Voto Latino Executive Director Maria Teresa Kumar was recently quoted in the Financial Times talking about the political ramifications of passing SB 1070 in Arizona. The article, entitled, “US immigration: Flagged up”, explores how SB 1070 politicized Latinos and what that might mean for both political parties.

In it, Maria Teresa states, “There is an opportunity here [for both parties] to work actively to introduce immigration reform – unless they don’t want to win future elections.”

To read the whole article, click here.

SB 1070 has drawn wide-reaching criticism from a variety of lawmakers, spanning from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Phoneix Mayor Phil Gordon, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and even Arizona Senator John McCain’s daughter, Megan McCain, have also stated grave concerns about the bill.

Just five days after its passage, SB 1070 is being recognized for what it is: a dangerous legal precedent for racial profiling, not just a controversial enforcement measure. Its legal scope knows no ethnic lines or party lines; Americans of color – including Filipino, Italian, South Asian, and Native Americans – Democrats, and Republicans could all be stopped and arrested on suspicion alone.

Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio from Florida is quoted in an MSNBC article saying, “I think aspects of the law, especially that dealing with ‘reasonable suspicion,’ are going to put our law enforcement officers in an incredibly difficult position,” adding that the law could “unreasonably single out people who are here legally, including many American citizens.”

Read the full article here.

A couple of high school students in Southern California made a spoof video about the enumeration (door to door counting) process. Don’t get us wrong – this isn’t how visits go!  – but it is funny. Watch and see what happens when a brother and sister take a break from their novela to open the door and be counted.

Mun2, the bi-cultural channel of the NBC Universal network, featured Voto Latino in their “The New America” special, hosted by Anjelah Johnson. In it, our Executive Director Maria Teresa Kumar told us the story of Voto Latino, and how it intersects with her own story.

Watch the clip below.

But Mun2 also wants to hear want to hear your story. Log onto holamun2.com/america to tell us what the new America means to you.

Online Digital Director Steve Alfaro was featured in a CNN segment on our Be Counted, Represent campaign! The two and a half minute segment gives a look at each aspect of the campaign, from iTunes to Facebook to the viral videos.

Chequealo!

No census form is ever perfect, and the only way the U.S. Census bureau can make it better is with our help. For this reason, around 450,000 homes might also receive different, or additional, Census questionnaires.

There are two types. The first is the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is a longer form questionnaire with more in-depth questions. When filled out completely, the ACS helps us obtain a very detailed portrait of American society. It asks questions like level of education and income within the home, market behavior, and other stuff. If you got one of these, you’re lucky, because you can really help people get to know our community.

Click here to see a sample form.

The second is the Alternative Census (ACF) Form. The ACF is similar to the standard 10-question form but asks the same 10 questions about name, gender, ethnicity, race and type of housing in a different way to TEST questions for the 2020 census so that it is even more fair and accurate than the 2010 Census is.

It is important to note that just like the standard census form, these two forms are sent out to homes based on random selection and are JUST AS SAFE as the standard Census form. You will also be counted JUST AS ACCURATELY by the alternative form as by the standard form.

So get counting! The differences between the ACS and the ACF don’t matter nearly as much as you do!

Did you know that the U.S. Census Bureau has tens of thousands of temporary jobs available? And that they pay well? And that they’re probably hiring in your neighborhood?

Well, they are! And they really need bilingual workers like you.

Census Takers, or enumerators, help ensure an accurate count by following up in person with households that either didn’t turn in their form or didn’t fill it out completely. Since you know your own city better than anyone else, the Bureau likes to hire local. They want you, not someone from outside the area, to help your neighbors fill out their forms.

Andale – help your community out! What could be better than helping Latinos by walking the streets of your own ‘hood while earning up to $20 dollars an hour?

Here’s how you apply: find your local Census office by clicking here, or call 1-866-861-2010.

We’re in FADER magazine!  Our favorite quote:

But seriously, what are you 9 years old? Let’s just all agree to take the census, free stuff or not. More importantly, Voto Latino co-founder, the alluring and incredibly responsible, Rosario Dawson, is specifically concerned with the under-represented being counted this year, so that the picture of America is actually complete when the money gets counted, which you can’t really argue with, not that you’d want to.

Read the full article at the Fader.

Perez also gave us some amor! He featured our MTV3 partnered PSA!  Check it out:

While on Capitol Hill to launch the Be Counted, Represent campaign, NBC interviewed Wilmer Valderrama for their “Daily Connection” program, and talked census, That 70’s Show, and more.