Speakers address Latino issues, inspire youth at Voto Latino Power Summit

Thousands of young people from 13 states filled the halls and classrooms of Stanford University Saturday, October 17 for Voto Latino’s annual Power Summit. Celebrity and professional speakers including  actor Wilmer Valderrama,  journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa spoke to the crowd about the importance of becoming involved in the democratic process, and inspired them to stand up and make change.

The day kicked off with a welcome speech given by Maria Teresa Kumar, President and CEO of Voto Latino, as well as a plenary featuring Jose Acosta, UPS President of Public Affairs and Operations in Latin America; Michelle Herrera Mulligan, Editor-in-Chief of Cosmo for Latinas and Suhail Khan, Microsoft Director of External Affairs.

“There is no more important conversation right now than the one about race and justice,” said Kumar during her opening remarks, setting the tone for the event.

The event also included sessions from professionals in four different tracks – media, technology, advocacy and leadership, as well as two more plenaries featuring Valderrama, Villaraigosa and Vargas, among others.

Attendees came from as close as East Palo Alto and as far as Alaska to learn from and share with the various speakers and presenters.

Throughout the day, the Voto Latino organizers worked to share their message: educate, empower and engage. The goal of the event was to inspire the young people attending to achieve their dreams.

“Every single thing that you’re doing now is in preparation for your next big thing,” said Kumar.

During the event, presenters spoke about issues such as healthcare, public policy, and Latino visibility in Hollywood and mainstream media.

Overall, the event served as a platform for constructive conversation and change. Attendees left feeling empowered and invigorated, ready to continue the fight for equality and visibility of Latino Americans.

“We aren’t guests,” said Valderrama. “This is also our home. We deserve a seat at the table.