FUERZAS UNIDAS

FULL CAUCUS MEMBERSHIP MEETING

MONDAY, March 28, 6 PM

Attention all members! Join us on Monday, March 28, at 6 pm for our third membership meeting. To register for this meeting, please use this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErdOmrqTItE91ai2rSVg7zY5NtD5v7FjjJ 

Bring a friend! They can become a member here: 

https://forms.gle/anYTgArt7rdrxTCb9

Use our newly activated ActBlue link for dues or donations:  https://secure.actblue.com/donate/fuerzas-unidas-1

Fuerzas Unidas Meeting Agenda

March 28, 2022

(4^th Monday of each month)

5:55     Open Zoom Room

6:00 – Welcome! (Diane Torres-Velásquez)

6:05 – Treasurer’s Report: (Vicky Estrada-Bustillo)

6:10 – Updates

6:20 – Redistricting Issues

6:40 – Debrief

6:55 – Next Fuerzas Caucus meetings: April 25^th, May 23^rd 

Become a Member of Fuerzas Unidas

We are building a strong membership to organize and mobilize the Latino / Hispano vote; therefore, we enthusiastically encourage your membership, which can be completed at the following link:

https://forms.gle/anYTgArt7rdrxTCb9

Help us mobilize our strong communities by becoming active members of Fuerzas Unidas in your region!

Dr. Eric Griego on Investing in Our People

by Pia Gallegos

Eric Griego, Ph.D. is Director of Outreach and Advocacy for the City of Albuquerque and a former NM State Senator and Albuquerque City Council member. I talked to Eric about our new Fuerzas Unidas Caucus. I asked him whether based on his experience in public policy and being elected to office, he had any messages for New Mexican Hispanics/Latino/Chicano Democrats.

Eric said that Nuevo Mexicanos – generational and new immigrant populations – are united by the fundamental values of social justice and investing in people. We understand the importance of investing in families by supporting public schools, Medicaid, Headstart, and Pell Grants. We want children and families to have good nutrition, housing, education, and healthcare.

Eric said that we must not be afraid of holding our public officials accountable for promoting the wellbeing of our people and our planet. The idea of not criticizing members of “our team” (Democrats or progressives) holds back our progress. Eric said that in choosing the Hispanic/Latino leaders for the changes Democrats need in economic opportunity, voting rights, and social justice, we should view the representation of our community through both a descriptive and substantive lens. 

Descriptive representation is when elected officials reflect their community identity, e.g., Hispanic, Native American, Black, female, LBGTQ+. It is good that our leaders come from all cultures and sexes/genders so that we can see ourselves reflected in our leadership. But to truly help our communities, we need to strive for substantive representation.

Substantive representation is using an elected or appointed position to substantively improve the lives of those we represent. In other words, those persons assisted by the actions of the legislator or policymaker are the real represented constituents. The questions to ask of a Hispanic/Latino candidate or legislator is, “Do you fight for the values that help our community? Do you advocate for legislation or policies that invest in our people?”

For example, Hispanic legislators who have impeded early childhood education or NM voting rights may not be “substantively” representing us because our communities need these initiatives to thrive and civically engage. Current or former Hispanic/Latino elected officials who represent corporate interests or lobby against policies such as internet neutrality or predatory lending reform are not substantively representing the populations they claim to speak for. 



It is not enough to have Latino/Hispano legislators or other officials. We need champions on economic and social justice who will invest in the human infrastructure upon which our communities can build fulfilling lives. 

Fuerzas Unidas Caucus Participates in Its First State Democratic Party Convention

By Vicky Estrada-Bustillo



The Fuerzas Unidas Caucus, formally established in January of this year, was represented for the FIRST TIME at the Democratic Party State Convention in Roswell, NM. It was a wonderful opportunity for officers and regional representatives to meet each other and meet members from different parts of the state. Additionally, state delegates and candidates running in the pre-primary election got an opportunity to learn about the mission of the Fuerzas Unidas Caucus, meet caucus members, and sign-up to become members of the organization.

Information provided at the table included the Fuerzas Unidas By-Laws, both in English and Spanish, sample newsletter, an article from previous newsletter entitled “La Union Hace la Fuerza”, and a map of our different regions, both rural and metro. Members representing the organization at the Gala, and Fuerzas Unidas table at the Convention included Alfredo Dominguez (Interim Southeast Rural Regional Representative), Ben Salazar (Interim Central East Rural Representative, Marsella Duarte (Interim Metro Vice-Ward Chair), Pia Gallegos (Leadership Team member) and myself, Vicky Estrada-Bustillo (Interim Treasurer).

The turnout was fantastic and we are pleased to share that individuals from thirteen different counties joined the caucus with just under thirty members added to the membership, and dues were received from 9 new members.

To all our previous members, along with the newly added members, we look forward to working with you all to inform and engage Hispanics throughout the state. This is just the beginning. As Ennio García-Miera stated in his article, Fuerzas Unidas “Nos empodera para lograr nuestras metas de igualdad y fuerza política.”