Florida is residence to the third largest inhabitants of Hispanics, Latinos. In a latest survey of Florida Latino voters by UnidosUS 2024, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris(47%) leads Republican Donald Trump (42%).
“I see a sample between Bush and Trump,” Gonzalez stated. “It’s not truthful what they have been doing years in the past and now. I perceive there’s loads of crime with immigrants, however they’re blaming all of it on Latins. They’re all being lumped collectively. Similar to now we have good Individuals and unhealthy Individuals, it’s the identical with Latins. I’m bilingual, so I see either side, however you may’t blame Latin immigrants for every little thing.”
As of 2021, greater than 4 million immigrants lived in Florida, about 21 p.c of the state’s complete inhabitants, which is larger than the nationwide common.
The youthful generations might not keep in mind the 2000 election controversy, however historical past books will certainly always remember it. Florida performed a essential position in deciding the presidential end result between Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore that 12 months. Bush gained by a mere 537 votes in Florida following an intensive vote recount that ended with a controversial landmark ruling by the Supreme Courtroom.
Gonzalez stated this 12 months’s election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is simply as necessary as that historic 2000 election. Florida has 3.5 million Latino-eligible voters, per the Pew Research Center, the third largest inhabitants of Hispanics, Latinos within the nation. In a latest survey of Florida Latino voters by UnidosUS 2024, Harris leads Trump, 47 p.c to 42 p.c.
“If I don’t vote, I don’t have a voice. That’s what’s driving me to vote. It’s necessary to have a voice for the folks that don’t have a vote,” Gonzalez stated.
A worldwide perspective in training
If you happen to spend a day with Gonzalez, you’ll shortly observe how she leads and guides a mini United Nations.
As assistant director of the preschool and after-school program for First United Methodist Church in downtown Fort Lauderdale, she is surrounded by infants, toddlers, and children from all around the globe. The preschool has college students from Ukraine, Italy, Mexico, Lebanon, France, Haiti and extra. It’s a melting pot of cultures.
Practically 20 p.c of Fort Lauderdale’s inhabitants is Hispanic, reports Data USA.
Gonzalez, who was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Florida in 1990, sees the significance of range every day. She is aware of each motion at this time will result in a response sooner or later. “We see kids now in highschool or faculty come again to us and say thanks,” she stated. “That they had their first stage of studying right here, and now they’re in faculty. This [school] crops the seed.”
So, what’s the key to elevating profitable kids who advance in training? Gonzalez believes all of it comes all the way down to studying to your kids now. “Whenever you learn a e book, a easy e book or easy pages, they will create and use their creativeness,” she stated. “Even when they solely see footage or three phrases. It crops the seeds for them to study. Studying at residence helps with their cause and comprehension. I at all times suggest it.”
US Information & World Report not too long ago ranked Florida No. 1 in education. The rating was pushed by metrics in larger training and by the state’s prekindergarten by way of Twelfth-grade efficiency. Preschool training in Florida ranked Twelfth on the nationwide scale.
Gonzalez partially credit the state’s larger rankings to the state’s free Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, also called VPK. This system, began in 2005, offers 4-year-olds entry to early training no matter household revenue.
She stated the state’s free early training program is a mannequin for others to undertake. She believes this funding in early training will reap advantages over the long run, as Florida already sees.
“VPK has been a very good factor as a result of it’s giving 4-year-olds the muse that they didn’t get earlier than,” she stated. “Earlier than VPK, these youngsters have been simply at residence. It was simply babysitting. However now, we’re instructing these youngsters. It’s instructional. It’s free for 3 hours, and these kids are interacting with different kids. It’s useful for everybody.”
And it seems she’s not alone in that pondering. Training can be among the top 10 issues for Latinos, per a nationwide survey performed by UNIDOS US.
Cowl Photograph: Maira Gonzalez works with college students within the preschool and after-school program related to First United Methodist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Credit score: Mark Macias)
Mark Macias, a former journalist with NBC and CBS, owns the general public relations company Macias PR. He lives in South Florida along with his spouse and two kids, ages 4 and 1.
Writer’s Notes: Why toddlers are motivating an early school educator to vote was first revealed in The Fulcrum and republished with permission.
A part of LNN’s mission is to amplify the work of others in offering larger visibility and voice to Hispanic, Latino communities.