Philadelphia, PA – On August 13th, Esperanza hosted the event «Your Vote is Your Voice» in collaboration with Univision65 and Impacto. The event brought together members of the Philadelphia and Hunting Park communities, along with various community organizations, focusing on areas such as job opportunities, housing counseling, financial and digital literacy, education, and civic and cultural activities.
The event featured a special live broadcast from Univision 65 News, centered on the 2024 elections and voter registration. In Pennsylvania, the last day to register to vote is October 21st, and the last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is October 29th, 2024. Early registration is encouraged, and online registration is available.
The New Pennsylvania Project and the Office of Commissioner Deeley registered people to vote in the upcoming presidential election on November 5th and conducted a live demonstration of a voting machine.
Attendees had the opportunity to meet journalist Ilia García from Univision 65, who emphasized the importance of Hispanic participation in the electoral process. Currently, only 1 in 4 young people turning 18 are registered to vote, and historically, Latinos vote less than other demographic groups.
This free event, supported by the Lenfest «Every Voice, Every Vote» initiative, attracted a diverse crowd eager to connect and participate. Food was provided by Empanadas United, with coffee from Café Don Pedro, and music by Javy Swing De Guille.
In addition to a wide array of resources from Esperanza’s programs, participants included the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women Philadelphia, Mexicanos en Philadelphia, Casa Venezuela, Acción Colombia, Alianza Latina, Los Rumberos Jeep Club, Asociación de Bodegueros, LULAC, Latino Solutions Center, Moriviví, Ceiba, Argentinos en Philadelphia, Feria del Libro, and Fair Districts PA.
Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr., Founder and CEO of Esperanza, said, “Today we welcomed over 250 members of our community to discuss the importance of registering to vote and being civically engaged. Registration is the first step to ensure the voices of our community are heard and reflected in the public servants we elect. We want to extend our gratitude to all who attended and participated. Together, we can continue strengthening our community and empowering each other through knowledge, resources and collective action.”
This content is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Lead support for Every Voice, Every Vote in 2024 and 2025 is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Comcast NBC Universal, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation, Judy and Peter Leone, Arctos Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, 25th Century Foundation, and Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation. To learn more about the project and view a full list of supporters, visit www.everyvoice-everyvote.org. Editorial content is created independently of the project’s donors.
