MI FAMILIA VOTA EDUCATION FUND

MFVEF targets low propensity Latino voters in the states and cities where we have a presence and where Latino communities are underrepresented in electoral participation. Through the creative use of social media, text messaging, and a broad site-based canvassing effort, MFVEF converts occasional voters into frequent voters after providing information on the electoral process and a persuasive invitation to vote.

MFVEF’s Emerging Latino Leader program is designed to prepare and cultivate young Latino/as who are 17-24 years old as agents of change through a service-focused strategy that blends leadership development with continuous civic engagement opportunities. The program is targeted to students at high schools or higher education institutions to develop them into Youth Engagement Leads who would build Latino youth advocates within their communities and create civic opportunities in their schools. To prepare Latino youth for a lifetime of civic involvement – including voter education, GOTV efforts, policy advocacy, and citizenship – the program incorporates community organizing workshops featuring interactive activities designed to develop advocacy and deliberative skills. MFVEF allows Latino youth leaders to emerge as advocates for their families and communities by engaging in service learning projects including their own issue-based civic engagement project and encourage students to share their perspectives and stories with the media.