The Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs held the very first Latino Day on the Hill on Thursday, January 25, 2018, reaching their goal of serving as a bridge to connect Iowa’s Latino community with the Capitol.
The Commission is extremely grateful and excited for the high turnout (300+) from Iowa’s Latino community.
Latinos, especially youth from Al Exito (an Iowa Human Rights Youth Chapter), Iowa colleges and universities, and local non-profit organizations, were able to directly hear from our governor, state representatives, educators and Latino role models.
We are thankful to Governor Reynolds who opened the event with a warm welcome and encouraged those in attendance to be civically engaged. For the Latino youth, it was a great way to get an education outside the classroom and engage with important policy makers directly and hear from. The first step in understanding one another is engaging in a meaningful dialog.
Students from the Des Moines Area Community College-Urban Campus said “Thank you for your work on the Latino Day on the Hill, we had a great experience and even stayed after to talk with representatives on our own. Thank you for offering this opportunity- it was a great way to provide education outside the classroom, off campus, and engage in our local community and with state politicians.”
Perhaps one day, this generation will volunteer to serve on the Commission, run for office or open a business in Iowa. But first, they will need to understand how laws and regulations will impact their lives and livelihoods. The Commission is most concerned with setting aside partisan differences and focusing on policies to improve Iowa together.
“This event empowered me and just motivated me to continue making the difference little by little with ALL youth around me” Norma Robles from Marshalltown stated.
Coming out of this event, the Commission encourages all Iowans to be a voice in their communities, volunteer and give back, and learn how best to get involved.
Thank you,
Jeannette Brown, Chair of the Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs
Check out the images from the Iowa Latino Day on the Hill here
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