Connie Guerrero.
With nothing more ahead of us than my parents' dreams of giving us a better life, my siblings and I arrived, hand in hand, to this country more than 40 years ago. The Stars and Stripes became my new home and the state of California embraced us..
My father, a gardener; my mother, cleaning rooms: nothing stopped them. They managed to make every day count to let me know that we deserved a better lifeThe school taught me about mathematics and differences. The color of my skin stood out in an American school. I stopped being Consuelo, that "Chelo" who came from Sonora, Mexicoto become Connie.
At that time, I was not aware of the importance of the latino voice and vote.of how one decision can change the future of those around us and those we love, of how strong a voice can be, and even stronger if it is a community.
At age 20, I became a U.S. citizen. It was my opportunity to finally make my voice heard on behalf of all those who could not; on behalf of thousands of Latinos who, because they were not "legal", have had to hide their opinion.
There are more than 15 years of activisma time when I've been twice commissioned in RedwoodI have not stopped to ensure that the needs of a community that provides not only work, but also great values and culture, are taken into account.
This 2020 has not been easy for anyone. From the economic issue to the climate issue, from the a pandemic that has not abated to anyone in the world. Racism and lack of empathy by the authority has also shocked the entire country. Nothing is indifferent to us. Everything affects us and hurts.
Learning that the needs of the Latino community didn't matter, that the Hispanic voice was worthless "because they couldn't vote" came as a bucket of cold water. That was the reality. That's what we face every day.
Redwood City has a population of more than 80,000.of them, around 42 thousand are registered to votebut not even half of them exercise their right. The percentage of Latinos who are able to vote is very low and even lower for those who are registered to vote.
Thinking that their opinions or needs are not important - often having two jobs - little interest in local issues or in the various proposals. has discouraged them from votingwhich today is their right to be citizens in legal terms.
It's time to join forces, to move forward and believe that the future belongs to everyone and for everyonethat our community, county, city and country can be a true hotbed of opportunity for all. It's time for your voice, my voice, the voice of a Latino, be taken into account.
I call to raise awareness for the improvement of our environment in order to generate a change, which can only be heard through voting, participates and invites to those who can also make use of their right.
Connie Guerrero is director of We Vote Redwood City
