Our Voice, Our Choice, Our California! • Sacramento News & Review

Lúcete Latina initiative aims to amplify the voices that account for one in every six California voters

Across California, Latina women are emerging as pivotal decision-makers whose votes will significantly shape the state’s political landscape. Accounting for one in every six registered voters in the state, Latinas hold immense potential to influence critical issues, including affordable housing, clean water, reproductive rights, healthcare, education, and economic stability.

Communities for a New California Education Fund (CNC EF) has recognized this strength and launched the Lúcete Latina initiative, designed to center the needs of Latina voters, ensuring their voices are not only heard but amplified during the public policy-making process and election season. Rooted in the understanding that Latinas are the heartbeats of their families and neighborhoods, Lúcete Latina addresses their challenges and aspirations, engaging them authentically and consistently.

“Engaging Latinas is not just about numbers, it’s about recognizing their power to uplift entire neighborhoods and cities,” says Melissa Vargas, CNC EF’s senior policy advisor. Melissa, a first-generation daughter of Colombian immigrants, emphasizes how personal experiences inspire broader advocacy. “From healthcare and climate action to family reunification, Latina voters are pivotal in driving policy change that affects our daily lives.”

“From healthcare and climate action to family reunification, Latina voters are pivotal in driving policy change that affects our daily lives.”
Melissa Vargas, Senior Policy Advisor, Communities for a New California Education Fund

Housing remains the most pressing concern among Latina voters. According to recent polling by CNC EF, 54% of California Latina voters identified high rents as their top housing concern. Jobs and economic stability follow closely, with 61.5% feeling the weight of an unsustainable cost of living. These figures underscore the financial realities that Latina women and their loved ones navigate daily.

Anna Lisa Vargas, a lead community organizer with CNC EF, illustrates how meaningful engagement sparks tangible community changes. “Civic engagement is at its strongest when we involve families and neighborhoods directly in decision-making processes,” she says. “When residents speak up, they shape policies around air quality, housing, and environmental justice. That’s the core strength of the Lúcete Latina campaign.”

Anna Lisa’s extensive organizing work includes advocating for healthier communities through initiatives such as AB 617, addressing air quality, and championing affordable housing through the Lift to Rise Resident Leadership Table. Her efforts underscore the importance of grassroots participation and genuine representation in local government decision-making.

Beyond immediate needs, CNC EF’s Lúcete Latina initiative promotes a vision of civic empowerment where Latinas see themselves as essential participants in democracy. Through extensive, non-partisan door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, and educational campaigns, CNC EF builds trusted relationships, highlighting the direct connection between voting and an improved quality of life.

Melissa’s experience navigating systems for her immigrant family echoes the experiences of many Latinas. She believes deeply in the moral imperative of advocacy: “My compass has always been, ‘¿Le puedo ayudar?—Can I help you?’ Civic engagement allows Latinas to turn challenges into collective opportunities.”

The Lúcete Latina initiative bridges personal stories with civic engagement, spotlighting the profound influence Latinas wield at the ballot box. As CNC EF continues engaging this powerful voter bloc, the call is clear: Latina voters have the power to shape a future reflective of their values, needs, and dreams.

“Together,” says Anna Lisa, “we ensure our families not only survive but thrive, informed by our voices and sustained by our votes.”

For more information about Communities for a New California, go to www.cncedfund.org.