Read our spring quarterly newsletter for the latest updates from the Latino Policy Forum.

When I think about what it takes to inspire someone to be civically engaged, I keep coming back to something I heard at a panel last month.

School administrators and young people were discussing what makes students want to show up to school. While resources and programming mattered a great deal, they kept returning to something more fundamental: respect. A simple act, like a principal knowing a student’s name, can shape whether a young person feels they belong and motivated. I have been thinking about that ever since because civic engagement is no different. People engage when they feel seen, when they feel valued, when they know their voice matters.

I experienced that firsthand when I was 18 and my abuelito took me to vote for the first time. He made sure I understood the importance of making my voice heard. That moment stayed with me, and it continues to shape how I think about civic engagement today. If we want young people to vote, to speak up, and to lead, we must create spaces where they feel respected and heard. We cannot ask people to believe in a process that does not believe in them.

In February, we published the most expansive Springfield Agenda we have ever released. In response to the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to the social safety net and support for programs that help families access food assistance, health care, housing, and education; we did not scale back. This year’s agenda includes two new sections, one focused on civic representation, and the second on revenue proposals to sustain funding for the programs that Latino families rely on. But our Springfield Agenda is only as powerful as the people behind it. And young people need to be part of it. Our work with Allies United has made that clear. It is our responsibility to meet them with that same level of respect and intention. Young people are ready to engage, and we must encourage them to participate and lead.

Each of us has a role to play in shaping an equitable future for Latinos in Illinois. You can contact your representatives through our Action Center, join our Associate Board, learn about the new HB 1312 requirements for early childhood centers, come to Latino Unity Day, or support our work.

We have more power than we think. At the Latino Policy Forum, we are committed to building a future where every person feels seen, valued, and empowered to engage. Thank you for being a part of it.