Political landscape like never before, although we began organizing in cities like New York and Chicago for decades today, we are in a position to transform the social cultural and political landscape of the country as our numbers grow in cities like Orlando, Miami and Tampa since 1970 - seven prominent institutions and individuals have contributed to the strengthening of Orlando's Puerto Rican diaspora, Florida's shared 29 percent of total inflow from Puerto Rico to the United States between 2005 and 2016 far exceeded The migration to Florida has increased and Florida's in trend to House more Puerto ricans than traditional hubs like New York by 2016, the total number of Puerto Ricans in Florida had risen to one million 67747 an increase of 23 percent since 2010 this before the massive exodus that occurred after the hurricane Maria ripped through the island in 2017 the aftermath of this storm prompted the longest blackout in US. Layton disparity and federal disaster relief aid and the highest death toll after disaster in modern US history. Puerto Ricans are American citizens and as such can register to vote in any and all elections once they are state side. this political power is now being leveraged by Alisa for progress. Aliya for progress works hard to engage the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities in Florida to be major actors in the decision making process propelling Hispanics in the political office, the strategies that you. Banking texting and Facebook among other media and creating a robust informed and enthusiastic team of canvassers to reach out to our neighbors at their doors and at event. We cannot change Florida without a strong Progressive Latino Latinos cannot be that Progressive force without a strong and organized Puerto Rican community. The diaspora is our job. Together we are stronger one force United for progress for dignity for Puerto Rico and for Latinos here in Florida Julio. together we are stronger. for Puerto of people and Latinos here in Florida. together we. muy padre. Palante boricua. Ay Hello everyone and welcome to today's webinar. My name is Bernice Cabral and I am a regional director with Alisa Today we will be talking about dismantling anti-blackness in the Latino community, but before we dive into this essential discussion I would like to introduce our panelists today we have attorney Desiree Sanchez Attorney Desiree Sanchez was raised in New York City Long Island and Orlando she received. Undergrad degree from Hunter College City University of New York afterwards missus Sanchez worked as an educator in the New York City Public school system for several years. She also was the director of academic success at Florida a m University College of law and served as the legal counsel for the 50 third District of New York State Assembly in Brooklyn, New York in 2008, Missus Sanchez established Sanchez Law Group in. Currently she practices in both the state of Florida and New York Next we have Mister David Ayala Mister David Ayala was born in Brooklyn, New York. He received an associates of Arts degree in business administration from Valencia College and a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Central Florida in nonprofit management and Business administration. Mister Ayala currently continuing on his education to receive a master's degree from the University of Central Florida in nonprofit management. Mister Ayala has worked with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition as the Orlando, Florida Chapter President, who's also a community organizer with Latino Justice where he focused on campaigns around the criminal Justice system. Now, he is a criminal Justice chair of the NAACP for the Orange County, Florida Branch. Next we have attorney Ingrid Mfa Attorney Ingram Mora received both her A S and S degrees and legal assistance studies from the New York City College of Technology City University of New. After moving from New York city this is more comments doctor studies at very university where she became a doctor of just students she also had the opportunity to study international law and E I cambridge University in Cambridge English in two thousand and fourteen fifteen and masters degree in administration misses recently completed Harvard University organisation leadership in action program which has In the area of organizing for change and lastly, we have Doctor Marta Moreno Vega doctor Marta Moreno, Vega established the Caribbean Culture Center African Diaspora Institute in 1976 she was inspired by a vision to create an international organizations to promote and link communities of African descent. Doctor Moreno Vega is co-founder of the Global Afro Latino and Caribbean in initiative a former program. Hunter College, Latin American and Caribbean studies program. She is a chief editor of Woman's Warriors of the Afro Latina diaspora and author of the altar of my Soul. She is the director and co-producer of the documentary when the Spirit Stas Mambo growing up in New York Bacon in Elba, it has written a personal memoir by the same thing that I Vga is also a code editor of voices from the Battle for achieving cultural equity. These are just some of the many amazing achievement. Doctor Moreno Light so good evening everyone and thank you all for taking your time out today to have this important discussion with us with that being said, let us get started so the first question is the term Afro Latino is a new concept for a lot of people. so what does it mean to be Afro Latino and how do you know if you are one who would like to start? I can go ahead I think it's particularly. Interesting that it's so difficult sometimes for Latinos to recognize they have African descent and in the area of immigration, I come across that question all the time well, we'll ask for your White black this or that and it's so difficult for them to say I'm black and I'm Dominic. I'm Dominicans and we're 40 percent genetically black, you know and african-american and people don't feel comfortable seeing it, but we are and I think it's a matter of just understanding where we come from and accepting it and enjoying it. And I think that it's about self identification I've seen individuals way darker than me I refuse to say black and I just I don't get it. So so I mean if we go, we regard to Afro Latino, I I have always prior to being educated myself and I would like to say thank you to Doctor Vga for for the education you have put out there or you have made black quals like myself be proud to to to live in their skin and proud to be walk up into a space and it has how high so I just want to hear that but Prior to me, educating myself, I've always considered myself black and it wasn't it wasn't because of the education because I because I I knew of of of my ancestors Being descendant in Africa, but because I felt most safe in black specs and growing up growing up, you know we we we We should just get it right here to this growing up I experienced racism more in my. Latino communities than I did in my community. and and and it hurt because I felt at home at least in a White communities I was I I I had my guards so I knew it was coming so I knew how to protect myself to but to experience it in my own community that that that really hurt and that means we need really drift off into like spaces and and accept my. Well on this. One that erases us and US community and the Caribbean Community Latin-American community so throughout our experience in our education we are invisible and within our own communities and He hit the point right on the head. You know we forget that the people who are identified themselves as right. and since enslavement happen in Santo Domingo, it happened in Puerto Rico happen throughout Latin America right the same construct White supremacy exists within the Latino community as it does in the english-speaking in french-speaking communities. so we don't talk about it in the way that this young man has just talked about it, but it is so. So that we have eternal racism right within our own communities as well as people generally don't understand how the the force this moment of enslaved Africans so they're more Africans and Brazil than there are in the United States right they're more in in the Caribbean, The more of us in the Caribbean that there are in the United States, but because of the lack of education. and the invisibility of our experience, people continue. Sort of discover rights that we exist. So, I'm sorry, I'm going go ahead. Desiree No-I had more than enough response there. So guys are counter po uhm one are you experiences with uhm discrimination actual athena like your first ano experience So I I was part of that as you all know I am. I can go either way. so. however, I'm married to a black man which means that I have black children right so. my growing up, I have a sister who grew up my my My mom's side is black twitterer again my. Puerto Rican I grew up with. everybody wanting us to lighten the race. our race. We don't obviously be this panic is not a race, but it's all about lining up our ethnicity when I started dating a black man, it was a big deal. even though he's light skinned it was a big deal because. so my experience has been that getting the family to understand that we are we are also ah so my experience ah my sister who is has more of the dress care ah started dating with white put a weekend and his parents had a fit because she loved to black to them You know we we are more we are we are more prejudice than more of the other cultures and it's really disappointing. I would say I mean I've I've I will experience it when you know just going to just going to the local you know and and I being on me and and and hearing them me-I that I'll you know thought you know and and not knowing that that I understood exactly what they were saying and you know and now that was hurtful and then and then when when when would like to say you know. Speak to them like Hey, you know why are you watching me? You know they'll be like. Oh I. got it and and that that would hurt so I have to I would I have to identify as to you that I'm Latino for you to actually you know, drop your guard down and that that that that really hurts and just the the the the the the subtle stuff you know when when you systemic racism, low low stuff where you know with you know. Your aunt, or you know, would say 00 look at his nose or look at his lips. We are. and and people that you know are growing up. You don't understand that you know that that psychological at that place of harm, you know because you you may think you're coming across this all this and this and that you're sending messages and that's something that we you know pass. Need to be aware of to protect your kids from in the Latino community. So those are just some of the micro aggressions that exist within the Latino community like you mentioned the praising your your essential features and the Paloma Malo and the you know, don't bring somebody of a darker skin complexion, but what other microaggressions exist within the Latino community. The suppressions a constant right, they're absolutely. because somehow we've been we've been internalized the notion that if you're dark, you're less intelligent. if you are dark right as. we have right you can't possibly be a lawyer or you can't possibly be a doctor. you can't possibly have achieved certain things. Special assistance right and one of the realities of this question is what continues this thinking right because you hear it in young people staying the same thing that I experienced, let's say, 50 or 60 years ago growing up so that there is a system that continues are ignorant. and we accept it because we shouldn't. This conversation in 2020 we shouldn't be having and the fact that we're having it means that we persist and insist I'm maintaining internal racism and discriminatory practices. so that the question should be what do we do to stop that what do we do within our own community to confront the fact that light-skinned people have privilege? that the darkest. Part of the population does not right and we should begin to frame a conversation that doesn't that doesn't continue the same old questions right. What do we do as attorneys just people in the NAACP and so on you know the answer to construct this practice. to in fact, say and call out right our own racism and begin to insist upon practice. That lift. Our young people that are dark skin right, we should not be going through this conversation and that we're doing it means that it's intentional and we have to live up to that. it's intentional within our communities We intentionally continue. to sort of separate and and privilege. lighter skin So how do we challenge it? How do we construct Equitable or recognizing system because it's very hurtful right because it's within our own families. when you own mother or your own father is saying no cassa. Blanca What does that mean right that has to be called right? When a person can say, you know no shade, you know like I can pass. I can I pass and so on and so forth that is problematic that is problematic because we should all right be at equal footing. So how do we develop that and we develop it by speaking up and confronting it. I just have that conversation with the marketing person. What is the language? What is the practices that we must employ to change that because our children? Shouldn't be going through that pain. So, just to give an example of my personal experience, it took me a long time to love the color of my skin I know my parents and my family when I was younger, they would you know, ask me questions. Oh Bernice. Are you black, which I would respond No-I. I'm Brown so you're already building a child's mentality to have that color aspect where you're already noticing like hey, I'm I'm a of a lighter complexion of of color and that's. That shows and start destroying with you know other cousins or family members who are darker skin complexion. You'll see the difference because you already know that you're a lighter skin color and I also had a challenging times where I wanted to be of a fair skin. I wanted to have blue eyes. I wanted to have blonde straight hair. I am in my cousins you know for having straight hair and I would relax my hair and those are the things that you know growing up as a child, those little minimal things are what builds into. And those are the things that you have to start like you just mentioned that we have to start changing the system from the House. We have to start educating our kids as soon as they're born to love the color of their skin. for me. It's that's it was a totally different experience in the home. with my family, we're so mixed my mom's like my dad's dark. my grandfather's White with Green eyes. My grandmother looks Native American, so we're so mixed that we don'. Be in the House color was not something that was even important. I love it when they call negative. That's my aunt gave me when I was little and she's like skin. I've always seen it as something great. when I go a few months without being in the Sun, I feel like I'm going pay and I need to be in the Sun because it's something that I've I've always loved. I've never. experienced feeling bad about my color not in the home and outside of the home. And my only not my only one of my most memorable experiences of being addressed you know Rey manner was here in Florida first time. I went from New York born and raised with the we're so mixed up there. It's kinda hard to really feel completely out, especially living in Washington Heights but here I went to Rent-a location and the lady said. Oh, we have other Spacex renting here. Did I hear right? it was an older lady. She was like 80 or something I let it go cuz you can't change that person's mind and I didn't rent there of course. but in the home, I think it's where it starts with my kids, I would never let them address someone or describe someone with their color. Her hair is not important and my son is at an amazing youngest that he. talks about color, he says. Oh, so cuz we're all colors in my House right So he's asking I'm like well. You're black, You know, it's like, tell them you're black. You know that I don't want them to ever feel like they're not because they are and they've they love it as well. So I didn't experience the negativity with being of color ever growing up not from my environment, Not My Home, Not my friends So it's it's not jaw dropping because I know its but I think it's because of what you learn in the home. He's In a bad way, as if we should be ashamed, you know that's the problem that's the problem and that's what needs to be fixed and if we fix it in the home of our kids when they grow up they'll make sure it doesn't happen around them. You know I I totally agree. I mean I lift that up as well, It definitely starts in the home encouraging your kids, but also what you give them to read. you know. Books that you read whether you know. there's a lot of information out there on black Latinos and and I you know the education as far as I know where our ancestors descended from and you know just dumb just done reading on that and you know in collaboration with with you lifting up and and open up and accept themselves and how beautiful they are that goes a long way as they start to enter into the world. we. A lot of a lot of difference in this world cuz once we once we can dismantle the racism in our community once they go outside of our communities. that they're they're definitely. to Lti or to be able to communicate with other black people. That reflect our history in that they are dolls for children and then there and whatever toys to play with that look like that that has the. that has the color so that they don't normally see frozen right and a Princess. because we know children. are. On all the differences these tests have been done ever. and is still that a child will prefer a White child as opposed to a dark so that the question becomes how do we insist that we are reflected in everything. that our community look at and see. and until we do that right The image around us. against us. And I hope you'd be right. that we absorb languages and love this philosophy continues to attract their own children. attack their own children. So that's an attack that you're making a connection between your cousin has blonde hair you have. and you know. Oh my God. tawag mo operations in say where is the out face of rainbow like community tax That needs to see herself. And he needs to speak up in the imagery. so these are the kinds of things that we strategize to. in order to see the reflection of ourselves as we are. Yeah, I wanna I wanna add I believe that in this time that we're in right now with what we're seeing you know across this nation and and the whole the entire you know, Black Lives Matter movement. I I think I think it's it is is it's it's it's important for us to lift up the fact that. if if if you don't if you're not getting involved because you feel as if where where. We're not we're not down cuz that's what I've heard. I I I definitely first, I wanna I wanna lift up this quote that from Doctor Martin Luther King that says, you know whatever whatever affects someone directly. affects you indirectly. That's number one and number two. I would advice you to I need you out there. I would advise you to really rega on Cha in minutes. I mean young lords and their relationship with Fred Hampton from the Black, you know. Black Panthers and the Rainbow Coalition was created and you will see that we have always fought this fight together, you know you can go back, you know centuries. we have always been playing together and I think it's it's important to lift that up in this time. but I have had what I've done in Florida versus New York and it sounds like many of you have lived in New York. If not all of you I don't know what. I'm sorry can you hear me? Yeah okay so it sounds like everybody's from new-york here what I have found here is that. people like to separate themselves from the black community here in New York we would mesh together and fight together we would protest together and we did not see it as us versus them. We were. And so I found like more of the Latin American communities are here like to separate the Venezuela the Colombians we need to unite as a group. first and foremost and then forget you know Unite people like based on color of your skin, We should be uniting because we all share the same. I'm not gonna say vision, but we have we have the same goals in mind, which is equality. The same access to resources building our communities having great schools, all of that and everybody should be here-I'm finding that there's just too much of it. It's them versus us and it's really everybody's separated and we need to unite as a community as the Hispanic community we need to unite to help build where we're we're working together with people from the Black Lives matter. I was talking about that was when I spoke to her the last time I never saw a vision within the Hispanic community. So I moved here and there was some meeting of the Puerto Rican Organization and I was told you can't go because you're Dominican. I'm like what the heck I was baffled but I think it's all about you know what we have learned outside of Florida, we need to bring it here and educate the people here about how things should work so we can work better. Well, I think we have to be intelligent and and determine who we're working with and who we're working. who has similar thoughts right and in terms of what you're outlining some of the people that you're probably talking about in their country were racist. Yeah, right. they may be in Florida now because they have to be the countries in exile so just because you. Latino doesn't mean that you have the same framework and the same thinking about equity and anti philosophies. so I think what we and someone Latino we all you know. hold hands and I happily no, there's some people that have been very directive in their living in the United States and benefiting from being light skinned and having your education outside right and coming into the you're getting. So that you know we need to analyze who we're talking about and I never use Hispanic. That's the first thing because it means belonging to Spain. So you know we need to use language it doesn't colonizes we need to use language that places us in our creation of power and we need to look at who we organized with. We don't organize with everybody. if you're you know anti black, Why would I organize with you because you're you're Latino right? You come from a place that you were a pressure to bio community why would I organised with you so that you know we have to have a war I think intelligent compensation and more complex conversation so that we can begin to you know deconstruct that we represent us and construct that which help us our community lift I agree with you, but I think that many people try to find differences versus. how what we share in common and at the end of the day our President just sees us as the Latino community. they don't see us as the Venezuela the Colombians Puerto Ricans of Dominicans and so on and so forth. So yeah, I mean, you're absolutely correct you come from a country that. you may have been racist there but. What I'm learning is the difference between New York and Florida for the most part, which is saying that there's too many ways to find division. There's too much of division versus finding commonality because at the end of the day they see us as his like his band so Latino community. they don't see us as our different respective ethnicities. so if that's how they see us, let's work together to find because we all have the same. Common goals, which is ensuring that our rights are not violated and we get you know we've got we grow with this with this nation with everybody else and my sister and you know, Ayana know what you say, but I have to say that if person is supporting Trump if there's a Latino support, Trump there's no conversation. I agree umma you. What I'm saying So if you're in Florida, you're you're dancing right who subst support Trump with his craziness right and I refused to organize everybody like that or find common ground with anybody like that. That's me right and the reason I built the Caribbean that I was the second director of Right-I was born new-york my parents from Puerto Rico was because their experience here in Puerto when I'm now in Puerto Rico was a very derogatory experience because. It was black. and my grandmother was black. You know, I'm like so. that history we carry right my children carrying and I insisted that they carry it because they have to understand the legacy of enslavement and systemic racism and that goes to history because within you know the Spanish for the first to approve the sleeping. So that to honor that history one has to really question that history and then you have to understand how enslaved happen throughout our country and the lateness of enslavement being let go so that most of our great grandparents most of our great great grandmother's were probably enslaved and that's not long ago. Going to understanding our history and the context of the development of our countries and whose privilege and who's night and whose privilege in their countries and that comes to you and bumps a lot of the people that are working here because most of the people in New York and another areas are African descend has to be looked at in a very critical manner and flowers you know they you know I do office and how many for him to you know ah just stay focus on the issues in just necessarily ah put a candidate because you know like like a like a set you know if someone is someone is is is going for You know we we definitely don't have any conversations because I was issues do not align and with that, said I do I do I wanna add that you know in August, we have we have a primary election here in Central Florida. That's very important because this primary election can project where our community go, you know in the future and I want to acknowledge the fact that just because. you know, let's not look at. So why just skimming along and continuing on the conversation? why do you think there is so much silence in both Puerto Rico but also in the greater Latino community when it comes to racism anybody would would like to start. Alright I. I I would say so it's so easy. It's so easy to stay silence to racism when you know we stay silent and so many other things you know to to to our cousin be in prison, you know to to to to to to assist to be being molested by uncle. You know it's it's we stay silent about stuff like that so it's so easy to stay about racism but I think it's I think it's it's on us and I when I say us, I mean me as a black Latino to call it out you know to to to to to to educate people to pull people aside when you know when they say something that that's not, you know that's offensive and then also in my home with my my kids. I think there's an awakening new generation of young people that are growing out of parents that are and I'm glad you mentioned Chala Jimenez they grow out of that movement of the sixties seventies right and it going into the eighties The Black Arts movement the new Eureka movement right so that the children right our children now. are very conscious and very vocal and very present so. Recently, Puerto Rico this streets of. a painted black Lives matter. you know that is that is a major step for our young people to have taken and there have been. demonstrations in terms of the people who have been killed talk that is very important so the the young people here are taking on a responsibility that the parents probably. Didn't take they're being very visible New-york. You're seeing the same thing. if you're in an energizing and standing up and a confrontation of injustice which is spectacular that has gone global. So then I think that this moment what we each have to determine is from where we are how do we contribute to what is happening because what is happening can change the reality for us and it. Only for people but everybody because it just isn't injustice and people Appalachia are treated unjustly need those are treated unjustly so that what we're fighting for is broader than just the black experience, but for injustice and inequity. And our children are doing it because the people out in the Street reflect the rainbow. And I would add to that young people showed their involve and we could just based on the Trump rally that happened recently. that is the most amazing thing I've ever seen young people do and it's really it's sad. It's very. it. It brings me. It brings me hope for a better future. You know they they make me feel proud and I didn't wanna just I mean I'm not you know. I'm in no way defending you know even though there are there are many Hispanic community. It's really it's it's really unfortunate because we do. they are there are so many different experiences out there that we're that you almost gotta take issue by issue you know immigration. You know everybody would almost everybody. and the Latino community supports immigration, you know because we are experiencing that are we know people who experience that so everybody generally supports that issue, but I think if we take issue by issue. within the Latino community, we'll find more. common ground and unification then divisiveness. It's a divide and conquer mentality. I think it's important that we at least a goal to do one thing every day and I am all for education every time clients come in here I I I handle immigration matters so they come in here and they're like oh, but Trump is making the economy better. I'm like okay. so every time you complain about something happening to you with your immigration status. Well look at what he's doing just this week. There were like 20 changes in immigration regulations and if you can't vote, go ahead and. Who can and have things change in November? and everyone that comes in here and tell them the same thing and if they don't like what I have to say it's fine do not hire me but that's how I get through the people hitting them where it hurts So they get it. You can't be you can't support someone because of one issue you can't be you have to see everything that they have to offer and he has to offer nothing for the immigrant community or even minorities just in general. So I think every time you. You know this is what's wrong even if it if it goes on deaf ears, just say you say it enough, you'll start believing in you and they'll start seeing it eventually. And you know, even even when we when we talk about those issues like immigration I've noticed like when when when someone talks about immigration, the first thing that that that pops up to their head is all Latinos and you know that's not always the case. you know you have you have you have you have you know and immigration faces you know people from from all over not just you know from from you know Latinos. But then again when you talk about criminal Justice reform. or you think about is blacks not be painful, but they allow us to do that, especially here in Florida because in the prison system here in Florida, Latinos don't even exist on their radar. You're black, White or other. And and and you can't even identify yourself when you go through the system, they identified you can't go and if I was working with my family, the other day on a job application and it's basically like you're either Hispanic or you're black White, Hispanic like they won't allow you to choose have for Latino. You know they. My children are black, White and Latino. I don't it's it's very difficult like what did they choose? It's that's and that's how they continue to separate us. Well, I think that you know the day has become us in terms of definition in terms of action. but the reality. we. conversation. I mean who's who's wife. Does she not an immigrant? and if you go historically, he's an immigrant as well, You know the only people that can claim originality. because I know That'll considered owning land Mother Earth the possibility like the European mentality does and the people right. so that anyone coming through whatever means see the flight ship or swimming or both right. Just following what has been the development of this country and we just have to develop a narrative being confronted existing narrative that closes doors for people We have to take ownership of that language and say this is the history of this country and this is what built this country. And we know that. so we can't fall into a language of you know of. wanting to exclude as many of us do now that we're in this country but we have to keep an open door policy because that's what built this country. And I think that here again we have to start using a narrative that's empowering right that who built the railroads. right who built most of the buildings that are now monuments. and justly so young people are tearing down those monuments that fought against even the development of what is the United States right so that history has to be lifted by us. when. Speak as attorneys when we speak as professors when we speak as cultural workers, however, our position or wherever our position is has to be an informed one that challenges the narrative, the false narrative that is being put forward. How do we continue to create a space and start having conversations with our younger children and family members about self love with being Afro Latino and just you know learning how teaching them how to accept the color of their skin. We started with education So what are some Afro Latinos that made waves and paved the way for others in the community so that we can start educating our kids and continue to push that education so that they know where where they come from. When it starts at home when someone said it before you love because you love you love because it's your baby and you have to buy. toys and things it's celebrate that child and the history that is given in school if it excludes their experience and their parents experience and their grandparents experience, the school has to be challenged. I mean that's. We have done historically and that's why we build institutions. There's an answer. Why there's a there's a Caribbean Cultural Center of why because the group of us decided that we should create our spaces so our children could see themselves. as they are beautiful and powerful and intelligent and brilliant. And if we don't say that from the dead, then we're working from a deficit mentality and a deficit model. You're good, not compared any other. you're just good because you're good, You're good because you exist. you're good because you're powerful. and you have every right to be here like anybody else. and unless we assume that we'll keep asking questions so how then do you help a child right because we haven't decided that we have the power to help that child and frame a reality that empowers that child, I know. Blacks from game because I mean. and everything was looking like us in my House and that was before Black was beautiful and so on and so forth so that it can be done. it can be done. We just choosing not to do it. look like pomo. No, you don't need to be good to my bromo. You need to be like you and our children need to be back Uss. Yeah, I definitely I just I echo everything you said. and you know I just had to you know there. There's there's children books out there like even if I told Schaumburg you know, it's not just the stuff he has. He has a children book out there that you can you can get for your children and get them to read it and it's definitely definitely empowering. So one that one I have done there's make sure to do business with people of color and and introduce my children to the life that lifestyle and I also do mentorship where I put young people with a person of color. so I put a young person or a young person of color with a professional of color and I have. Mentors and so that they can understand they can go ahead and be you know educated by that person and see that all the opportunities that exist for person of color that you don't have to. you know the news you don't have to be swayed by what the new shows, but you're sprayed by what you see in front of you so. Think to your question about what we do for young people to educate them and so that they were better than so I believe we have ah one question so this question is from so he is played it how do you see this moment in just three years we have gone from the first leg president in the United States under attack black sunder attack women and JBT Q Plus rights are under attack and we are now in the miss a very unstable social moment with called by nineteen whether we go from here and how do you battle dispare from with in Voter education That's it We change this in November with the elections and we can't wait till November. we have to start now If we haven't already started once they understand and everyone can see what the results are what the consequences are of not voting or voting the wrong way and I think now is the best time to maximize on that and have everyone vote how they should and go out to vote not be afraid to vote Hispanics and And Americans have a low turnout and I think that we need to get everyone out there even if it means going to pick up your cousin's House because he doesn't want to get up like my mother has done for years with my relatives, she'll go and pick one up. Let's go vote together. I think we need to do it starting from the home, not just in and just take it from there. Well, the only thing is that when you start encouraging people because of the pandemic to start voting by mail, I know that some people are very specific when it comes to voting by mail and they don't really trust the system. So what are some things that you can inform them on so that they're able to trust the system and see that it's very easy and that you get your ballot up to 45 days before the election, so you can make it concise decision on who you're gonna choose to elect in your community. Now here again, you know it depends on how you look at situations. I think we're in a very powerful moment We're in a very powerful moment, and it is sad that George Floyd had to sacrifice his life, but there's a global movement that there has never been for black lives matter and in that process, it's questioning a system of police brutality and we see how embedded it is that we have seen young people at the George Floyd killed right. Just choke hold that is supposed to be legal yet all of the policemen know it so that I think that we're in a very powerful moment that movement of young people has gone global. I think we also have to be critical in terms of the you know. Of course I go. but also remember that the popular vote was won by Hillary and the. When elsewhere, so that as we're voting, we also have to focus on changing the system. that we're against us. because right now, the President is trying to stop voting by. he's trying to defend the whole store. so there are certain things that we have to use in our narrative in our vocabulary and how we speak about this moment to maximize it. We need to vote, but we also need to check out the electoral College. that brought in this mad man when Hillary won the popular. Right now, we know if we see it on television daily, how they're trying to stop all people from voting. Alright so that in this conversation we have to be also critical when we talk to other people. we also have to inform them in ways that are going out of what is going on so that we cannot only vote but also begin to change the system that works against us. Yeah, I definitely agree I mean I I I think it's just you know keep your foot on the you know, keeping your foot on the pedal and and and communicating that this is more than just a moment. It's this is a movement and and and and where where it's not gonna change right now, you know the only way it's gonna change is if we continue to keep our foot on the pedal and keep moving forward educating ourselves voting. And voting strategically. Okay, so I would like to thank you so much to everyone on our panel and everyone in the audience that tuned in. like David just mentioned and like we've been talking throughout this Facebook live is that we need to continue to have these important discussions, not only with just our family, but with our friends and within ourselves the more that we educate ourselves and we educate our communities that we educate our people, the more power we have to create a major difference and we're already on track to create that major difference. so we just need to. To to you know elevate ourselves with the knowledge that has been given to us through the history books that has been written not specifically the White washed history books from public schools, but what we can find in libraries where we can find online doctor Marta Moreno Vega has a few books of her own and we need to just elevate ourselves. Thank you everyone so much again for watching. Thank you. Thank you.