This Hispanic Heritage Month, a grassroots organization in one of Houston’s oldest Mexican-American communities is working to make sure its neighbors have a stronger voice at the polls.
Denver Harbor has historically struggled with low voter participation, but Denver Harbor Cares has spent years working to change that through voter education and community outreach.
Now, organizers say the neighborhood is getting an early voting location — a development they hope will make it easier for residents to cast a ballot.
Denver Harbor Cares said they’ve knocked on 5,000 doors. The group plans to visit 2,000 more residents before the November election to encourage them to vote.
“If we vote, people will listen, elected officials will listen,” co-founder and longtime resident Carolyn Lopez said. “We’ve had to fight all of these years. Cathy, we’ve been fighting and trying to get resources, information.”
From low turnout to greater participation
For Lopez and co-founder Rene Porras, the effort is personal.
Porras has lived in Denver Harbor since 1967 and owns Porras Prontito. He said his connection to the neighborhood and its culture inspired him to give back.
“I absorbed the culture, and I realized how valuable it was and what my parents taught me,” Porras said. “So I decided I was going to help my community all I could.”
One of the biggest challenges, he said, has been convincing more residents to participate in elections.
“When we started this, the voting participation was absolutely horrendous. Five percent turnout — come on,” Porras said.
Porras said the organization has since seen a significant increase in participation, with turnout reaching into the 40% range during the last presidential election.
“We’ve made a huge impact,” he said.
Organizers say voting can bring attention to community needs
For Denver Harbor Cares, the effort extends beyond elections. Lopez said the community has long faced challenges accessing information and other resources.
“We’re not only a voting desert, we’re an information, resource desert, we’re a reading desert, we’re a food desert,” Lopez said. “Little by little, that’s one of our purposes — to address some of those needs.”
Porras believes higher voter participation can also help Denver Harbor get more attention from elected officials.
“If you’re a politician looking at the Heights, Montrose and Denver Harbor and you see the Heights voting at 70%, Montrose at 60% and Denver Harbor at 18%, where are you gonna spend your time?” Porras said.
Denver Harbor Cares says its work will continue beyond the November election, with organizers focused on connecting residents with information and resources while encouraging greater civic participation.
For Porras, it is also about preserving and investing in a Mexican-American community he has called home for nearly six decades.
“If we start voting, they’re going to listen to us and I got a very good feeling about this election coming up. We’re going to overwhelming them at the polls,” said Porras.
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