UnidosUS, Mi Familia Vota Join Forces To Create the Most Powerful Latino Civic Engagement and Democracy Operation in the Nation

The multi-year, multi-state partnership will expand Hispanic participation in elections and policy debates

SAN ANTONIO—UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, and Mi Familia Vota, a national civic engagement organization, today announced a major multi-year, multi-state national partnership to achieve a full spectrum of civic engagement to lift up Latino voices—connecting electoral, policy advocacy, public opinion research, citizenship, and community programs.

In 2022, UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota will execute an extensive, $15 million civic engagement effort working with Hispanic voters in eight states: Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Nevada, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Among other elements, this year’s campaign will include:

  • Registering over 100,000 voters.
  • Reaching out to a universe of nearly 2 million voters we connected with in 2020, with a specific focus on preventing voter drop-off from 2020.
  • Providing research and data, including a soon-to-be released poll with national and eight state data on the perspectives and priorities of Hispanic voters.
  • Hosting candidate forums in multiple states with high profile statewide elections.
  • Providing voters with information on policy issues and voting access.

Significantly, the long-term partnership aims to break the boom-and-bust cycle of traditional electoral engagement, building sustained participation ecosystems that connect electoral engagement, policy advocacy, and community services, recognizing and building upon existing community assets and infrastructure. The two organizations will build the connective tissue among those tracks between now and 2024.

Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS said: “Our country is experiencing unprecedented challenges to our democracy. There are forces seeking to undermine our power to advance solutions, and to weaken our civil society at a time our democracy needs us the most. This partnership is our way of saying loud and clear ‘Presente’ by advancing strategies and operations that foster the full electoral and advocacy engagement of our community in safeguarding our democracy and realizing our nation’s ideals.”

Héctor Sánchez Barba, Executive Director and CEO of Mi Familia Vota said: “Our country is at a crossroads with democracy under serious attack. Whether it is the shooting in Uvalde, the Supreme Court Justice ruling on Roe V. Wade, the weakening of the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to combat climate change, or the possible loss of DACA, the Latino community is bearing the brunt of these attacks. Given these immense challenges, Mi Familia Vota is proud to launch this long-term strategic partnership with UnidosUS. Together we have the largest national infrastructure needed to continue building Latino political power, fight voter suppression, and strengthen our democracy. We will use that political power to hold all politicians accountable. It is time for all of us to meet this moment by embracing our power. Now is the time for action; now is the time to organize our communities to make our voices heard.”

About UnidosUS 
UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our country stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

About Mi Familia Vota 
Mi Familia Vota is a national civic engagement organization that unites Latino, immigrant, and allied communities to promote social and economic justice through citizenship workshops, voter registration, and voter participation. Mi Familia Vota has operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Texas.