Tune in as Clarissa Martínez De Castro, Vice President of the Latino Vote Initiative at UnidosUS, discusses the need for accurate information and education to ensure full election participation and encourage eligible Latino voters to register to vote.

Committed to strengthening civil society, De Castro spearheads initiatives that emphasize the significance of ongoing, year-round voter empowerment and engagement efforts. She highlights the importance of voter registration and turnout among Latino youth.

Join in as she, along with Diverse host Ralph Newell, take a deep look at how the Latino Vote Initiative works to increase civic engagement and voter registration among Latino communities — registering 150,000 voters by the end of the cycle. Despite being a significant voting bloc, De Castro shares that Latinos often face voter suppression and lack of outreach challenges.

This discussion is part-two of our Election 2024 two-part series. In part-one we looked at Voter Suppression and the Importance of Minoritized Youth Voting in the United States with Dr. Carol Anderson.

KEY POINTS:

- The Latino Vote Initiative seeks to increase understanding and empower communities in the electoral process.

- 8 out of 10 Latinos in the U.S. are citizens, and 9 out of 10 under age 18 are citizens, dispelling common misconceptions.

- The initiative is driving voter registration efforts, including digital outreach to over 150,000 new Latino voters.

- A key focus is educating first-time and young Latino voters on their rights and voting options.

- Voter suppression tactics, such as false immigration voting claims and voter purges, present challenges for Latino voters.

- Economic concerns like cost of living, jobs, and healthcare are top priorities for Latino voters.

- Lack of outreach from politicians and political parties has contributed to apathy among young Latino voters.

QUOTABLES:

"The reality is that the majority of Latinos in this country are United States citizens. Eight out of 10 Latinos are United States citizens." – Clarissa Martínez De Castro

“The work we do on the agency side —- registration, education, and get out the vote, and then on the narrative side – an accurate understanding of these voters. We do very robust polling.” – Clarissa Martínez De Castro

GUEST RESOURCES:

Clarissa Martínez De Castro

UnidosUS - Latino civil rights and advocacy

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In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

In this episode we sit down with Dr. Carol Anderson, a renowned professor of African American Studies at Emory University and the author of five books, including her bestseller White Rage which won the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.

Anderson discusses the challenges and strategies for engaging youth voters, particularly in African American and Latino communities. She identifies structural barriers, such as voter ID laws and inconvenient polling locations, that hinder participation, emphasizing the importance of civic education and community organizing.

Tune in as she, and Diverse host Ralph Newell, delve into the implications of the Shelby County v. Holder decision, which removed federal oversight of state voting laws, leading to voter suppression affecting minorities. She shares inspiring grassroots initiatives that have successfully countered voter suppression, like the 2017 Alabama senate election, and urges young voters to register, plan their voting, and use their collective power to drive meaningful change.

This discussion is part-one of our Election 2024 two-part series aimed to empower youth voter engagement, particularly among marginalized communities. In part-two Clarissa Martínez De Castro, Vice President of the Latino Vote Initiative at UnidosUS, joins us for a focused look at the importance of the Latino electorate.

KEY POINTS:

- Anderson's early experiences with injustice shaped her interest in history and politics.

- Voter ID laws and polling location issues limit youth participation, especially in communities of color.

- The gap between young voters' expectations and slow political change can be discouraging, but civic education is essential.

- The end of Voting Rights Act oversight has enabled voter suppression tactics like closures and purges.

- "White rage" refers to backlash against African American progress throughout history.

- Attacks on critical race theory reflect resistance to discussions of race and equality.

- How Anderson encourages young voters to embrace their power despite ongoing challenges.

QUOTABLES:

"The backlash would not be there unless we were fighting for our equality. And as we fight for our equality, we keep moving just an inch further closer to what that equality looks like." – Dr. Carol Anderson

"When you have that massive group coming out voting, then they have to pay attention to gun safety legislation, criminal justice reform, [and] climate change… They have to pay attention to voting rights, reproductive rights, [and] LGBTQ rights." – Dr. Carol Anderson

GUEST RESOURCES:

Dr. Carol Anderson

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WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

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Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

Created in 2005 by Excelencia in Education, Examples of Excelencia is a national initiative that identifies and promotes evidence-based practices improving Latinx student success in higher education. This year, the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program at Reading Area Community College (RACC) was chosen as the Example of Excelencia at the associate level.

In this episode we are joined by Eleisha Moreno, associate professor and coordinator; and Crystal Schilthuis, full-time faculty member at RACC.

Tune is as they, along with Diverse host Ralph Newell, discuss the significance of the EAP program, its impact on Latinx students, and their leadership roles in fostering an inclusive learning environment focused on helping students develop skills for academic success.

The 2024 Examples of Excelencia recognized at the baccalaureate, graduate and community-based level are also being featured on In The Margins this year.

KEY POINTS:

- RACC is named the 2024 Example of Excelencia at the associate level for its English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program.

- Over 60% of Reading, PA population is Hispanic/Latino; 50% speak a language other than English.

- How Moreno and Schilthuis found their passion in teaching ESL/EAP students.

- How the EAP program streamlined, improving success in English composition and general education.

- EAP focuses on academic skills, not just language acquisition, which is distinct from traditional ESL

- Challenges in destigmatizing EAP as well as improving communication of its benefits to faculty and students.

QUOTABLES:

"Our classes are considered prerequisites for a lot of 100-level courses, but there are some classes that students can take to fulfill electives or maybe other general education requirements while they're in our classes." – Eleisha Moreno

“Our academic literacy and language center [are] the big things that we do. There are also other things that we do, not necessarily for advanced students, but we offer a free conversation group. Our budget allows for that…more open to the community; and maybe, our students' friends and family members." – Crystal Schilthuis

GUEST RESOURCES:

Eleisha Moreno

Crystal Schilthuis

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Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

https://www.youtube.com/@DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation

Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).