Voto Latino and Global Grind Launch "United We Win" Campaign

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Voto Latino and Global Grind launched United We Win, a campaign to mobilize diverse communities to register to vote to create meaningful change. With the support of community leaders like Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO of PolicyLink, United We Win seeks to create long-term dialogue between the Latino and African-American communities, who are disproportionately profiled and share a core of common issues but rarely speak together with a unified voice to advocate for change.

Our communities are reeling from yet another example of racial profiling. Voto Latino and Global Grind have joined forces in response to the increasing number of wrongful shootings of young men of color, including the death of Michael Brown, who was killed by police. Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri, where in the last municipal election, only 6 percent of the voting population was African-American, despite blacks comprising 67 percent of Ferguson's total population. This incident highlights the importance of voting in local elections to select leaders who represent the community's voice. The midterm election this November presents an opportunity for our communities to ensure their voices no longer remain silent. Renewed and consistent participation will bring the change we desperately need.

Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO of PolicyLink said, "For people of color one lesson from Ferguson is this:  if you don't vote, you don't count.  To get the respect and opportunity we deserve, we must be full participants. We must register, vote, and act to ensure this tragic moment does not happen again."

United We Win is an outlet for those who are driven to create institutional change. This initiative allows all Americans to take meaningful action by registering to vote via the newly-launched UnitedWeWin.us.

"The elected officials in Ferguson--those who make decisions that affect the everyday lives of its citizens--are not in tune with the needs of those they represent," said Michael Skolnik, President and Editor-in-Chief of Global Grind. "When young people are faced with the problems we've seen in Ferguson, the long-term solutions lie in organizing our communities to hire and fire the right people to represent us."

Maria Teresa Kumar, President and CEO, Voto Latino, said, "At a time when tensions are already high, our voices and our votes will be our weapons for change. The wrongful deaths of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Alex Nieto, Andy Lopez, and countless others are unacceptable, and we should feel angry. But rather than letting our anger dominate us, let us dominate our anger. Let it fuel us and drive us to make our voices heard in this, and every, election."

To learn more about United We Win, visit www.UnitedWeWin.us.

About Voto Latino
Voto Latino is a national civic engagement organization that celebrates 10 years in 2014 of galvanizing Latino Millennials and their family members and friends into the political process to effect positive change. United by the belief that Latino issues are American issues and American issues are Latino issues, Voto Latino has influenced millions of Latino Millennials through its digital and traditional media campaigns, through the tireless work of its artist coalition, and the organization's leadership initiatives. To learn more about Voto Latino, visit www.VotoLatino.org. Also engage Voto Latino on Facebook at www.FB.com/VotoLatino, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VotoLatino, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/VotoLatino.

About Global Grind
GlobalGrind.com is Hip-Pop, the "hip" side of popular culture. GG chronicle celebrities (blogs/exclusives), lifestyle content, entertainment news, style, music and news with an authoritative voice.  GG serves it up to an active multi-racial audience (18-34 years of age, 52%F/48%M) to consume and interact with the content, and compelling digital experiences. This evolved segment drives and influences trends in culture, music and style. The site was founded by hip-hop impresario, Russell Simmons and currently has over 6.5m unique visitors a month.

SOURCE Voto Latino