“Politics are a part of our being; we ought to understand our national institution.”
– Mohatma Gandhi
Even though the United States takes great pride in introducing the first complete, written national constitution to the world, it is a well-known fact that most Americans understand little about how our country is governed and do not actively participate in our democratic processes. For example, while the 2004 elections saw a record voter turn-out rate of approximately 60 percent, this figure still places us well below other countries; western European nations, by contrast, typically command voter turn-out rates above the 80th percentile. And, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the United States ranked 114th among a historic survey of 140 voting nations spanning a 50-year period.
The Self Reliance Foundation makes a continual effort to integrate civic awareness and education into our ongoing programming:
Bienvenidos a America
In 2004, we launched a weekly radio talk-show, Bienvenidos a America (Welcome to America), which discusses current immigration issues and gives the audience opportunities to call-in and discuss their personal situation with an immigration attorney. Today, Bienvenidos is produced by our partnering organization, Hispanic Communications Network (HCN)
Preceding the 2004 national election, SRF launched its Justicia Ambiental (Environmental Justice) campaign. This collaborative effort, conducted together with environmental advocacy and voting rights organizations, informed Hispanic voters about environmental issues and encouraged them to vote.
Epicentro Politico
In addition, SRF is working with Hispanic Communications Network to fund and develop specific content for a new, one-hour political talk-show, Epicentro Politico (Political Epicenter) intended to raise awareness and encourage debate about issues ranging from immigration to
healthcare access and environmental activism.
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