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<\/p>\nThis Hispanic Heritage Month, a grassroots organization in one of Houston\u2019s oldest Mexican-American communities is working to make sure its neighbors have a stronger voice at the polls.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Now, organizers say the neighborhood is getting an early voting location \u2014 a development they hope will make it easier for residents to cast a ballot.<\/p>\n
Denver Harbor Cares said they\u2019ve knocked on 5,000 doors. The group plans to visit 2,000 more residents before the November election to encourage them to vote.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we vote, people will listen, elected officials will listen,\u201d co-founder and longtime resident Carolyn Lopez said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had to fight all of these years. Cathy, we\u2019ve been fighting and trying to get resources, information.\u201d<\/p>\n
From low turnout to greater participation<\/p>\n
For Lopez and co-founder Rene Porras, the effort is personal.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI absorbed the culture, and I realized how valuable it was and what my parents taught me,\u201d Porras said. \u201cSo I decided I was going to help my community all I could.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the biggest challenges, he said, has been convincing more residents to participate in elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we started this, the voting participation was absolutely horrendous. Five percent turnout \u2014 come on,\u201d Porras said.<\/p>\n
Porras said the organization has since seen a significant increase in participation, with turnout reaching into the 40% range during the last presidential election.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve made a huge impact,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Organizers say voting can bring attention to community needs<\/p>\n
For Denver Harbor Cares, the effort extends beyond elections. Lopez said the community has long faced challenges accessing information and other resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not only a voting desert, we\u2019re an information, resource desert, we\u2019re a reading desert, we\u2019re a food desert,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cLittle by little, that\u2019s one of our purposes \u2014 to address some of those needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Porras believes higher voter participation can also help Denver Harbor get more attention from elected officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re 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?\u201d Porras said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For Porras, it is also about preserving and investing in a Mexican-American community he has called home for nearly six decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we start voting, they\u2019re going to listen to us and I got a very good feeling about this election coming up. We\u2019re going to overwhelming them at the polls,\u201d said Porras.<\/p>\n
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