Eva Longoria, Latino Victory Project Co-Founder, Discusses #TheFirsts Campaign [Video]
The Eva Longoria-spearheaded non-partisan organization Latino Victory Project has launched the powerful and thoughtful âª#TheFirsts Campaign, which seeks to honor and celebrate the achievements of Latino pioneers.
âªCo-Founder of Latino Victory Project Longoria was featured in the new promotional video for #TheFirsts. The actress not only spoke about celebrating milestones, she also invited the U.S. Latino community to tell their own "firsts" stories. The Latino Victory Project's website presented the video, which promoted everyday victories in the Latino community and building political power.
"As a Mexican American, I'm inspired everyday by the many Latinos and Latinas I see who dare to dream big and to dare to be the first in their family to accomplish something new," Longoria said in the video. "Some are the first to graduate from college, the first to open a business, or the first in their family to vote on Election Day ... that's why we're launching the first campaign to celebrate these everyday victories in our community."
Longoria proceeded to say that her campaign is primed to encourage more firsts across the country, and the group is striving to welcome a Hispanic president within the near future. "We're working very hard very to lay the groundwork to achieve one the most important first in our lifetime, electing the first Latino or Latina to the Whitehouse," said Longoria in the video. "But we can't make change unless we make our voices heard."
Henry R. Munoz III, Latino Victory Project co-founder and Democratic National Committee finance chairman, also shared that he comes from a family of firsts. His father was the first labor leader in Texas history to organize migrant farm workers to secure a livable minimum wage. The success of his father pushed him to become the first non-white to serve as a finance chairman of a major political party and he was the first minority member of the Texas Transportation Commission, according to a release published by the Latino Victory Project.
In a statement, Cristóbal Alex, the group's president, said in this election cycle there's been an indescribable amount of negativity about U.S. Latino community and "a litany of hostile policies." The campaign is designed to celebrate contributions, and remind young people about the important of individual stories.
"I am inspired every day by our community as we constantly dare to dream big. I'm talking about those who become the first in their family to achieve milestones -- whether they're the first to graduate from college, own a home, or vote on Election Day," said Longoria in a statement. "The Firsts Campaign is about celebrating everyday victories in our community that are integral to the future of the nation."
The Firsts Campaign endeavors to empower Latinos, uplift voices and push politicians to address issues that are important to the Latino community.