Advocatingfor Latinasby Taking Action inGovernment & Politics
About Latina Civic Action
Latina Civic Action advocates for the rights of Latinas to have a seat at the table in government and politics so that our community can have a voice in enacting policies that encourage economic opportunity, equity and inclusion across all areas of society. Our goal is to directly engage voters and educate them to vote for the issues and candidates that advance our mission of empowering Latinas and our families.
Latina Civic Action builds political power and promotes policy solutions that improve the lives of Latinas and our families through legislative advocacy, electoral education and voter engagement to advance progressive political and policy change.
Find out about Latina Civic Action’s current campaigns by following us on social media.
Our History
Latina Civic Action was established as a result of the success of the efforts led by a group of Latinas leaders in 2001 to join together to support young Latinas and train them to run for office. The need arose out of the fact that in 2001, only 3% of NJ Legislators were Latinas. Because of the work of our founder leaders, the number of elected Latinas in the NJ Legislature grew to 9% in 2021. While we applaud the increase, representation of Latinas in NJ government and politics still lags behind other states simply because Latinos are 21% of the NJ population.
Latina Civic, is a statewide organization that seeks to advance the interest of Latinas and our families in New Jersey. We will advocate for issues that elevate the needs of our families, we will engage with legislators through advocacy campaigns and will engage voters to let their elected officials know that investment in our families future is a critical policy priority for all.
Our Policy Agenda
Latina Civic Action supports progressive Latina candidates who are committed to advancing a policy agenda that prioritizes women’s economic, social and emotional welfare, and prioritizes the expansion of educational opportunities for all. We advocate for all New Jersey Latino families and their rights to prosper as members of our society.
Economic Opportunity
Latinas are among the most adversely affected by the gender pay gap. We are paid just 43 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men in New Jersey, compared to 53 cents nationally. There were about 11.1 million Latinas in the civilian labor force in 2015, representing one in seven women in the labor force, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In order to increase economic opportunity for Latinas, Latina Civic Action supports legislative efforts at the state and federal level to address issues such as equal pay, increasing the minimum wage, and the right of workers to organize into unions. We also demand investment in Latina entrepreneurship via access to diversity programs for small and women owned businesses, as well as the development of small business loans targeted at women and minorities.
Women’s Reproductive Rights
Latina Civic Action supports a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health care choices. We believe Roe vs. Wade is a fundamental right that allows young women the opportunity to make their own choices about how and when they to start a family. A historic decrease in Latina youth pregnancies has drastically increased the number of Latinas who complete high school and enter higher education, hence increasing their economic opportunity and earnings in adult life. Women must have access to affordable reproductive healthcare services that prioritize the well-being of women and children in our communities.
We also believe in continued investment in educational services to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies among our Latino women and youth.
Public Safety
Latinas are concerned about safety as victims of crime as well as the treatment of their children by law enforcement. Latina Civic Action supports legislative efforts to regulate the sales of guns as well as efforts to reduce and monitor instances or racial profiling by law enforcement in our communities.
Immigration And Immigrant Workers’ Rights
Latina Civic Action believes that our immigration, asylum, and naturalization policies should respect the dignity of the individual. We support comprehensive immigration reform legislation that focuses on the fundamental rights of immigrant families, protects the rights of workers and secures a path to citizenship for all immigrants.
Latina Civic Action is committed to ensuring that America continues to be a safe haven for all who come seeking asylum. We support access to education opportunities for young DREAMERs, and we oppose the efforts of local, county, and state governments to enforce federal immigration laws. We strongly encourage the State of New Jersey to pass legislation that grants driver’s licenses for the undocumented and call on local governments to adopt welcoming policies regarding the humane treatment of immigrants living in their local communities, including the adoption of municipal IDs.
Civil Rights And Equal Opportunity
We are deeply committed to equal opportunity and the rule of law based on justice and equality. We oppose any and all forms of discrimination including those based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, class, disability, or sexual orientation. We believe in a full population count in the 2020 Census and the adoption of an electoral map that increases the electoral influence of our communities. We advocate for equal access to employment opportunities and appointments to public boards and commissions, both in the public and private sector.
Education
Education is a pathway to economic prosperity. All Latino children, independent of their parents’ immigration status and/or zip-code, deserve equal educational opportunities in New Jersey and under the US Constitution. Therefore, all Latino children must have access to programs, services, or resources, available to any other child.
We favor in-state tuition for children of undocumented immigrants that have grown-up in New Jersey and graduated from a New Jersey high school. We also support investment in institutions of higher education such as state universities and community colleges and advocate for access to apprenticeships for women and minorities.
Board Members
Dr. Patricia
Campos-Medina
President
Cristina
Pinzon
VP, Membership
Flora
Castillo
VP, External Affairs
Milly
Camacho
Secretary
General Board Members
Griselle
Camacho
Sonia
Delgado
Lizette
Delgado Polanco
Laura
Matos
Noemi
Velazquez
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