Our expansion to Florida was unlike any we had done before—a completely new landscape and a completely new set of challenges. But the rewards for us and our community have been plentiful. In the last year, we’ve met with local leaders, collaborated with Latino community-based organizations, and registered voters in several counties throughout the state. In mid-August, we also participated in LCLAA’s National Membership Convention, and we couldn’t be more excited about the work we accomplished together.
All eyes are on Florida during this election cycle and much of our focus has been on voter registration and get out the vote efforts. We’re committed to increasing Latino turnout in Florida, where the 2016 presidential race may be decided. In our workshop, Building Power to Advance Latino Workers’ Priorities Through Civic Participation, we discussed leadership tactics for organizing and mobilizing the Latino vote. From the basics of voter registration through outreach and follow-up, we equipped everyone in attendance with the tools they needed to make certain eligible Latino voters head to the polls. Afterwards, we put our skills to the test by conducting voter registration in Orlando!
In addition to registering voters in Orlando with our brothers and sisters from LCLAA and LiUNA, we participated in Somos Familia: Advancing the Rights of Our LGBTQ Sisters and Brothers, which addressed the aftermath of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy and our next steps as a community. While the LGBTQ community and Latino community are known activists and organizers, many LGBTQ Latinos are often caught between competing agendas. We provided a roadmap for activism that respects the intersection of the Latino and LGBTQ worlds. HF’s Director of National Advocacy Laura Esquivel spoke alongside LCLAA’s Executive Director Hector Sanchez, Pride At Work’s Jerame David, and Yolanda Pumarejo of LCLAA’s Executive Board.
For more information regarding our civic engagement work, please contact our AVP for Policy, Jessica Orozco. For additional information regarding our LGBTQ advocacy work, please contact our Director of National Advocacy Laura Esquivel.
