Our Work | Nuestro Trabajo
A critical principle of our ancestors is that we ought to live and work considering our descendants seven generations into the future. The choices we make now will determine the kind of earth they inherit from us. We are thoughtfully and intentionally investing in capacity, skills and leadership building with our young communities in urban and rural North Carolina.
“The majority of Latinxs in North Carolina are US citizens (66%), either by birth or naturalization, and almost all Latinxs under 18 are citizens (94%), according to Census data.” By 2024, the biggest cohort of North Carolina born Latines will be of voting age. We are investing in our young Black and Brown communities as a way to build people power that will
generate a reflective and forward-thinking state where all individuals and their loved ones are able to thrive.
Poder NC is focused on building independent political power because no matter who is in office, the voices of our communities and those most on the margins need to be centered. Our members reflect our base, mostly Latine youth, between 14 and 45 years of age, from rural counties, and their allies. The intentional investment in our volunteers is critical in order for us to continue to develop a political muscle that becomes stronger each year.
WE ACTIVATE OUR PEOPLE POWER BY
BUILDING COMMUNITY
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Grow the Mamis Chingonas squad for Latina moms who grew up in the U.S.
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Deepen relationships with partner organizations who align in strategy & principles
INVESTING IN OUR GENTE THROUGH SKILLS/ CAPACITY/ KNOWLEDGE/ LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
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Provide foundational skills to our gente so that they may better serve our communities
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Establish a leadership pipeline for our young folks to become the chingonxs we know they can be
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Prioritize civic education to build confidence in their knowledge
EXPANDING THE ELECTORATE
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Register 10,000 voters
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Provide accessible voter education to our gente
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Engage Latinx voters who have not been civically involved
WHY WE DO IT
We care un chingo about our people and that's why when doing our work we will continually check in to ensure our approach is grounded in beliefs that represent our community. We will invest in the leadership skills and civic development of nuestra gente so our people have the tools they need so they can make their voices heard on issues they care about. Young Black and brown voters in nuestra comunidad already have what it takes to build a just NC—we just need to invest in them.
"The jaguar, to the Mayans, was a powerful symbol of ferocity, strength and valor. ... As a god of the Mayan underworld, the jaguar ruled the celestial forces of night and day. As such, it represents control, confidence and leadership. Mayan warriors wore jaguar skins into battle as a sign of honor and courage."