Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

The Adelante Con Ganas Campaign is a grassroots effort to promote voter participation in political elections. Unlike other "get out the vote" efforts, the Adelante Campaign works to truly engage community members in the political process, ensuring that voters are informed and involved. Block walks, phone calls, and scheduled events are planned to engage at least 33,000 new El Paso household in the election process. Volunteers work in teams and commit to contacting specific people before the election.

Senator Shapleigh said, "Around the world, people are literally dying to vote. Voting is the foundation of democracy." While most will agree that voting is the foundation of our democracy, voting participation statistics indicate that not everyone feels engaged in that foundation. El Paso's voter participation regularly hovers lower than five percent, meaning that about four percent of El Pasoans are defining the community's future.

Ruben Alarcon, one of the team leaders of the Campaign, said of the project, "It is a wonderful opportunity for our community to involved for our own betterment. Volunteers are taking ownership for the future of this community".

One of the unique aspects of the Adelante Campaign is that it strives to engage El Paso's younger generation, typically the least engaged in the political process. In fact, as Mr. Alarcon points out, "It is especially positive to see so many younger people involved. It is their future that this election affects".

Mr. Alarcon works with the National Hispanic Institute, a group of high achieving teens from all the high schools in El Paso. Another National Hispanic Institute leader and Adelante volunteer, Marisa Barrio, is also thrilled to see so many young people, even some not yet of voting age, so enthusiastic about having an avenue to become engaged in the political process.

On Monday, a training is scheduled for volunteers. "Team Captains" will be trained on the voter registration process and the will organize their block walk maps. The first block walk is scheduled for Saturday, January 21st. If you would like more information or would like to volunteer, call Summer Luciano at 915-227-5220 or via email at summerluciano@hotmail.com