When Aaron describes what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him, he talks about acknowledgment and being seen.
“It’s a time to celebrate the contributions the Latina and Latinx community have made,” he says. “Especially now, when our history is being rewritten or erased, we need to take time to remember who we are and what we’ve built.” |
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For Aaron, who lives in Compton, celebration looks like service. As a My School Votes Fellow with When We All Vote, he’s helping change what civic engagement looks like in his neighborhood — one voter, one household, one conversation at a time.
With more than 50,000 eligible voters in Compton, only about half voted in the 2024 election. That number, he says, shapes everything from who sits in office to the policies that impact his neighborhood.
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Aaron is determined to change that. Last year, both Aaron and his grandmother voted for the first time. His grandmother, a native Spanish speaker, struggled to find resources she could understand. That experience inspired Aaron to center language accessibility in all of his civic work.
“Language accessibility is civic accessibility,” he says. “If we want everyone’s voice heard, we have to make sure everyone can participate — no matter what language they speak.” |
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Recently, Aaron has been part of We Are California’s Compton Squad, going door to door to distribute bilingual resources that explain people’s rights if they are approached by ICE. He has handed out hotline numbers, red cards, and signs for businesses declaring, “This business welcomes immigrants.” Each interaction reminds him why he does the work. “You can see the fear in people’s eyes,” he says. “But when you give them something that helps them feel safe, even for a moment, you see that fear ease up. That makes it worth it.”
Aaron’s leadership is shaped by his roots: as a Mexican American, a queer man, and the son of immigrants who faced fear and exclusion. His story reminds us that when we build community through empathy, conversation, and action — we build belonging.
— When We All Vote 🗳️
P.S. Help us reach voters like Aaron by supporting our work to make democracy accessible for everyone. Chip in today!
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