Media Contacts
Voto Latino Foundation: press@votolatino.org
Hispanic Federation: media@hispanicfederation.org
EDINBURG, TX — The Voto Latino Foundation (VLF) and Hispanic Federation today announced Juntos en el 956, a community town hall and make a plan to vote booth, bringing together neighbors, local leaders, and elected officials to inform, and mobilize Latino voters ahead of the November election. The event is part of a new statewide partnership between the two organizations to turn out Tejanos across Texas.
Home to one of the largest concentrations of Latino voters in the country, the Rio Grande Valley is the anchor of Voto Latino Foundation and Hispanic Federation’s joint effort. In core Rio Grande Valley counties such as Hidalgo and Cameron, more than 90 percent of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. At Juntos en el 956, the two organizations will meet Rio Grande Valley voters where they are, offering clear information from trusted messengers and helping neighbors build a plan to vote before early voting begins October 19.
“Latinos power the Texas economy, are raising the next generation of Tejanos, and will play a deciding role in the midterms, yet our electoral power continues to be misunderstood,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation. “Engaging our community takes intentional effort to address our concerns and tap into our value and power in every election. By partnering with Voto Latino to bring Juntos en el 956 to the Rio Grande Valley, we are energizing voters in a culturally competent way and ensuring that more voters see themselves as part of our democracy.”
“Texas shows us the future of this country: multicultural, young, and powerful,” said María Teresa Kumar, President and Co-Founder of the Voto Latino Foundation. “The Rio Grande Valley is the heart of the Latino electorate, and too often it’s the community that gets left behind. Through Juntos en el 956 and our partnership with Hispanic Federation, we’re going to the Valley to listen, to make space for neighbors to name what matters most, and to empower each other to show up this November. Latino voters here aren’t disengaged. They deserve clear information, trusted messengers, and a plan, and that’s what we’re bringing together.”
Juntos en el 956 will feature a conversation between Kumar and Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation, with community members taking the mic alongside local leaders and elected officials. Attendees can visit the make a plan to vote booth to leave with a personalized plan for casting their ballot. The event will also include food trucks, games, free merchandise, live music, information on volunteer opportunities, and an interactive V-O-T-A art installation.
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About Voto Latino Foundation
Voto Latino Foundation is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy.
About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
