021

CONTACT:
Grace Peacore
grace.peacore@berlinrosen.com
626-800-8341

Hispanic Federation Launches Statewide North Carolina Voter Outreach Campaign

“La Voz de mi Gente,” campaign includes partnerships with local organizations and businesses including Compare Foods Charlotte

Charlotte, N.C. —As the midterm approaches and as the Latino community continues to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, inflation, and attacks on civil rights, Hispanic Federation and its partners launched an aggressive and culturally competent campaign to mobilize Latino voters across the state. Hispanic Federation launched the campaign alongside Compare Foods Charlotte, Latin American Coalition, Casa Azul de Wilson, the North Carolina Congress of Latino Organizations and National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. The campaign —“La Voz de mi Gente”—will inform the community on the importance of voting while boosting voter registration amongst the Latino community throughout the state.

Over the past two years, the Latino community has faced crushing blows from both the economic and public health crises caused by COVID-19. Even as of July 2022, Latinos are contracting and dying from COVID at higher rates than every other racial demographic in the US according to CDC data. Latinos also accounted for 23 percent of the initial job loss due to the pandemic while making up only 16 percent of the population. And the recovery has been uneven—with Latinos still making just 73 cents for every dollar earned by white Americans.

The campaign will spotlight how, through representation and civic engagement, the Latino community has the power to tackle these issues head-on by voting and ensuring that their needs are represented. There are 200,000 Latinos in the state who are eligible to register to vote in North Carolina, and Hispanic Federation along with its partners aim to register as many as possible ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

“The future is Latino. As our community continues to grow, it’s never been more important to empower Latino voters to ensure their voices are heard in our democracy,” said Lariza Garzon, Director of North Carolina and MidSouth Operations of Hispanic Federation. “It’s no secret that our community, despite our growing numbers, has been disproportionately impacted by attacks on civil rights, the pandemic, and inflation. With the help of our incredible partners, we aim to register a record number of Latino voters, and educate and empower a community that deserves to be included and represented at every level of government.”

The press conference took place in front of a Compare Supermarket to highlight the important role that trusted places like supermarkets, small businesses, and churches will have in registering Latinx voters. Holding large banners blaring “La Voz de mi Gente,” the partners outlined the importance of a Latino-centric voter outreach campaign.

Previously, Hispanic Federation led a comprehensive civic engagement campaign that mobilized more than 2.5 million Latinx voters to vote and registered over 26,000 new voters across 43 states in the 2020 election. According to 2020 census data, 1.1 million North Carolinians identify as Latino—about 10% of the state's total population. The number of Latinos in the state increased by 40% between 2010 and 2020.

“Since 2005 we have been proud to say that nobody knows the neighborhood like Compare Foods, and that’s what made our decision to join the La Voz de Mi Gente campaign so easy. We understand the importance and the need for Charlotte’s diverse and vibrant community to get registered to vote and participate in the election. We are happy to open our stores for anyone that wants to register to vote,” said Cynthia Cruz, Marketing Director, Compare Foods Charlotte.

“Casa Azul de Wilson is activating the Latinx youth in Wilson, NC and surrounding counties because it is our duty to empower our community so that they can use their voice to demand the resources and representation we should have had a long time ago. With one-third of all Latinx residents in NC being under 18, we cannot afford not to engage young voters," said Flor Herrera-Picasso, Co-Founder, Casa Azul de Wilson.

“There is a lot at stake in these midterms elections, including key issues for our diverse community such as access to health care, jobs and inflation. For the more than 257,000 Latino/Hispanic voters in North Carolina, our votes are carrying not only our voices but our families and our community,” said Pilar Rocha-Goldberg, CEO & President, of El Centro Hispano, Inc. “This is why El Centro Hispano is committed to move forward electoral and advocacy efforts that ensure all voices are heard in the polls this November 8.”

"The Latino vote for sure will be a deciding factor in the very contested upcoming election. Partnering with some of the largest Latino institutions in North Carolina to register our community and get them to vote ensures that our Latinocommunity shapes their own future,” said Ivan Parra, Executive Director of the NC Congress of Latino Organizations.