MILWAUKEE, WI – The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County will distribute bilingual U.S. Constitution booklets in the city’s Spanish-speaking communities through the League’s Comité por el voto latino/Latinx Voter Outreach (AKA El Comité). El Comité bilingual volunteers focus on nonpartisan bilingual voter outreach on Milwaukee’s South side. They will distribute 500 free copies of the U.S. Constitution this year in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary as a nation built on the premises of democracy.
“We made a decision to offer free copies of the U.S. Constitution in English and in Spanish to further the community’s understanding of the foundation of our country’s democracy,” said El Comité lead Eloisa Gómez. “In addition, we are creating different community engagement tools (word puzzles, spin wheel contests, etc.) to open dialog with residents of all ages.”
Of the multiple community events planned, one voter outreach event includes a presentation at the Mitchell St. Public Library on June 30th, with a nonpartisan bilingual presentation on the importance of Latino voters for the fall elections, engaging patrons with bilingual civics games and a book reading for children. Other voter outreach events to create awareness of the significance of this historic year are being planned at community gathering spots such as neighborhood meetings, libraries and community agencies.
“Milwaukee has the largest population of Latinos in the state (at 36%) and after English, it’s the most spoken language in Wisconsin,” continued Gómez. “This puts us in a position to show how Latino populations welcome the opportunity to learn more about the founding principles of our U.S. Constitution in their primary language.”