[En Español Abajo]
PHOENIX, AZ – On Tuesday, April 23, local advocates, national coalitions, and newly naturalized voters gathered at the Arizona State Capitol to launch the New American Voters campaign to uplift the priorities of newly naturalized voters in Arizona.
During the event, key speakers including Nicole Melaku, Executive Director of the National Partnership for New Americans, Amritha Karthikeyan from AZ AANHPI for Equity, Nejra Sumic from the We Are All America campaign, Petra Falcon from PAZ, and Alex Jurua, a green-card holder eligible for naturalization, came together to speak on the importance of New American Voters exercising their right to vote this year.
From many walks of life, from all across the world, millions of New Americans are naturalized and ready to vote! Since the last presidential election, from 2020-2024 it is estimated that over 62,000 people have become U.S. Citizens and may be eligible to vote in Arizona. New American Voters have the potential to sway elections in key states. The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metropolitan area has the highest concentration of naturalized citizens in Arizona! With immigration as one of the electorate’s top issues of concern this election year and with the stakes increasingly high for immigrant communities, those most directly impacted by immigration and with the power to vote—New American Voters—have an outsized opportunity and responsibility to turn out to the polls.
“The voices of New American Voters enrich our democracy, and they must be welcomed and heard,” said Alma Couverthie, chief of programs & interim co-CEO for the League of Women Voters of the United States. “The League has declared 2024 the year of the first-time voter because it is critical to foster the transformative power of the newly naturalized citizens, as well as young voters, as they become participants in shaping our democracy. The League of Women Voters has registered hundreds of thousands of newly naturalized citizens to vote, and we are proud to stand in coalition with other powerful organizations representing these voters.”
“Together, new voters who are refugees and immigrants will make a change in this election,” said Petra Falcon, executive director of Promise Arizona
Alejandra Gomez, executive director, Arizona Center for Empowerment, said, “There is no greater power or equalizer in a democracy than your right to vote. Whether you’ve been a US citizen for generations, or just a few months. You have an opportunity to make your voices heard in this pivotal 2024 election. It is a fundamental right, that can’t be taken for granted. Vote your heart out!”
Amritha Karthikeyan, newly naturalized citizen and AZ AANHPI for Equity intern, said, “To other newly naturalized voters, I would use this new power you have as a citizen of this country to make sure your voice is heard in who you elect to represent you and your communities. But. don’t just stop there — show out for your communities in other ways, especially for those who cannot yet vote and aren’t citizens. Volunteer, show up for events as well as the polls, join a community organization, contact your representatives.”
“A strong, multiracial democracy requires the voices and participation of every single person, including and especially new Americans. We enthusiastically support the 2024 New American Voters Campaign to strengthen civic participation now and into the future,” said Rachel Perić, executive director, Welcoming America.
Laura Vazquez, director of Immigrant Integration at UnidosUS, said,“UnidosUS supports the 2024 New American Voters Campaign and is committed to empowering Latino voices in shaping our democracy’s future. As Latinos continue to grow as a significant demographic nationwide, their pivotal role in determining electoral outcomes extends beyond traditional strongholds to critical battleground states like North Carolina, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona, underscoring the urgency for their active participation in upcoming elections. With the opportunity for naturalized Latino voters to now exercise their right to vote, their civic engagement is more crucial than ever in shaping the direction of our nation.”
Check out our Facebook to watch the live recording here! ⏬️
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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 66 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 40 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org
We Are All America works to uphold and strengthen our nation’s commitment to welcome and protect those seeking freedom, safety and refuge in the United States. We organize people across religious and cultural differences to build inclusive communities where we all belong. See our website for more information at weareallus.org
The Arizona Center for Empowerment (ACE) is a 501 (c)3 member-led social justice organization that develops and mobilizes immigrant working youth and adults, students, and LGBTQ individuals to strategically take ownership and responsibility to advance economic, social, and racial justice. By building power through leadership development, Citizenship, civic engagement, advocacy and education, we are creating a more inclusive and just standard of equality in the state of Arizona. Income equality, protection of public education, immigrant rights, and health care are just a few of ACE’s priorities in creating a better Arizona for all.
Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity (AZ AANHPI for Equity) is a state-wide organization striving for equity and justice by building power through community directed organizing, increasing civic engagement, and empowering young leaders.
Promise Arizona promotes diversity, opportunity, and progress.
We do this by building power in our community, championing family and cultural values, and connecting people to life-changing resources. Our faith-based organization relies on members and volunteers to help build young community leaders and to create positive change in Arizona.The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) unites 2 million diverse members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. SEIU members working in the healthcare industry, in the public sector and in property services believe in the power of joining together on the job to win higher wages and benefits and to create better communities while fighting for a more just society and an economy that works for all of us, not just corporations and the wealthy.
Support Promise Arizona
Join in supporting the work of our dedicated team of many youth with a desire to make a difference, in addition to PAZ members and long-term movement-building leaders. Please give Promise Arizona your financial support as we continue to build Latinx and immigrant power to promote hope, dignity, and progress in our communities. ¡El Pueblo Ayuda Al Pueblo!
We are a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501C3 organization, so your contributions are all tax deductible. No donation is too small (or too large). Our community needs your help.
Durante el evento, oradores clave, entre ellos Nicole Melaku, directora ejecutiva de National Partnership for New Americans, Amritha Karthikeyan de AZ AANHPI for Equity, Nejra Sumic de la campaña We Are All America, Petra Falcon de PAZ y Alex Jurua, un activista ecologista. titular de tarjeta elegible para naturalización, se reunieron para hablar sobre la importancia de que los nuevos votantes estadounidenses ejerzan su derecho al voto este año.
¡De muchos ámbitos de la vida, de todo el mundo, millones de nuevos estadounidenses están naturalizados y listos para votar! Desde las últimas elecciones presidenciales, de 2020 a 2024, se estima que más de 62.000 personas se han convertido en ciudadanos estadounidenses y pueden ser elegibles para votar en Arizona. Los nuevos votantes estadounidenses tienen el potencial de influir en las elecciones en estados clave. ¡El área metropolitana de Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale tiene la mayor concentración de ciudadanos naturalizados en Arizona! Dado que la inmigración es uno de los temas de mayor preocupación para el electorado este año electoral y que hay cada vez más en juego para las comunidades de inmigrantes, aquellos más directamente afectados por la inmigración y con poder para votar (los nuevos votantes estadounidenses) tienen una enorme oportunidad y responsabilidad de votar. a las urnas.
“Las voces de los nuevos votantes estadounidenses enriquecen nuestra democracia y deben ser bienvenidas y escuchadas”, dijo Alma Couverthie, jefa de programas y codirectora ejecutiva interina de la Liga de Mujeres Votantes de Estados Unidos. “La Liga ha declarado 2024 el año del votante por primera vez porque es fundamental fomentar el poder transformador de los ciudadanos recién naturalizados, así como de los votantes jóvenes, a medida que se convierten en participantes en la configuración de nuestra democracia. La Liga de Mujeres Votantes ha registrado para votar a cientos de miles de ciudadanos recién naturalizados y estamos orgullosos de formar una coalición con otras organizaciones poderosas que representan a estos votantes”.
“Juntos, los nuevos votantes que son refugiados e inmigrantes lograrán un cambio en esta elección”, dijo Petra Falcón, directora ejecutiva de Promise Arizona.
Alejandra Gómez, directora ejecutiva del Centro para el Empoderamiento de Arizona, dijo: “No hay mayor poder o igualador en una democracia que el derecho al voto. Ya sea que haya sido ciudadano estadounidense durante generaciones o solo durante unos meses. Tienen la oportunidad de hacer oír su voz en estas elecciones fundamentales de 2024. Es un derecho fundamental que no se puede dar por sentado. ¡Vota con todo tu corazón!
Amritha Karthikeyan, ciudadana recién naturalizada y pasante de AZ AANHPI for Equity, dijo: “Para otros votantes recién naturalizados, usaría este nuevo poder que tienen como ciudadano de este país para asegurarme de que su voz sea escuchada por quienes eligen para representarlos. y sus comunidades. Pero. No se limite a eso: muéstrese ante sus comunidades de otras maneras, especialmente ante aquellos que aún no pueden votar y no son ciudadanos. Sea voluntario, preséntese tanto en los eventos como en las urnas, únase a una organización comunitaria, comuníquese con sus representantes”.
“Una democracia fuerte y multirracial requiere las voces y la participación de cada persona, incluidos y especialmente los nuevos estadounidenses. Apoyamos con entusiasmo la Campaña Nuevos Votantes Estadounidenses 2024 para fortalecer la participación cívica ahora y en el futuro”, dijo Rachel Perić, directora ejecutiva de Welcoming America.
Laura Vázquez, directora de Integración de Inmigrantes de UnidosUS, dijo: “UnidosUS apoya la Campaña de Nuevos Votantes Estadounidenses 2024 y está comprometida a empoderar las voces latinas para dar forma al futuro de nuestra democracia. A medida que los latinos continúan creciendo como grupo demográfico importante en todo el país, su papel fundamental en la determinación de los resultados electorales se extiende más allá de los bastiones tradicionales hasta estados críticos en disputa como Carolina del Norte, Georgia, Nevada y Arizona, lo que subraya la urgencia de su participación activa en las próximas elecciones. Ahora que los votantes latinos naturalizados tienen la oportunidad de ejercer su derecho al voto, su compromiso cívico es más crucial que nunca para moldear la dirección de nuestra nación”.
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