State Latina Group Takes Its Message to Congress

Latina women from California are bringing a Sacramento institution to Capitol Hill this week as they converge on Congress, hoping to turn old stereotypes around and expand their own networking.

For the better part of a decade, the businesswomen and community activists of HOPE--Hispanas Organized for Political Equality--made Latina Action Day an annual date with the California Legislature. The nonpartisan group saw its efforts mature into political clout last year as a founder, Maria Contreras-Sweet, became the first Latina to head the state’s Department of Business, Transportation and Housing.

Now HOPE is trying to go national.

“There are two visions of Latinas: We have the housekeeper and then we have Jennifer Lopez/Gloria Estefan,” said Mary Jean Duran, a HOPE leader and Disneyland executive. “We need to round that out, and the best way is for others to see a group of women who are actively engaged in the American process.”

HOPE members say they have come to Washington to talk not about immigration and bilingual education, but about low-cost loans for small businesses, health insurance for the working poor and the need for English-speakers to learn Spanish or another foreign language for the United States to better compete in the world economy.

More Than 100 Participants

It’s not so much about lobbying as it is about education and dialogue.

More than 100 women have made the trip for three days of activities, starting today, including a White House briefing by Clinton administration officials, a breakfast with House Republicans, policy sessions with the Hispanic congressional caucus and meetings with individual lawmakers.

Addressing the curiosity in the political world about the potential of the Latino vote in the 2000 election, the women are pointing out that Latinas are more likely to vote than Latino men. Latino voters accounted for 5% of the turnout in the last presidential election and helped swing races in such key states as Texas, California, Florida and New York. Among Latino registered voters, 47% of women cast ballots, compared with 42% of men.

“Women are now the largest group that is becoming active in their voting power,” said Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Montebello), who worked with HOPE before her election to the House last year. “This is about beginning to work with the system, assisting women to understand how powerful they can be if they are knowledgeable and motivated.”

HOPE explored the possibilities in Washington last year, when 50 women visited the capital. About 120 have signed up for this year’s activities and the group is making plans to launch chapters in Texas, New York and Florida.

Angela Acosta, an urban planner working on community economic development with the William C. Velasquez Institute in Lincoln Heights, said a better grasp of what resources and information are available at the federal level will help her advise local elected officials in California.

“In California, a large number of Latinos have gone out to vote and become savvy in the political arena,” Acosta said. “But many Latino elected officials don’t have sufficient information within the economic development arena to make effective decisions for their constituents. Latinos are working really hard, but they are not earning anything, and many are living below poverty.”

Her contacts through HOPE in California have already helped her raise money for local projects, find speakers for economic development seminars and locate sources of data on Latinos.

At first, HOPE’s visits to Sacramento were a political curiosity. But now, more than 500 women show up. “The legislators ask us if they can come to address our women,” said HOPE President Susan Sifuentes-Trigueros, a San Gabriel Valley resident who is a public affairs manager for Southern California Gas Co. “It made sense to take it to a federal level.”

Added Duran: “We are extremely lucky to live in a day when Latin is in.”