Multicultural Engagement For Utah (ME4U) Coalition

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC * Hispanic Community Connection (CCH) * National Tongan American Society (NTAS) * Utah League of Native American Voters * Ute Indian Tribe Political Action Committee (Ute PAC) * Salt Lake Chapter Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) * Utah Women of Color Council * United Chinese Association of Utah * Refugee Somali/Bantu Association

 

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

 

 

VOTERS OF COLOR UNITE IN UTAH 

  

Salt Lake City, UTAH – The Multicultural Engagement for Utah (ME4U) coalition, a non-partisan group of organizations serving people of color and Native American Tribes, recently launched the “JustUs Utah” initiative. JustUs Utah was created in response to the underserved and underrepresented voices of Utah’s voters of color who are feeling excluded and ignored in the development of political engagement strategies. 

 

The Me4U organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today establishing the JustUs Utah initiative as their unified plan of action moving forward. According to Antonella Packard, State Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) a Me4U member organization, “JustUS Utah has the potential to transform every district, at the state and federal level. The initiative will focus on strengthening voter recruitment and focusing its resources on voter mobilization.” Currently there are over 300,000 voters of color in the state of Utah, which equates to approximately 20% of the 1.4 million voters registered.

 

“JustUs Utah, is committed to developing plans and strategies with voters of color across the state to ensure the needs of their individual communities are recognized, understood, and reflected in the political structure,” states Moroni Benally, Co-founder of the Utah League of Native American Voters, also a coalition member organization. JustUS Utahwill concentrate their efforts on issues such as Gerrymandering, Voter Rights, Education, Bears Ears & Tribal Sovereignty, Immigration, Healthcare, Criminal Justice, Economic Opportunities and Violence against women of color. The UtePAC, one of nine member organizations that comprise the coalition has begun fundraising efforts to ensure support for this initiative. JustUs Utah is accepting donations through the UtePAC website (www.utepac.com).

 

The ME4U coalition will be holding a Press Conference to unveil the MOU on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at 3:00 P.M. in the Presentation Room of the Utah State Capitol. 

 

On May 20, 2017, from 9:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. JustUs Utah will host a non-partisan summit of prominent political figures and leaders of civic organizations to create a plan of action for people of color in the state. “This Summit will address current and past political strategies and engagement, the endorsement of candidates, detailed overview of policies affecting communities of color, techniques for partnership, and a vision of politics beyond 2018,” says Lavinia Taumoepeau-Latu, Co-founder of the ME4U coalition.

 
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Lavinia Taumoepeau-Latu

 

Director of Civic Engagement
3007 S. West Temple, H
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
(801) 467-8712 - Office
(385) 243-4653 - Mobile
National Tongan American Society
ME4U (Multicultural Engagement For Utah)
"In a gentle way, you can shake the world."