VOTE and get involved in issues affecting your community. one way of taking action is by emailing, calling and writing to elected officials that make decisions that affect YOUR life.

The decisions made by these elected officials have a tremendous impact on you, your family and community. Know who represents you and contact them to tell them about issues that are important to you!

Here are some other ways you can raise your hand and make a difference...

Last month, the NAACP filed suit against the New York City Department of Education, demanding that the city address the shocking inequalities in public schools.

Speak up now for quality education for all New York City Students.

The largest rollback in voting rights in over a century is now underway. A wave of restrictive laws passed in 13 states will mean that next year as many as 5 million Americans could find voting difficult, and even impossible. With even more states considering such legislation, the voting rights of over 21 million Americans nationwide could come under attack. In 2011, 38 states proposed legislation designed to make it harder to vote at every step of the process. New laws restrict the forms of ID allowed to vote, reduce early voting, place restrictions on voter registration, and deny voting rights to Americans with criminal records who have paid their debt to society—measures that disproportionately impact African Americans, Latinos, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and young voters.

Sign this petition to Attorney General Eric Holder asking the Justice Department to enforce the Voting Rights Act and intervene to stop discriminatory voting laws.

We expect candidates for federal office to follow our campaign finance laws, but the FEC – the agency charged with enforcing those laws – is completely dysfunctional. To restore some faith into the democratic process, we urge you to nominate new commissioners to the FEC prior to the 2012 elections.

Nominate new commissioners to the FEC.

The Mexican American Studies program in the Tucson Unified School District is facing the real threat of being shut down.  The program successfully keeps otherwise-disengaged students motivated to learn and go on to college by using curriculum with which they culturally identify to teach critical thinking skills and empower the students to be strong leaders in their communities. Join the 11 teachers and administrators from the Mexican American Studies program and two of its students to defend the program. 

Sign the Save Ethnic Studies petition to show your support and we’ll keep you updated on the progress of the lawsuit against the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education.

The National Latina Advocacy Network is an association of regional Latina Advocacy Networks (LANs) developed in coordination with NLIRH to advance reproductive rights on a local and national level. The National LAN serves as a way to mobilize Latinas and involve them in national campaigns. Group membership is open to all activists, and we welcome and a diverse set of experiences.

Take action! Join a Latina Advocacy Network.

Our voting rights are under attack by the most aggressive effort our nation has seen in over a century.

Sign the Stand For Freedom Pledge today and protect the right to vote in your community.

Pending New York DREAM legislation will ensure equal access to higher education for all youth, regardless of immigration status. DREAM legislation would provide financial resources from both the public and the private sectors, as well as make available tax-free education accounts for undocumented students to help their families plan for college. Now is the time to ensure that New York is a more fair, just and prosperous state.

Sign the NY Dream Act Today!