The Latinx community is the largest ethnic minority group in the United States. Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from September 15 to October 15, brings the opportunity to commemorate Latinx and Hispanic contributions to American society while recognizing key challenges and inequities facing these communities, particularly during a pandemic that’s disproportionately affecting Latinx and Black people.
This month is also an important window to reflect on how Latinx voices are included in social policy research and public dialogue. “Conversations about Latinx communities should not only be limited to Hispanic Heritage Month or to the campaign trail. They should be ongoing as we improve how we incorporate Latinx voices into the national dialogue,” write the Urban Institute’s Joycelyn Ovalle and Olivia Arena.
The Urban Institute is pleased to lift Latinx voices and share data-driven resources to inform social policies that address racial and ethnic disparities during this critical moment.
The
pandemic’s disproportionate effect on Latino business owners could undo a decade of progress. Critical Value
host Justin Milner discusses these small business trends with Marlene Orozco, lead research analyst with the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, business owner Josh Melendez from Crossfit Be Someone, and Urban Institute researcher Jorge González.
Low-wage Latinx workers in the agriculture, transportation, caregiving, grocery, waste management, and food service and processing fields are essential to our daily lives. How can we ensure they aren’t forgotten during economic recovery?
Data from a survey of mom-and-pop landlords suggest Black and Hispanic landlords are struggling more than their white counterparts to pay their mortgages but are more likely to offer their tenants a rent payment plan—suggesting they are dedicated to keeping their tenants housed through the pandemic.
The latest ruling on the 2020 Census cuts the count short again, and Texans are likely to be undercounted. The state’s Latinx communities are
especially at risk of losing political representation and economic opportunity.
The Latinx community's voting power and political voice continue to grow and demand attention. But in politics and public policy, Latinx perspectives need to be more accurately represented and thoughtfully captured.
