In eleven short months, the
nation will choose a president, Texans will decide who will lead the state, and
Valley residents will elect those we feel can be held responsible for local
political office.
The Equal Voice Network, a
coalition of nine community-based organizations with more than 30,000
constituents, has already been preparing an extensive civic engagement project
for the Valley. Called “Mi Voto es Mi Voz,” this will be the second such effort
by the Equal Voice Network. In 2010 network membership realized a ten per cent
increase over 2006 numbers in its ten target precincts.
“In a democracy, all
election cycles are important, but for the Equal Voice family, this season
merits special attention. The sinful use of anti-immigrant prejudice by
politicians, and our government’s preference for military spending over and
against the immediate needs of our families clearly tells us that the
politicians are not paying attention to the heart and soul of this country. An
election gives us an opportunity to speak up, and believe me, we intend to be
heard,” said Michael Seifert, the Network Coordinator.
The Equal Voice Network
will focus in on twenty-four areas of Hidalgo and Cameron County, with a
preference for the Pharr, San Juan, Alamo and Mission areas, as well as
neighborhoods in San Benito and Brownsville. The voices of the primarily
low-income residents of these precincts are particularly important in the
local, state, and national dialogue on jobs, the economy, and immigration.
"Casting a ballot is
one of the most important things we do as citizens and as neighbors. It is our
way of saying ‘Here we are. We count.’ So the Equal Voice Network and LUPE is
going to do its best to make sure that every last one of our members
understands that and takes part in the get out the vote effort,” said Daniel
Diaz, a community organizer from LUPE who works in the Mercedes area.
As non-profits, the Network
members take care to follow the federal law on civic engagement, avoiding
partisan politics, while, at the same time, investing large amounts of time and
energy in encouraging people not only to vote, but also to become intimately
involved in the entire process. The Network sees civic engagement as a way of being
faithful to the missions of the different member organizations, be they
involved in housing, health care, or education.
“It makes no sense for the
START Center (San Benito) to work so hard to prepare our young people for good
jobs if our elected leaders are paying no attention whatsoever to this need. A
vote is a “shout out” and we are dedicated to getting our youth to shout out
loud and long,” said Ron Rogers, START Center Board President.
With Congress in gridlock
and the economy inspiring fear, many cynics may dismiss civic engagement as a
useless exercise on behalf of unresponsive politicians. Equal Voice
members, on the other hand, have seen first hand the results of successful get
out the vote campaigns in the past.
“As a mother and as a
member of one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Valley, I have seen what
happens when a community votes,” said Lupita Sanchez, from Cameron Park, near
Brownsville. “For years we suffered all sorts of humiliation—no roads, no
police patrols, no mail delivery. And then we learned how to get out the vote,
we got involved, and now Cameron Park is a place I am proud to live in.”
The Equal Voice Network is
planning a number of activities and events throughout the year, including
candidates’ forums, debates, and voter registration drives.
Members of the Equal Voice
Network include: ARISE – A Resource in Service Equality (Alamo); BCHC –
Brownsville Community Health Center (Brownsville); Casa de Proyecto
Libertad (Harlingen); La Unión del Pueblo Entero LUPE (San Juan); Proyecto
Azteca (San Juan); Proyecto Juan Diego (Cameron Park/Brownsville); START
Center- South Texas Adult Resource and Training Center (San Benito); and the
Texas Organizing Project.
