Greater Participation of Latinos in Public Policy Urged

July 2009
Español >

Hispanics are the largest minority population in Connecticut but greater participation in statewide public policy issues would improve the quality of life for not only Latinos but for all residents, according to a University of Connecticut professor.

“Hispanic civic and political engagement in Connecticut right now is local,” said Charles Venator-Santiago, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and The Institute for Puerto Rican and Latino Studies Institute at UConn, speaking at a recent forum in Hartford.

Charles Venator-Santiago, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and The Institute for Puerto Rican and Latino Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut, speaks with Marta Morales, account executive for Univision, at the June 24 meeting of the Latino Endowment Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Venator-Santiago was one of the speakers along with Orlando Rodriguez, seated in center, manager of the Connecticut State Data Center at the University of Connecticut.

“Our findings suggest that half of the Hispanic population in Connecticut indicate no or low levels of political engagement,” said Venator-Santiago, citing findings from the Connecticut Sample of the Latino National Survey-New England , a recent survey conducted by the Center for Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University.  The survey was analyzed by a working group at UConn.

“Latinos need to engage in coalition building by targeting such issues as education, healthcare, jobs and homeownership,” said Venator-Santiago.  “They need to explore ways that both foster and connect these issues to statewide socio-economic concerns that extend beyond the Hispanic community.” 

Venator-Santiago spoke at the spring meeting of the Latino Endowment Fund of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The meeting, held June 24 at The Lyceum Resource and Conference Center in Hartford, explored the theme “Latinos in Connecticut: The Strength of Our Voices.”
 
Another speaker, Orlando Rodriguez, manager of the Connecticut State Data Center at the University of Connecticut, also produced statistics showing the growth in the Hispanic population and the low involvement in voting.

In 2000, Hispanics were just over 9 percent of the state’s population; by next year, 2010, they will be almost 13 percent (452,000) and by 2030, the projection is that they will be more than 20 percent (752,000).

Yet despite the growing numbers, in 2006, only 25 percent of eligible Hispanic voters participated in the statewide election, a lower rate than the national average of 31 percent.

Rodriguez encouraged Hispanics to participate in the 2010 Census. He cited statistics from the 2000 Census that showed the lowest return rates for the census questionnaire were in urban areas such as Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and Waterbury, which have a high concentration of Hispanic residents. 

Population is the key determinate for the distribution of federal funds, Rodriguez said. “It’s very simple. If you do not participate, then the population in Hispanic communities will likely be undercounted.  These census population counts are used in federal and state formulas for the funding of schools, health care and numerous other programs. If your communities are undercounted, it will result in less funding from both federal and state sources.”

The issue of increasing Hispanic/Latino involvement in civic affairs will be further explored in the fall in another meeting, said Luis Cabán, chair of the Latino Endowment Fund.

Established in 2003, the Latino Endowment Fund was founded by Latino leaders in Greater Hartford to increase philanthropy within the Latino community and to strengthen nonprofits working to improve the quality of life of Latino residents. More than 100 members have contributed over $147,000 to the fund. Members examine current issues affecting the Latino community and participate in recommending grants from the fund to address these issues.  For more information about the Latino Endowment Fund, call Betty Ann Grady at 860-548-1888 or visit www.hfpg.org/latino.

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for the 29-town Greater Hartford region, dedicated to improving the quality of life for area residents.  The Foundation receives gifts from thousands of generous individuals and families, and last year, awarded grants of more than $27 million to a broad range of area nonprofit organizations.  For more information about the Foundation, visit www.hfpg.org.