Resistance Roundup 8/4: NAL alumni are taking charge in Arizona—and across the country 🔥

Gen Z is making their voices heard, and we love to see it! The Supreme Court’s recent decisions on student loan forgiveness and affirmative action, among others, have galvanized young voters, leading to increased engagement in civic activities.

But this is just part of an ongoing trend: The 2022 midterms saw the second-highest youth voter turnout in the last three decades, with an estimated 27% of young voters turning out to vote, according to exit polling data from Tufts University. With Gen Z projected to make up 49% of the voting population in 2024, we will see more change on the horizon, driven by young leaders who are ready to transform our democracy and ensure a more equitable, inclusive America.

This week, ahead of the four-year anniversary of the racially motivated mass shooting that killed 23 people at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, 162 civil rights organizations sent a letter to congressional leaders denouncing white supremacist, anti-immigrant rhetoric and its use by members of Congress.

As stated in the letter, “Members of Congress continue to invoke the antisemitic and anti-immigrant conspiracy theories that have inspired multiple violent attacks. Members have referred to peaceful migrants and asylum seekers as ‘invaders’ or as an ‘invasion’ 90 times in their official capacity in hearings, on the floor, or in official press releases.” This kind of toxic rhetoric does more than just echo in the halls of power. It ripples outward into our communities, stoking fear, fostering division, and inciting violence against immigrants and people of color.

This Sunday, August 6, marks 58 years since the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965—one of our nation’s most important and successful civil rights laws.

Let’s celebrate the anniversary by recommitting ourselves to building a democracy that works for ALL of us, regardless of our race or zip code. Together, we can fight back against anti-voter efforts and protect our freedoms. Join the conversation.

At NAL, we’re building a pipeline of authentic and inspiring community advocates by empowering New American and BIPOC leaders to run for office, win, and lead. Our movement is growing all across the country, but one state where it’s really taking shape is Arizona.

As our CEO and President Ghida Dagher said in this recent Arizona Capitol Times article, “After seeing the incredible organizing efforts of immigrants and allies across the state to fight SB1070, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment, it was clear that Arizonans were ready for a new cohort of leaders and that New Americans were the leaders Arizona needed. Now over 10 years later, we see the incredible impact that New Americans have had and continue to have in shaping the political landscape in Arizona, including over a dozen New American Leaders alumni who are currently serving in elected office across the state.”

Among that group of our incredible alums in office—which includes State Representatives Cesar Aguilar, Lorena Austin, Melody Hernandez, Analise Ortiz, Athena Saman, and Leezah Sun; State Senator Priya Sundareshan; and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero—is Anna Hernandez, the Phoenix State Senator representing Legislative District 24.

“[Senator Hernandez] gained the knowledge and confidence she needed to take the leap for state Senate last year after she participated in programs that the national, nonpartisan organization New American Leaders holds to help immigrants and their allies join the political process.

While Hernandez was born and raised in Arizona, her parents immigrated to the United States from Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Her father, Jose, died after he contracted Covid in November 2020 prior to vaccines being available. He did not have the opportunity to work from home as he had a maintenance position.

A friend told Hernandez about New American Leaders, so she participated in two rounds of the organization’s Ready to Win advanced campaign training sessions that provide tools to those who want to run for office or serve as a senior-level staff member on campaigns within the next two years. She also took part in New American Leaders’ Ready to Lead signature training program that singles out the immigrant experience as an asset for civic leaders, and she served on a panel during a recent New American Leaders’ National Women’s Training in Phoenix.”

In the spirit of Flashback Friday and with our 2023 Ready to Win training in Washington, D.C. coming up next week, we’d like to recirculate this gem from our 2019 Ready to Win cohort!

New York City Councilmembers Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, and Shekar Krishnan; New York State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas; New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez; and Michigan State Representative Ranjeev Puri all took our training four years ago, and a number of other bold New American leaders have followed them into elected office since then. You can join them by taking one of our trainings (we will be releasing our 2024 training schedule soon!), and follow the action at next week’s Ready to Win on our social media channels or by using the hashtag #ReadyToWin.

Staff, alumni, and partner news

Three of our staff members recently received promotions! Please join us in congratulating Basi Alonso on being promoted to National Director of Leadership Programs; Anne Flomenhaft on being promoted to Deputy Director, Program Evaluations and Operations; and Lainey Schmidt on being promoted to Director of Finance and Operations!
This summer, we’re privileged to have Yasmine Mohamed, an alum of our 2022 Ready to Lead and Ready to Win trainings, join us as our political intern! Please welcome her to the team!
Our 2022 AANHPI Women Rising alum Genevieve Mina, who’s now an Alaska State Representative, just had her first bill signed, recognizing Filipino American History Month in Alaska state law!
Our alum Maya Younis was named as one of the Arab America Foundation’s 40 Under 40 awardees!
Our friends, Higher Heights and the Center for American Women and Politics, just released their new “Black Women in American Politics 2023″ report. Be sure to check it out!