BACKGROUND
In 2007, a group of Latino individuals concerned about the several socio-economic issues affecting Latinos in Sonoma County held informal meetings over breakfast and decided to focus first on one particular issue: the lack of political visibility and representation, and the absence of civic engagement.
This group, along with the Community Foundation Sonoma County and the Hutchins Institute for Public Policy Studies and Community Action at Sonoma State University, convened several organizations and individuals in Sonoma County to be part of a non-partisan Coalition for Latino Civic Engagement (CLACE).
GOALS
On November 2007, CLACE decided to initially focus on increasing the political presence and participation of Latinos in Sonoma County. The following goals were established:
1. To increase the registration and voting rates among Latinos
2. Develop an effective model to be implemented in a few precincts first, with the idea of expanding later this model to other areas of Sonoma County and the North Bay
3. To support those candidates for public office that effectively and efficiently represent the interests of the Latino community
4. Establish short and long term strategies for the integration of the Latino community into the larger community for the well being of our entire community.
SU VOTO ES SU VOZ (YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE)
SU VOTO ES SU VOZ is a voter registration project currently driven by CLACE with the generous support of the members of the coalition, and with funding from the Community Foundation Sonoma County- Schulz and Roseland Development Funds.
CLACE designed a voter education and registration project in six precincts in the Southwest of Santa Rosa. The goals of this project encompass the following:
1. To increase the voting and turnout rates in the Southwest area
2. Develop and institute a voter education program
3. Establish a workable model that can be replicated in other parts of Sonoma County and elsewhere.
CLACE'S FOUNDING MEMBERS:
Caroline Bañuelos, Efren Carrillo, Oscar Chavez, Rene Meza, Juan Nieto, Jaime Peñaherrera, Patricia Robles-Mitten, David Rosas, Miguel Ruelas, Wanda Tapia, Francisco H. Vázquez
VOTER REGISTRATION PROJECT MEMBERS:
ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE
City of Santa Rosa (Councilwoman Jane Bender)
Delphiteam (Herb Williams)
Housing Commission of Sonoma County (Margo Merck)
KRCB Public Media (Robin Metalitz)
League of Women Voters (DeeDee Bridges)
No Name Women (Susan Moore)
North Bay Labor Council (Lisa Maldonado)
Roseland Roundtable (Steven Greenberg)
Santa Rosa City Clerk (Sue Stoneman)
S.A.L.V.A. (Georgina Warmoth)
Sonoma County Democratic Party (Nick Caston)
S.C.C.A. (Jenna Brager)
Sonoma County Latino Democratic Party (Caroline Banuelos)
SEIU - UHW (Heather Foote) Senator Wiggins (Guy Conner) Sonoma County Clerk (Janice Atkinson)
Southwest Community Health Center (Abigail Barajas) OTHER
Jim Maresca, George Ortiz
CONTACT INFORMATION:
- To volunteer please send your contact information to: volunteer@clace.org
- To make a contribution please contact: contribute@clace.org
- For more information, please contact: info@clace.org
ADDRESS:
CLACE c/o Hutchins Institute for Public Policy Studies and Community Action
1801 East Cotati Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Phone: 707-523-8804
Fax: 707-664-4389