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{{short description|Latino voter participation organization}}
{{Infobox Non-profit
{{Infobox organization
| Non-profit_name = Southwest Voter Registration Education Project
| name = Southwest Voter Registration Education Project
| Non-profit_logo =
| Non-profit_type =
| logo =
| type =
| founded_date = 1974
| founded_date = 1974
| founder =
| founder = William C. Velasquez
| location = [[San Antonio, Texas]] <!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" -->
| location = [[San Antonio, Texas]] <!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" -->
| origins =
| origins =
| key_people = Antonio Gonzalez, President
| key_people = [[Willie Velasquez|William C. Velasquez Jr.]], Founder and President from 1974-1984, Andrew Hernandez President from 1984-1994, Antonio Gonzalez, President 1994-2018, Legal Director Rolando l. Rios, Lydia Camarillo Current President
| area_served = [[voter rights]]
| area_served = [[Voting rights]]
| product =
| focus =
| product =
| method =
| focus =
| revenue =
| method =
| endowment =
| revenue =
| num_volunteers =
| endowment =
| num_employees =
| num_volunteers =
| num_members =
| num_employees =
| subsid =
| num_members =
| owner =
| subsid =
| Non-profit_slogan =
| owner =
| homepage = http://www.svrep.org
| homepage = https://www.svrep.org
| dissolved =
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
| mission ={{lang-es|Su Voto Es Su Voz}} (Your Vote is Your Voice)
}}
}}
{{Politics of the United States}}
The '''Southwest Voter Registration Education Project''' (SVREP), founded in 1974, is the largest and oldest non-partisan [[Latino]] voter participation organization in the [[United States]].<ref>http://www.svrep.org/aboutsvrep/ag_bio.html</ref> SVREP was founded by [[William C. Velasquez, Jr]] and other [[Mexican-American]] political activists to ensure the voting rights of Mexican-Americans in the Southwest<ref>http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/wcs1.html</ref>
The '''Southwest Voter Registration Education Project''' '''(SVREP)''', founded in 1974, is the oldest and largest non-partisan [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] voter participation organization in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.svrep.org/aboutsvrep/ag_bio.html |title=SVREP - President Antonio Gonzalez |access-date=2009-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120180133/http://www.svrep.org/aboutsvrep/ag_bio.html |archive-date=2008-11-20 }}{{Self-published source|date=May 2018}}</ref> SVREP was founded by [[Willie Velasquez|William C. Velasquez Jr.]] SVREP has registered 2.6 million Latino voters, trained 150,000 leaders and encouraged thousands of individuals to volunteer in their communities. Their slogan is “Su Voto es Su Voz.”


==History==
==History==
{{Expand section|date=March 2009}}
{{more footnotes|section|date=May 2018}}
⚫
The mission of SVREP is to, “Empower Latinos and other minorities by increasing their participation in the American democratic process SVREP accomplishes this by strengthening the capacity, experience and skills of Latino leaders, networks, and organizations through programs that consistently train, organize, finance, develop, expand and mobilize Latino leaders and voters around an agenda that reflects their values. Thus, SVREP's motto is: "Su Voto Es Su Voz" (Your Vote is Your Voice).” SVREP founder “Willie”, as William C. Velasquez, was known to his colleagues, imagined a society that would allow Latinos to actively participate and lead in the democratic process.<ref>Ayala,Elaine "Willie Velásquez’s foresight still paying off" San Antonio Express News https://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/elaine_ayala/article/Willie-Vel-squez-foresight-still-paying-off-6680028.php 12/21/2018</ref>
In 1984 SVREP opened regional offices in California, and in the following year the Southwest Voter Research Institute was established to seek the opinions of the Latino electorate and to publicize those findings.<ref>Gabriela Sandoval, 'Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) (1974-)', in Vicki Ruíz & Virginia Sánchez Korrol, eds., ''Latinas in the United States: a historical encyclopedia'', pp. 696-7</ref> The institute was renamed the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) as a way to honor and perpetuate Velasquez' vision and legacy, and to hide their real intention to "brown America" as their speakers stated at their meeting at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel in 1996.<ref>http://www.wcvi.org/</ref>


SVREP has sponsored over 2,000 Voter Registration drives (registering 2.6 million voters) across the west, southwest and southeast states to register, educate, and promote voting in upcoming elections. SVREP also organizes phone banks and canvasses to remind people of upcoming election dates and assists in locating their local voting station. SVREP also sponsors voting rights lawsuits under the federal Voting Rights Act and the California Voting Rights Act.<ref>American Civil Liberties Union, "ACLU BRIEF IN SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION EDUCATION PROJECT (SVREP) ET AL. V. SHELLEY" ACLU.org. https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/aclu-brief-southwest-voter-registration-education-project-svrep-et-al-v-shelley</ref> To date SVREP has prevailed in 87 out of 88 federal Voting Rights Act cases and over 70 California Voting Rights actions.
⚫
The mission of SVREP is to, “Empower Latinos and other minorities by increasing their participation in the American democratic process SVREP accomplishes this by strengthening the capacity, experience and skills of Latino leaders, networks, and organizations through programs that consistently train, organize, finance, development, expand and mobilize Latino leaders and voters around an agenda that reflects their values. Thus, SVREP's motto is: "Su Voto Es Su Voz" (Your Vote is Your Voice).” “Willie”, as William C. Velasquez, Jr. was known to his colleagues, imagined a society that would allow Latinos to actively participate and lead in the democratic process.


In 2016 SVREP Sued Bexar County in Texas for misinforming constituents about voter ID rules. SVREP argued that the voter ID laws were an attempt to curb and discourage minorities from participating in the electoral process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2016/10/28/bexar-county-sued-for-misleading-voters-on-id-law|title=Bexar County Sued For Misleading Voters on ID Law|last=Zielinski|first=Alex|website=San Antonio Current|language=en|access-date=2018-12-27}}</ref>
SVREP sponsors Get Out the Vote Drives across the country to register, educate, and promote voting in upcoming elections. SVREP also organizes mass phone drives to remind people of upcoming election dates and assists in locating their local voting station. They also lobby local, state, and national government to raise awareness and support for minority focused issues.


Another key initiative that SVREP sponsors is their Latino Academy. This academy prepares and educates individuals on public speaking, governance, and political activism; once participants have completed the training tracts they are eligible to act as project coordinators, treasurers, and chairs for a voter registration project in their community. Through the program individuals are exposed to grassroots organizing and voter registration and mobilization. There are two participatory levels for individuals, one being centered on youth and one for experienced activists. SVREP also offers financial assistance to cover the cost of room, board, and training materials for those that cannot cover their own expenses.
Another key initiative that SVREP sponsors is their Latino Academy. Founded in 1997 the Latin Academy trains candidates, campaign workers, and community leaders/organizers on the how to run for elective office including voter targeting, social media, messaging, fundraising, campaign management, voter registration, and get out the vote; once leaders/organizers have completed the training tracks they are eligible to act as project coordinators, treasurers, and chairs for a voter registration project in their community. Once candidates complete the training they are urged to run for office -though nonpartisan SVREP does not endorse candidates. Through the Latino Academy individuals are exposed to grassroots organizing and voter registration and mobilization techniques.<ref>http://www.svrep.org/{{Self-published source|date=May 2018}}</ref>


SVREP partners with the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) to run a "policy and governance" version of the Latino Academy which focuses on training elected officials on ethics and public policy options. www.wcvi.org. Founded by SVREP in 1985 as the Southwest Voter Research Institute-SVRI, WCVI was rechristened in 1997 to honor the late Willie Velasquez.
Members of the group stated in the 1990's that they were going to "drive 'Anglos' back to Europe." They outlined their intentions to convert five U.S. States to Mexican control in events held by the group and by showing the five U.S. States on Spanish-speaking television in 1996. The U.S. States that they outlined were: California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. Their speeches were witnessed by hundreds of attendees and tape-recorded. Guest speakers that supported the group were President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and Former-HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.

The true intentions of this group are being camouflaged as an educational group, but those Americans who attended their meetings learned that their more radical members where racist, yet accused the very people they were harming of being the "racists."

This is relevant today because of the growing clout of Latino voters to re-populate the American Southwest through legitimizing the illegal immigrant in a concerted effort to run masses of illegal immigrants across the American southern border.<ref>http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-campaigns-elections/5614289-1.html</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Hispanic and Latino Americans|Politics|Education}}
{{Portal|Hispanic and Latino Americans|Politics|Education}}
*[[Congressional Hispanic Caucus]]
*[[Congressional Hispanic Caucus]]
*[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]]
*[[LNESC]]
*[[Latino]]
*[[NALEO]]
*[[NALEO]]
*[[NCLR]]
*[[NCLR]]
Line 53: Line 48:
*[[LULAC]]
*[[LULAC]]
*[[Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund|MALDEF]]
*[[Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund|MALDEF]]

⚫
==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.svrep.org/ Official website]
*[https://www.svrep.org/ Official website]


{{Voting rights in the United States}}
⚫
==References==
{{Authority control}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Latino organizations]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American organizations]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Texas]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Texas]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1974]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1974]]

Latest revision as of 19:05, 25 April 2023

Southwest Voter Registration Education Project
Founded1974
FounderWilliam C. Velasquez
Location
Area served
Voting rights
Key people
William C. Velasquez Jr., Founder and President from 1974-1984, Andrew Hernandez President from 1984-1994, Antonio Gonzalez, President 1994-2018, Legal Director Rolando l. Rios, Lydia Camarillo Current President
Websitehttps://www.svrep.org
This article is part of a series on the
Politics of the
United States
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Executive
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Political ideologies
Federalism
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The Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), founded in 1974, is the oldest and largest non-partisan Latino voter participation organization in the United States.[1] SVREP was founded by William C. Velasquez Jr. SVREP has registered 2.6 million Latino voters, trained 150,000 leaders and encouraged thousands of individuals to volunteer in their communities. Their slogan is “Su Voto es Su Voz.”

History[edit]

The mission of SVREP is to, “Empower Latinos and other minorities by increasing their participation in the American democratic process SVREP accomplishes this by strengthening the capacity, experience and skills of Latino leaders, networks, and organizations through programs that consistently train, organize, finance, develop, expand and mobilize Latino leaders and voters around an agenda that reflects their values. Thus, SVREP's motto is: "Su Voto Es Su Voz" (Your Vote is Your Voice).” SVREP founder “Willie”, as William C. Velasquez, was known to his colleagues, imagined a society that would allow Latinos to actively participate and lead in the democratic process.[2]

SVREP has sponsored over 2,000 Voter Registration drives (registering 2.6 million voters) across the west, southwest and southeast states to register, educate, and promote voting in upcoming elections. SVREP also organizes phone banks and canvasses to remind people of upcoming election dates and assists in locating their local voting station. SVREP also sponsors voting rights lawsuits under the federal Voting Rights Act and the California Voting Rights Act.[3] To date SVREP has prevailed in 87 out of 88 federal Voting Rights Act cases and over 70 California Voting Rights actions.

In 2016 SVREP Sued Bexar County in Texas for misinforming constituents about voter ID rules. SVREP argued that the voter ID laws were an attempt to curb and discourage minorities from participating in the electoral process.[4]

Another key initiative that SVREP sponsors is their Latino Academy. Founded in 1997 the Latin Academy trains candidates, campaign workers, and community leaders/organizers on the how to run for elective office including voter targeting, social media, messaging, fundraising, campaign management, voter registration, and get out the vote; once leaders/organizers have completed the training tracks they are eligible to act as project coordinators, treasurers, and chairs for a voter registration project in their community. Once candidates complete the training they are urged to run for office -though nonpartisan SVREP does not endorse candidates. Through the Latino Academy individuals are exposed to grassroots organizing and voter registration and mobilization techniques.[5]

SVREP partners with the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) to run a "policy and governance" version of the Latino Academy which focuses on training elected officials on ethics and public policy options. www.wcvi.org. Founded by SVREP in 1985 as the Southwest Voter Research Institute-SVRI, WCVI was rechristened in 1997 to honor the late Willie Velasquez.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "SVREP - President Antonio Gonzalez". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-03-18.[self-published source]
  2. ^ Ayala,Elaine "Willie Velásquez’s foresight still paying off" San Antonio Express News https://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/elaine_ayala/article/Willie-Vel-squez-foresight-still-paying-off-6680028.php 12/21/2018
  3. ^ American Civil Liberties Union, "ACLU BRIEF IN SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION EDUCATION PROJECT (SVREP) ET AL. V. SHELLEY" ACLU.org. https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/aclu-brief-southwest-voter-registration-education-project-svrep-et-al-v-shelley
  4. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "Bexar County Sued For Misleading Voters on ID Law". San Antonio Current. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  5. ^ http://www.svrep.org/[self-published source]

External links[edit]

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