As Part of PBS Election 2016 Programming, a new documentary examines the pioneering activist who mobilized the power of the Latino vote: Willie Velasquez.
With his rallying cry of “su voto es su voz” (“your vote is your voice”), the Mexican-American activist Willie Velasquez launched a grassroots movement that forever changed the nation’s political landscape.
Through his nonpartisan Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project (SVREP), Velasquez launched over a thousand voter registration drives in 200 cities, creating a movement that has continued to grow in power each year.
“Today there are over 27 million eligible Latino voters,” said Sandie Viquez Pedlow, executive producer and executive director of Latino Public Broadcasting. “By encouraging Latinos to become invested in the democratic process by registering to vote, Willie Velasquez and SVREP paved the way for the continually increasing power of Latinos at the polls.”
Officials with KCOS say, “This new PBS documentary is so good, and so relevant, that we need to host TWO community screenings with panel discussions.”
6 – 8 pm
UTEP Union Cinema
500 W. University- Union Building East
Come early (5 – 6 pm) to get registered to vote on-site, thanks to volunteers from the Center for Civic Engagement.
Hosted by KCOS and UTEP Center for Civic Engagement
Our distinguished panelists will be:
- Dr. Jose Villalobos, Professor of Political Science
- Lisa Wise, El Paso County Elections Office
- Janet Monteros, League of Women Voters
Thursday, September 29, 2016
6 – 8 pm
EPCC Administration Boardroom
9050 Viscount Blvd, Building AHosted by KCOS and EPCC Diversity ProgramsOur distinguished panelists will be:
- Hector Galan, Producer/Director of the Film
- Belen Robles, LULAC
- Vanessa Camacho, EPCC Professor of History
Volunteers from Paleta Power will also be on hand to share more information about volunteering with non-partisan voter registration and engagement efforts.
Light refreshments will also be served.
