Welcome to Dreaming in Color, a show hosted by Darren Isom, a partner with The Bridgespan Group, that provides a space for social change leaders of color to reflect on how their life experiences, personal and professional, have prepared them to lead and drive the impact we all seek.
In this episode, we welcome María Teresa Kumar, an Emmy-nominated political and voting rights activist who has dedicated her career to advocating for inclusive political participation. She is the co-founder and president of Voto Latino, a national grassroots organization focused on building a more inclusive democracy by educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters. Under her leadership, Voto Latino has registered over a quarter million voters and was a founding partner of National Voter Registration Day, the largest one-day effort towards voter registration.
Join this conversation as María shares how her background as a Colombian immigrant ignited her passion for democracy and how she has dedicated her life to mobilizing young voters to build a stronger America for future generations to come. She is a true champion of a robust inclusive democracy and a joy to talk to today.
Jump Straight Into
(0:28) Introduction of María Teresa Kumar: President of Voto Latino and MSNBC Contributor.
(1:15) María shares wisdom from her Grandmother.
(9:12) María reflects on her background and how it shaped her appreciation for democracy and her desire to improve upon it through voter advocacy.
(12:44) Brick phones, free nights and weekends, MySpace, and how the evolution of tech and social media paved the way to mobilize young voters.
(15:52) We are at a crossroads - we can relent and let the few dictate how we live, or, through maximum participation, we can make the change we seek.
(22:50) Changing the American narrative by doubling down on education.
(27:26) Dreaming of a colorful democracy.
(41:43) Donors, funding, and how they can champion stabilizing our democracy for a brighter future.
Episode Resources
- Connect with María through LinkedIn and Twitter
- Learn more about María's work through her website
- Get involved with María's organization, Voto Latino
- Register to vote at Vote.gov
- Protect yourself from misinformation at FactCheck.org
- Read the transcript of María's Emmy-nominated MSNBC Special: Beyond Borderlines
