Instituto

In 2018, Luis Avila founded Instituto, "an accelerator and incubator focused on building political power with low-income and communities of color in Arizona."

Instituto is an Arizona affiliate of the Movement Voter Project.

Organization Launches As Arizona Becomes a Battleground State

Instituto press release.

Media Contact: Nuvia Enriquez

MEDIA ADVISORY

Organization Launches As Arizona Becomes a Battleground State

PHOENIX - Arizona is a battleground state. The 2020 election is bound to mark the destinies of Arizonans and communities all over the country. To prepare for this important election, Instituto launches to build up established and emerging progressive leaders across the state.

WHAT: Official launch party for Instituto: A New Day

WHEN: Wednesday, April 24, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Co+Hoots, 221 E. Indianola Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012

WHY: Arizona will be a pivotal state in 2020 as the state is considered a battleground. The Grand Canyon state is on track to become a majority-minority state by 2028, outpacing the nation by more than 10 years, and voter participation in the last elections has reached all-time highs. In 2016, Latinos made up nine percent of all voters. By 2012, 27 percent of all votes were cast by Latinos. In 2016, there was an increase of nearly 35 percent from 2012 numbers, and in 2018, these voters participated at a Presidential election level on a midterm election.

“For over a decade, local organizations lead by young people of color have fought against injustice, prejudice and draconian policies,” says Luis Avila, founder of Instituto. “It is time for us to identify and support this talent, scale their work and help individuals build sustainable organizations that advance progressive policies during and after the elections.”

Mission

Instituto’s mission is to build sustained political power of voters of color and low-income communities in Arizona.

The 2019 Monzón Fellows

We received over seventy nominations for the first cohort of Instituto’s Monzón Fellowship, so it was no easy task, but ultimately seventeen of Arizona’s most promising emerging leaders were chosen. We want to congratulate every single one of our 2019 Fellows!

Intituto’s 2019 Monzón Fellows (in alphabetical order):

• Adriana Garcia Maximiliano, Manager of Alumni Programs at New American Leaders
• Anabel Maldonado, Demand2Learn Campaign Manager at ACLU of Arizona
• Anakarina Rodriguez, Phoenix Area Coordinator at Mi Familia Vota
• Dulce Juarez, Organizing Director at Chispa AZ
• Fred Oaxaca, Data Manager at One Arizona
• Gabriella Cazares-Kelly, Public School Teacher, Leader, and Vice Chair at Baboquivari Unified School District, Indivisible Tohono, and AZ Dems Native American Caucus
• Isabel Garcia, Program Director at Poder in Action
• Joseph Silva, Operations Coordinator at CASE
• Katherine Yelle, Campaign Manager for Coral Evans
• Liz Luna, Campaign Consultant
• Nicole Morales, Civic Engagement Director at Chispa AZ
• Pablo Correa, Founding Board Member of Rural Arizona Engagement
• Randy Perez, Political Consultant at Engaged Strategies LLC
• Ricardo Zamudio Guillen, Co-Organizing Director at Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA)
• Shane Burnette, Program Coordinator at Partnership with Native Americans
• Shelley Jackson, Communications and Youth Engagement Coordinator at Our Voice Our Vote Arizona
• Zak Ghali, Budget Analyst at Maricopa County