7 Ways Latinas Can Make Their Voices Heard

The unexpected outcome of the 2016 presidential election may have felt discouraging for many voters, including Latinas who rallied together against Donald Trump's many shocking comments about immigration and women. If you felt a wave of apathy in the aftermath of the election, you are not alone. Now that the proverbial dust has settled, however, it's especially important to stay engaged and involved. Ahead, we've listed seven ways to do that.

Latinas Represent is the byproduct of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, and Latino Community Foundation of Colorado. The coalition works toward increasing Latinx representation in American politics. While Latinas Represent does give female leaders the tools they need to run for office or influence public policy, it also offers regular civilians a place to share the issues that affect them. To engage with other Latinas in your area, check out Latinas Represent's many chapters. If you're not represented on the map, then consider starting your own!

In November of 2016, a former congressional staff member went viral with her helpful guide to contacting representatives and actually making them listen to you. All of her advice is definitely worth a read on Twitter — however, she ultimately said the most effective method is to actually just make the calls. For more information on how to contact them, click here.

The Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) is a pro-choice, sex-positive movement that fights for reproductive rights and the overall physical and mental well-being of Latinas. If you're willing, you can share your own so-called "reproductive justice" story with COLOR. The organization will only use your first name.

Despite the unexpected outcome of the 2016 presidential election, Latinx voters still had a strong influence on many local and state-level races. For example, Mexican-American Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto won the Senate race in Nevada. While these victories from the 2016 election are great, the midterm elections on Nov. 6, 2018, will provide Latinx voters with another opportunity to make their voices heard.

Embracing Latina Leadership Alliances, or ELLAS, is a program that helps low-income high school students excel both in and outside of the classroom. For $950, you can sponsor a student and help them attend workshops relevant to their interests and pursuit of higher education. You can also get involved by becoming a volunteer or speaking at a workshop. While ELLAS is not an explicitly political organization, investing in the next generation is certainly a way to influence politics in the years to come. They are the future, after all.

Town hall meetings serve as effective (yet slightly less formal) spaces for residents in the area to air their grievances and propose solutions. While these types of meetings don't have a direct effect on the nation at large, they are still important and can improve your day-to-day life. To attend a meeting, find out who your senators and representatives are and monitor their websites or Twitter accounts for any announcements on upcoming meetings.

If you've ever considered a career in politics, check out She Should Run. Following the presidential election, the organization launched an incubator program that has since encouraged over 4,000 women to run for elected office. She Should Run helps women define their brands, stand up to sexism, and connect with other women in the program so that they can grow their respective networks.