If We Want to Win: A Latine Vision for a New American Democracy

by Diana Campoamor (Editor)

Overview

An urgent, provocative collection of essays from Latinx thought leaders heralding a more inclusive vision of America’s future

Latinx people make up the second-largest ethnic and racial group in America, with a population of over sixty million. They have been integral to shaping the country’s economy, culture, and politics, and their influence and power continue to grow at all levels of civic life. Yet their diversity remains misunderstood, their contributions ignored, their concerns overlooked.

If We Want to Win brings together twenty leading figures involved in issues that affect the Latinx community, to lay out a vision for the future of American democracy, drawing on their experience and expertise in areas ranging from the arts, juvenile justice, women’s rights, and education, to environmental justice, racism, human rights, immigration, technology, and philanthropy.

Each contributor tells his or her own story alongside stories of the resilience and hope they have encountered over the course of their careers, debunking the stereotyping and scapegoating that continue to plague the Latinx community and seeking a more accurate portrayal of themselves and their communities. While questioning what it means to be Latinx and what it means to be American in the twenty-first century, this inspiring, visionary collection offers a blueprint for moving the United States toward a more inclusive and just democracy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620976807
Publisher:	New Press, The
Publication date:	11/02/2021
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	1,095,976
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Diana Campoamor is the founder of Nuestra America Fund (NAF), an initiative focused on documenting Latino leadership and best practices in philanthropy. Prior to NAF, she served as president of Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) for nearly twenty-seven years. She lives in San Francisco.

Table of Contents

Preface Diana Campoamor vii

Foreword Robert K. Ross, MD xvii

Part I Engagement in Our Civic Life 1

1 Politics: Latine Paths to Political Leadership Hon. Nellie M. Gorbea 3

Profile Ramón Murguía 21

2 Advocacy: How 2020 Altered the Electoral System Markos Moulitsas Zúniga 29

3 Community Organizing: Powering Civic Engagement Matt Nelson 40

Profile Herman Gallegos 54

4 Identity: A Family of Diverse Communities Hector Mujica 62

Part II Women's Issues Are Our Future 83

5 Domestic Violence: Against Abuse in Latin America and in the United States Anjanette Delgado 85

6 Gender Rights: Bodily Autonomy and Democracy Carmen Barroso Daniel Parnetti 99

Part III Latine Perspectives 113

7 Health: The Way Beatriz Solis Saw It Robert K. Ross, MD 115

8 Education: Access to College Degrees Mónica Lozano 125

Profile Douglas X. Patiño 142

9 Criminal Justice: Youth System Transformation Julio Marcial 150

10 Environment: A Diversity Lens on Transit Policy Mary Skelton Roberts 169

11 Arts and Culture: Our Voices and Images Matter Olga Garay-English 187

Profile Manuel Arango 204

Part IV Democracy in Our Homelands 211

12 Central America: A Model of Diaspora Activism Alexandra Aquino-Fike Reavey Fike 213

Profile Luz Vega-Marquis 232

13 Puerto Rico: Racial Equity and the Island's Future Nelson I. Colón 240

Part V Latines Are Givers 259

Profile Antonia Hernández 261

14 Envisioning New Philanthropy: Is There a Latino Donor? Ana Gloria Rivas-Vázquez 269

15 Funding Sector: Democratizing Philanthropy for Social Change Ana Marie Argilagos 277

If We Want to Win Teaching Guide 293

Your Social Change Narrative Worksheet 297

Biographies 303

Acknowledgments 315

Notes 319

Index 331

Editorial Reviews

Praise for If We Want to Win:
“A potent vision of Latine successes, opportunities, and futures.”
—Library Journal

“At an inflection point in the United States’ demographic destiny, If We Want to Win offers a powerful vision. When we answer this call for more inclusive philanthropy, more investment in education, and greater civic participation, we can help Latine communities unleash their full potential and create a more just, more equal society.”
—Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation

“American democracy today is at serious risk from internal forces, and the Latino community and electorate are smack in the middle of the morass. More than ever, we need inspiration from the lessons of real-life victories over the challenges, and bold, candid analyses that challenge our thinking about the future course of our community and country. On these two points, If We Want to Win delivers.
—Arturo Vargas, chief executive officer of NALEO Educational Fund

“If We Want to Win brings together an impressive group of thoughtful and engaged activists whose experiences in the multiple Latine communities provide richly informed and compassionate portrayals. Collectively these essays lay out a plan for the successful political and social inclusion of the fastest growing sector of American society.”
—Maria de los Angeles Torres, author and distinguished professor, University of Illinois at Chicago

From the Publisher

08/27/2021

Campoamor (Latinx Rising) is the founder of the Nuestra América Fund, "an initiative focused on documenting Latino leadership and best practices in philanthropy"; this new edited volume shares that focus. It includes 20 essays written by Latine civic and nonprofit leaders, primarily executives of foundations with a history of awarding funds to Latine causes in the United States. Topics span the spectrum from community organizing and higher education to racial identity and democratic participation. Six of the essays profile Latine humanitarians—again, mostly foundation executives. Inspiring personal stories of overcoming barriers and navigating U.S. society reflect Campoamor's stated goal of "including the Latine presence in our shared American story." However, anecdotes of Latine public figures who climbed "from the barrio to the boardroom" do not entirely sustain the somewhat unfocused narrative and occasionally jarring tonal shifts, as when a survey of gender inequality in Latin America veers into praise of U.S. charitable investments. The book's target audience appears to be NGO employees and consultants and contributors to philanthropic and community organizations that tackle issues affecting Latine communities. VERDICT This edited volume offers a potent vision of Latine successes, opportunities, and futures, though the narrative never quite coheres as it should.—Michael Rodriguez, Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs

Library Journal