Powerful Latinas Unite: Examining Latina Action Day

For the past 29 years, HOPE’s Latina Action Day has united hundreds of leaders and college students from across California to discuss critical policy initiatives that support the Latina/x/e community. This year’s Latina Action Day was significant as experts discussed how to strengthen the Latina leadership pipeline in the state, how we can reimagine California’s educational system to better support students, and the current state of mental health for Latina and Black women in California. HOPE also presented its Annual #LatinaSmart Policy Agenda, a set of key legislative priorities focused on advancing representation, educational equity, and access to healthcare. In this article, we will examine Latina Action Day, learn the mechanics of advocacy, and learn about the critical issues discussed during this one-day conference held on April 25, 2023.

Latina Policy Institute: Advancing the #LatinaSmart Policy Agenda

The 29th Annual Latina Action Day was a powerful gathering of over 470 Latina leaders and college students from California. The event kicked off with the Latina Policy Institute, an interactive session geared toward learning the mechanics of advocacy and discussing HOPE’s #LatinaSmart policy agenda that advances equity and opportunities for the Latina/x/e community.

Legislative staff joined HOPE to discuss their 2023 priority bills, including SB702 (Limon) Gubernatorial Boards and Commissions and AB368 (Holden) College and Career Access Pathways Partnerships. Additional policy priorities centered around education, civic engagement, mental health access, and more. Later in the day, participants had the opportunity to use their political voice and advocate for these important issues during legislative visits with elected officials and staff.

To learn more about HOPE’s priority bills and how you can take action in support, click here.

Latina/x/es in California are a demographic force, representing the largest share of women at 39%, yet they are often underrepresented and underinvested. The #LatinaSmart Policy Agenda strives to bridge this gap by using data-driven research and evidence-based policy proposals to empower Latinas to make meaningful changes within their communities.

Leading with HOPE: Supporting Latina Leaders for a Better California

San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas, Department of General Services Director Ana M. Lasso, and USC Equity Research Institute Data Analyst Cynthia Moreno led the conversation about the impact of Latina leadership in California, moderated by UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute Sonja Diaz. They discussed HOPE’s report conducted in partnership with USC ERI on the positive impact of Latina leadership on the state of California, as well as strategies to continue strengthening the Latina leadership pipeline.

Vargas, Lasso, and Moreno went on to explain the diverse roles Latinas play in creating a more equitable society, despite the lack of philanthropic investment in their initiatives. Their discussion highlighted the importance of Latina leadership in California and the need for greater investment in their efforts to move the state forward.

Educational Leaders Reimagining California’s Educational System

The program continued with a conversation with some of the state’s most prominent educational leaders on how to reimagine California’s educational system to better serve Black and Latina/x/e students, multilingual learners, and students experiencing poverty.

The panel of experts, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, California State Board of Education President Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, and Maria Anguiano, Executive Vice President of the Learning Enterprise for Arizona State University, moderated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Max Espinoza also shared their insights on how technology can ensure that all aspects of the learning process — from access points such as libraries or digital devices, online course support services, or even internet access — are available for any student who needs them.

Experts explored ways to increase access to high school to college and career pathways and make transferring from community college to four-year institutions more effective. There was particular emphasis on strategies that establish a level of trust between institutions and their communities for the implementation of these initiatives to succeed. It was an inspiring reminder about the importance of investing resources into creating opportunities for people living at the intersection of multiple identities by ensuring they have equal access to quality education regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.

Critical Strategies for Increasing Mental Health Access

While California's Black and Latina/x/e women face numerous challenges when accessing mental health care, some strategies can be implemented to increase access for these communities. During our “Equity In Mental Health for Black Women and Latinas” Panel, guest speakers, Shakari Byerly, Partner and Lead researcher at EVITARUS, LaNiece Jones, CEO of BWOPA-TILE, and Susanna Osorno-Crandall, Community Health Manager for Kaiser Permanente talked to HOPE CEO Helen Torres about improving mental health care resources for historically marginalized populations. This included strategies uncovered by HOPE and BWOPA-TILE’s recent study on the issue, including increasing the number of mental healthcare professionals who identify as Black and Latina, creating culturally relevant programs, removing language barriers, providing financial assistance for mental health services, and offering easy navigation through the healthcare system. Additionally, greater emphasis should be placed on reducing the stigma around seeking help for mental health issues to create an environment where people feel safe enough to reach out and ask for help.

Additionally, we must address systemic racism within our society and institutions so all individuals can feel safe, respected, and valued regardless of race or ethnicity. By taking action on all these fronts, we can begin to make progress towards reducing disparities in mental health access across California’s diverse population — including Black women and Latina/x/e’s — and create a more equitable future where all individuals have equal opportunity to thrive mentally and emotionally not matter their backgrounds or circumstances.

The Wrap-Up: Leaving Action Day with Purpose

The goal of Latina Action Day is to build a more equitable state for all through collective action from empowered Latina/x/es ready to take charge of their future. Investing time and resources into Latinas today will lead us toward a better tomorrow where everyone can thrive together.