Group of Latina Zoomers.

Welcome to Gen Z: Let’s Get Real, the podcast that gets real with Generation Z. Latino Zoomers are expected to be the biggest minority of voters in this election. According to the Pew Research, Latino Z voters are about 22% of these young group. 

Why I Vote: Concerns Latino Zoomers Have that Impact their Vote (Episode 1)

Chris [8:41 – 8:47]: If you have the opportunity to vote, I think that you should take the opportunity to do it.

Yolo Clo: Hi y’all! Welcome to Gen Z: Let’s Get Real the podcast that gets real with Generation Z. I’m your host Yolo Clo. Chris is a first generation Mexican-American who resides here in Los Angeles.

Chris [8:51 – 9:01]: You know it really does create difference in the way that not only our nation runs, but our local community as well.

Yolo Clo: He is currently attending Cal State Northridge as a business administration major. Having had family members be undocumented, immigration has been a great concern for him growing up.

Chris [18:00 – 18:24]: They tend to be undermined, and they are overshadowed. And it almost seems like we’re placing many, such a great population of hundreds of thousands of, you know, of people living right now, that have a great impact on our overall economy. And it just seems like we’re not caring as much.

Yolo Clo [18:25 – 18:48]: He wishes more would be done towards the undocumented community in the United States.

Chris: And not only that, but it’s also the fact that there hasn’t, culturally, especially there hasn’t been a more positive outlook on it all, you know, and I would want to see a candidate that has a greater passion for that, or at least has an idea or concept that could lead to something. But instead, it’s all it all seems very distant and all very quiet

Yolo Clo: This upcoming election has us sitting at the edge of our seats because we don’t know what’s going to happen on November 3rd. It can either go haywire or we can do a victory dance, but it will definitely be a historic election especially since we are in the middle of a pandemic.

The Pew Research Center revealed that 22% of Latino Zoomers are most likely to vote in this election. It also makes them the biggest minority group of voters. This is a big deal for us Latinos. Now, we need to execute our power and cast our vote in the ballots.

Alexis Torres [1:12-1:19]: I feel like Gen Z, kids get a lot of like, crap, just because, I mean, we kind of are the star of like the generation.

Yolo Clo: We just heard from Alexis Torres, a 20 year old student at a local community college here in Los Angeles. She is very active on TikTok and looks up to social media influencers such as Kylie Jenner when it comes to fashion. She believes her generation is up to great things thanks to their strong efforts of wanting to be educated.

Alexis Torres [10:29 – 10:44]:  I just feel like that’s very important within this generation’s culture, especially just because a lot of our parents didn’t go to college and stuff. So I feel like I would just want to be the change that my family and my community would wish to see.

Yolo Clo: She also sees many things the American government can improve.

Alexis Torres [19:08 – 19:32]:  I think I just see them more when it comes to like systematic racism and stuff like that things that are going on in jails programs that are going on in jails that are underfunded, schools that are underfunded, communities that obviously, we live in a large area that’s not getting enough money as it should be. And we see the schools here struggling. So, I feel like these are things that should be implemented.

Yolo Clo: Alexis also wishes Dreamers would be given more opportunities here in America.

Alexis Torres [20:14 – 20:24]: A lot of the people I did grow up with and a lot of my friends are having to stress about DACA, DACA renewal, Dream programs and even paying and going to school. So, it makes me sad, and it’s something that I want to see changed for them and for everyone in my community because I live in a predominantly Hispanic community.

Yolo Clo:  According to the Pew Research Center, 32 million Latinos will be able to vote in this election. Latinos truly have the power to change this country through the power of voting. If we want this country to make a change, as Latinos, we need to be vocal about the revisions the United States needs to make. Alexis and Chris are two of millions of Latinos trying to change our story here in the United States in hopes of it leading to a better quality of life for us.

Victoria Callado and Vanessa Garcia are Cuban-Americans who together founded Abre Camino Collective. It is a collective comprised of visual, theatre, literary, and performing artists redefining the American narrative through radical storytelling. For Callado, she believes that it is up to us to tell our story.

Victoria Callado [24:50 – 25:38]: We dictate a lot I think. I think that we’re in charge of what our story is going to be and so I think it’s important for the people that are ahead to make space and make room for new voices to come in. And, and for Latinx voices to be very clear about the difference of trying to fit in to the way things are versus making your own path. And that literally might mean doing things your own way, and not following the norm or like this, like the structure of how it’s done. Finding what that new path to sharing true honest stories, what that might be.

Yolo Clo: For Garcia, people would advise her not to get political in her works of art, but she knows that politics dominate people’s everyday life.

Vanessa Garcia [15:41 – 16:02]: Oh, you know, be careful not to get political, if you want to actually tell any story, I don’t understand how that’s possible. To be Cuban is to be political, to step inside a place like Miami, or come from a place like Miami is to be political. We’re not here if there is no politics, we don’t literally exist, or stand here. Um, and so like I do feel that everything that we’re working on, it has a political aspect to it.

Yolo Clo: Alexis, Chris, Victoria and Vanessa have used their voices to manifest the changes they wish to see in the United States. Through their narratives, I hope you are able to relate to their stories and it encourages you to vote in this upcoming election. You are not alone and there are many that share similar political and social views as you. Thank you for listening to part one of Gen Z: Let’s Get Real. In part two of the conversation, we’ll have special guest speakers discuss the importance of voting and how a first-generation Latina got to work alongside Zoomers’ favorite presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in his 2020 campaign. Until next time and always remember: use your voice and vote!

Why I Vote: The Importance of Voting & Other Inspiring Stories (Episode 2)

Gabriel Toro [4:41 – 5:05]: I vote because I would like to see the US under leadership again. We’ve been without a leader for 4 years, and in terms of our country’s development and international relationships. We’ve actually I’ve been taking steps back. And I would like to see the US under responsible leadership again

Yolo Clo: That was Gabriel Toro, a 23-year-old, second generation Colombian-American. He is very politically active in his community in Boston, Massachusetts.  He has volunteered in politician Ed Markey’s campaign and has been active in multiple social protests in his neighborhood. He is a great example of how Generation Z is getting involved in their community’s local politics.

Hi y’all! Welcome to Gen Z: Let’s Get Real the podcast that gets real with Generation Z. I’m your host Yolo Clo. Election Day is fastly creeping up on us. We’re days away from determining America’s future for the next four years. On October 5th, states such as Arizona, Florida and Texas had their last day for American citizens to register to vote. In states such as California, Nevada and Colorado, citizens have same day voter registration, also known as SDR. This means that people are able to register to vote on Election Day. How amazing is that? It would be way cooler if more states would be like California where they would allow their citizens to SDR.

There are organizations such as Rock the Vote, Voto Latino and Field Team 6 that help people register to vote and also educate them why our right to vote is so important. I recently had the privilege of talking to Sarah Jackle, the national outreach director for Field Team 6. She wants to tell you why you should vote.

Sarah Jackle [8:38 – 9:12]: It’s not just about one election. As Stacey Abrams has said, really beautifully. Voting is not sufficient, but it is necessary. But it’s about you know, building an infrastructure of progressive voices up and down the ballot. Because Sheriff matters, district attorney matters, city council matters. Mayors that appoint police chief these all matter. And making sure that progressive voices are a part of the conversation is going to be pivotal. And I think creating the country that I believe we can have.

Yolo Clo: If you’re interested in volunteering with Field Team 6, please visit their website FieldTeam6.org.  This November 3rd, make your voice be heard! If you are eligible to vote, there shouldn’t be any excuses as to why you can’ go out to vote. Ana Paz, is a Latina Zoomer and a teacher in the Bronx, New York. She remembers her first time voting in 2016 and the accommodations her university made to get their students to the polling offices to cast their vote.

Ana Paz [9:11 – 9:30]: The experience during was fun because I went with my friends and they got to vote. And it’s exciting. And like, I’ve always been at least a little bit politically aware. So, it’s like, finally I get to actually make my mark quote and quote even though like the electoral college thing is a different thing that I could go on a rant on.

Yolo Clo: The following day when she found who had won the presidency of the United States, she was disappointed with the outcome.

Ana Paz [9:53 – 10:04]: It wasn’t exciting, and I was like actually devastated and I cried. I just like stayed in and it was like, it was more impactful than I thought it would be.

Yolo Clo: Paz wasn’t the only one who cried the morning after Trump won. I remember crying on my way to work not knowing what my future as a Latina woman would be like. Now the option is down to Donald Trump and Joe Biden, two candidates that aren’t too popular amongst Generation Z. Senator Bernie Sanders was dearly beloved by Latino Zoomers due to his progressive ideas such as getting rid of student loans and global warming. His efforts were well respected within the young Latino community.

Joseline Garcia is a 26-year-old Mexican-Guatemalan American who is an associate with Solidarity Strategies, the largest Latinx-owned and operated political consulting firm in the country. While attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, she became involved with the United States Students Association also known as USSA. Through this organization, Joseline met Senator Bernie Sanders, who would eventually become her boss.

Joseline Garcia [4:57 – 5:20]: I was a student in 2015, I was introduced to Senator Bernie Sanders, who was a champion for education and for students and young people. And he was a longtime partner of USSA. Basically, it was USSA and Bernie that really put the idea of free college on the roadmap.

Yolo Clo: In 2016, Sanders ran as a Democratic candidate for the presidency. According to Garcia, Sanders said he would put free college in his presidential platform if 1 million students marched for it across the country. She and other students from her university participated in this challenge. When she became president of USSA, she began working more closely with Sanders and his staff on the College for All act.

Joseline Garcia [9:16 – 9:25]: I considered Senator Bernie Sanders as a champion, as a partner, as someone who genuinely wanted to support young people and students.

Yolo Clo: For Sanders’ second presidential campaign, Garcia was considered for the role

as the California and New York Student Organizing Manager. She never imagined herself working for a politician.

Joseline Garcia [10:25- 10:36]: And so I thought, you know, what, if there’s anyone that I’m going to do this for, there’s any platform that I’m going to pour my heart into, it’s going to be that of Senator Bernie Sanders.

Yolo Clo: Joseline was in charge of creating an unprecedented student movement, which included the goals, metrics and the timeline for Sanders’ campaign.

Joseline Garcia [12:03 – 12:18]: The whole vision for this was that students really are in the best position to campaign other students and their peers. They’re in a better position than I am as a staff member, and better position than even Bernie himself.

Yolo Clo: Joseline got to work with students of different backgrounds but took notice as to why most young Latinos were supporting Sanders.

Joseline Garcia [17:45 – 18:18]: I would say that Bernie had the best policy around immigration, and also surrounding how to navigate ICE, a lot of the different movements, an organization surrounding undocumented students and immigrant rights, and specifically, amongst young people, that was a big tipping point, in terms of leaning support for Bernie was when he released his immigration plan.

Yolo Clo:  Joseline also realized something interesting about young Latinos’ vote.

Joseline Garcia [18:32-19:01]: They’re thinking about free college, but their vote, especially if they’re the only voter in their family, and they have loved ones who are undocumented. They’re voting on behalf of their entire family, you know, so they’re thinking about healthcare and specifically with the pandemic, but even before that, health care has been a major issue amongst Latino voters.

Yolo Clo: Joseline says the climate crisis was also a huge concern for Generation Z, which Sanders has been very outspoken about. He was a supporter of the Green New Deal, a plan designed to help reduce carbon footprint. Unfortunately for Sanders and his supporters, he dropped out of the campaign on April 13, 2020. Although Bernie Sanders might not be running for president anymore, it doesn’t mean that we should not go out and vote. He has publicly endorsed Joe Biden because at this point anyone is better than our current President.

On November 3rd, it is Election Day and your vote matters. If you are not registered to vote, check to see if your state allows same day voter registration.  If you are a minor or can’t vote due to your immigration status, volunteer with local organizations that are creating a better change in the community such as Field Team 6. Thank you for listening to Generation Z: Let’s Get Real. I hope these stories have reached your heart and have allowed you to see the power you have in this election. Go vote and be wise. The future is in your hands.

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