September 17, 2015
Data released today by the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO) show that Colorado Latinos are more civically engaged in their communities than national levels of Latino civic engagement across the United States. The data examine trends in political participation, volunteering, and neighborhood trust among Latinos in Colorado. CLLARO worked in partnership with the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), a congressionally chartered organization dedicated to strengthening civic life in America, to compile the data. Earlier this month, NCoC released the Latinos Civic Health Index, an examination of Latino civic engagement nationally across demographics including age, race, national origin, income, and immigration status. While civic health among Latinos in Colorado is lower than non-Latinos in the state, the data show that on several key indicators, Colorado is helping lead the way nationally among Latino civic engagement. Colorado would serve as an important case study as efforts are made to better understand what it would take for Latinos to become full participants in our nation’s civic life. An infographic summarizes the data. Download this to the right. In comparison to national levels of participation, key findings include: -In the 2012 Presidential election, 52% of eligible Latinos in Colorado turned out to vote, versus 48% of Latinos nationally. -20% of Latinos in Colorado regularly volunteer, versus 16% nationally. -8% of Latinos in Colorado use the Internet to express public opinion frequently, versus 6% nationally. -3% of Latinos in Colorado participate in service or civic associations, versus 2% nationally. “Colorado Latinos, and the U.S. Latino population as a whole, have enormous potential,” said Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of NCoC. “For civic and political leaders who seek to engage Latinos, this data provides essential information.” Civic health is a community’s capacity to work together to resolve collective problems. On a community level, strong civic health positively affects local GDP, economic resilience, upward income mobility, public health, and student achievement. On an individual level, civic health is shown to improve people’s overall health – physical, emotional, social, and mental. The data was obtained primarily from the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey on Voting, Volunteering and Civic Engagement. The full NCoC Latinos Civic Health Index Report is available in both English and Spanish. Colorado is one of only two states to use NCoC’s data to better understand what it would take for Latinos to become full participants in our state’s civic life. The data and the infographic are being released tonight at the 23rd Annual Bernie Valdez Awards (BVA) Dinner by CLLARO, Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, The Civic Canopy, NCoC, and a number of organizations working in partnership with the Colorado Civic Health Network.