Educators Pitch In to Mobilize Latino Vote

NEA Vice President Lily Eskelsen joined other Latino leaders this past weekend to urge the 10,000 newly-registered Hispanic citizens in Las Vegas to turn out to vote.

This past weekend marked the start of early voting in Las Vegas, and Latino voters are being encouraged to head to the polls and elect candidates who will ensure their families’ access to quality, affordable education. It continues through tomorrow and election day is Tuesday.

“There’s no enthusiasm gap here,” said Eskelsen. “There’s no one with a stronger reason to vote than a Latina who dreams of an affordable college education for her children.” (To learn more about what motivates Eskelsen to get out the vote with Hispanic citizens, read more at lilysblackboard.org.)

The Hispanic Institute, which NEA members help support, has conducted an aggressive grassroots outreach campaign aimed at increasing turnout among Latino voters. Organizers have canvassed Latino neighborhoods in Las Vegas, registering voters and encouraging them to cast their ballots early. In September, the Hispanic Institute surpassed its goal of registering 10,000 new voters.

You can also find coverage of the Latino vote rally at KTNV.com and PublicNewsService.org.

Follow all of NEA’s Campaign 2010 efforts at EducationVotes.

Related posts:

1. NEA Vice President Lily Eskelsen Honored by Latino Leaders
2. Labor Secretary Speaks to Latino Education Issues
3. Must Reads – Recruiting Latino Students
4. The “Silent Crisis” of the Latino Dropout Rate
5. NEA’s Eskelsen to Serve on White House Commission on Hispanic Education