The document summarizes the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections' Hispanic outreach efforts in 2015, which included implementing a community outreach plan focused on the Hispanic community, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Week, and hosting various events. Key events discussed were the Puerto Rican Parade, a bilingual poll worker appreciation ceremony, a bilingual job fair, and a Latino civic engagement conference. The document also discusses National Voter Registration Day efforts that helped register over 10,000 voters.

1. HISPANIC HERITAGE 2015

2. BackgroundInformation
After the expiration of the consent decree, The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections adopted a resolution letter in an open
meeting on March 6, 2015 to commit to the continuation of bilingual services for Spanish speaking registered voters of
Cuyahoga County. Part of the resolution is to implement a community outreach plan focused on the Hispanic Community.
The Hispanic Outreach Plan addressed issues that were identified in the 2013 Bilingual Access Community Survey.
Community survey respondents report having the following difficulties when voting: changes in their voting
place/location, ballot language, scanner, and outdated voter information. The voters were also asked about which way our
method is most likely to help them vote. The results stated that the preferred forms of outreach are the following: mailing
information to their homes, billboards, distribution of information in their neighborhood local stores and businesses, ads in
La Prensa and on the radio.
Demographic reports indicate that the largest population of Latinos in Cuyahoga County reside in the area of Ward 14 in
Cleveland. After analyzing the 2014 surname analysis, number of bilingual precincts, and the 2014 turnout report, it was
concluded that our outreach efforts should have more emphasis in this area. All polling locations have more than one
bilingual precinct and the voter turnout is one of the lowest in the entire County.
This plan was an effort to help eliminate barriers to voting and create additional participation in the democratic process.
We are encouraging Latinos to learn more about the election process, how they may become candidates for elected office,
and how to seek employment opportunities at the Board of Elections. We are opening these opportunities to all Latino
voters, including the Limited English Proficiency voters, through education and community partnerships.
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3. Hispanic Heritage Week
For the first time in its history, the Cuyahoga County Board of
Elections took part in National Hispanic Heritage month. We
celebrated by creating our Hispanic Heritage Week education
campaign to address the following topics:
• The participation of Latino voters (additional)
• The civic contributions of Latino Leaders (recognize)
• Latino heritage and culture (show respect and recognize)
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4. Events
Puerto Rican Parade
When: August 2, 2015
Description:
The purpose was to maximize visibility in the Hispanic Community and
showcase the Spanish services available at the BOE. This gave the BOE
an opportunity to provide voter information in a festive and culturally
appropriate setting.
Kickoff Event: Bilingual Poll Worker Appreciation Ceremony
When: August 13
Where: Julia de Burgos Art Center
Description:
This is an Annual Event that celebrates loyalty, hard work, and Latino
culture, to retain our valuable Bilingual Poll Workers and attract
potential new bilingual poll workers.
Bilingual Job Fair
When: September 17, 2015
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: 2925 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
Description:
The BOE is interested in maintaining a diverse workforce. Spanish
speaking employees are in high demand. The Job Fair helped recruit
bilingual staff and we collected resumes to create a talent bank.
Latino Civic Engagement Conference
When: September 19, 2015
Location: 2925 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Description:
Panel Discussion (Spanish and English)
Subject: What Role Will Hispanic Voters Play in the 2016 Elections?
Description:
Initiate a dialog with specific topics amongst a select group of panelists
who shared differing perspectives.
• Educational Workshops:
Candidates 101: 2hrs
Petitions, Campaign Finance, Website Orientation
provided an opportunity to members of the Hispanic
Community that are considering running for office to
learn about the process.
• Voter Registration Drive (Spanish and English) 40 minutes
Provided information and techniques on how to
conduct a successful voter registration drive.
National Voter Registration Day
When: September 22
Description:
A celebration of coordinated outreach efforts that created awareness of
voter registration champions who collaborated in the success of reaching
our registration goal.
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5. PuertoRicanParade
August2,2015
In partnership with All Phase General
Construction.
Theme:
Cuyahoga County Votes Bilingual Ballots
Float Features:
Bohio
The Float was decorated as a bohio, which
is a Puerto Rican native Indian's house.
DJ Castro, Musicians Playing Bomba y
Plena
Bomba and plena are percussion-driven
musical traditions from Puerto Rico that
move people to dance. Often mentioned
together as though they were a single
musical style, both reflect the African
heritage of Puerto Rico).
Vejigantes
A vejigante is a folkloric character
in Puerto Rican festival celebrations,
mainly seen at Carnival time.
Staff and Volunteers
Staff and volunteers dressed up in typical
Puerto Rican customs, and carried flags
and signs promoting our services..
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6. BilingualPollWorkerAppreciationCeremony
August 13, 2015
Julia de Burgos Art Center
35 Attendees
This annual awards ceremony celebrates loyalty, hard work and Latino culture to help
retain valuable bilingual poll workers and attract potential new bilingual poll workers.
Hispanic Civic Engagement Awards
Established by The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to recognize the important
contributions that Latinos are making within their communities through community
service and civic engagement.
• “Luchador” Volunteer Service Award
• “Unidos” Community Partner Agency Award
• “Adelante” Hispanic Leadership Award
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7. BilingualPollWorkerAppreciationCeremonyAwards
“Luchador” Volunteer Service Award
• A person who is determined to persevere and promote civic participation
• Volunteers by doing community service hours without compensation
• Strong commitment and passion for the voting rights of Latino voters
• Successful track history of civic participation
• Purposely fosters a culture of community service
Awarded to: Magda Gómez
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8. BilingualPollWorkerAppreciationCeremonyAwards
“Unidos” Community Partner Agency Award
Collaborative effort between the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and the
Community Latino Agency to recognize an outstanding organization with the
following attributes:
• Encouraged volunteerism by recruiting poll workers and supporting voter
education initiatives.
• Supported continuous activities resulting in voter engagement activities
• Cultivated a higher standard of life in the communities it serves
• Honors unity, connection, togetherness, and collaboration.
• “En la union está la fuerza,” relates to the saying, “There is strength in
numbers.”
Awarded to Julia de Burgos Art Center
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9. BilingualPollWorkerAppreciationCeremonyAwards
“Adelante” Hispanic Leadership Award
“Carry on. Move forward. If we all work together, we’ll get through this.” A courageous
leader makes decisions to move their mission forward, especially in fearful situations or
periods of intense change when it feels unsafe to commit to moving forward with a
decision. This award honors someone who:
• Works persistently to ensure Latino and Spanish speaking voters in Cuyahoga County
have access to ongoing voter education services
• Leads civic engagement initiatives in their community to make an impact on past,
current, and future generations for long term success
• Has a proven track record of leading a group of community advocates as demonstrated
by outstanding voter registration drives and offering of innovative services to motivate
voters to participate in the electoral process
• Contributes to the civic involvement of other Hispanic agencies in the Latino
Community
Awarded to Pablo Castro
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10. BilingualPollWorkersAppreciationCeremonyProgramBook
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11. BilingualPollWorkersAppreciationCeremonyProgramBook
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12. EventPictures
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13. BilingualCareer
InformationalExpo
Spanish speaking
employees are in high
demand at the Cuyahoga
County Board of Elections.
We conducted a job fair to
recruit bilingual staff, and
as a result were able to
create a talent bank with
the resumes we collected.
Summary:
Attendance:60
Resumes collected:19
Bilingual:6
Bilingual with BA:4
Bilingual with HS: 2
Hired as a Temporary
Worker: 2
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14. EventPictures
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15. LatinoCivic
Engagement
Conference
The purpose of this event
was to bring together a
group of individuals from
the Latino community with
various perspectives and
experiences as they relate
to voting. Each panelist
provided an overview of
their thoughts about the
role Latinos will play in the
2016 elections in Cuyahoga
County and their ideas for
increasing voter
registration and
participation.
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16. Latino CivicEngagementConferenceSummary
September 19, 2015
Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
24 Attendees
Thought Provoking Comments and Questions from the Audience:
A woman from Cleveland believes in the power of social media because it is everywhere we go and helps bring
awareness about elections and issues. She is concerned about the lack of civic education, especially for those who
come from a country where you do not have to register in order to vote. These individuals must learn about the
process of democracy within the United States of America. How can we start something different to receive
the voting and civic education that we need?
A woman from Texas inquired about Hispanics who are U.S. citizens, but do not speak English. These
individuals were not sent to school and have a hard time communicating, therefore they do not get involved. How
can we provide more services to the Spanish speaking voters?
Rico Neller of the La Prensa Newspaper voiced her opinion that one vote makes a big difference. She
recommended that the Board of Elections always have a presence at festivals with a booth to register voters.
Many Spanish voters have not declared a political party. Is it good or bad to declare party affiliation?
Luis Cartagena:There is a great disengagement issue. Please provide a suggestion or a strategy to build the
needed platform to create the political power we (Lantinos) need.
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17. TheLatino EngagementConference
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18. TheLatino EngagementConference
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19. Pictures
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20. MediaandNewsArticlelinks
Theprintedcopiesofthearticlesbeginonpage25.
• La Prensa Newspaper
http://www.laprensatoledo.com/Stories/2015/092515/ccboe.ht
m
• Facebook Event
https://www.facebook.com/events/727313800729839/
• You Tube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS9VKQ7RfeI
• Plain Dealer
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/09/cuyahoga_
county_election_offic.html
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21. NationalVoter
RegistrationDay
In recognition of National Voter
Registration Day, the Cuyahoga
County Board of Elections and
Cleveland Votes launched the
“Register Now” campaign.
The Board and its community
partners set and made their goal of
registering or updating the
registrations of 10,000 voters by
encouraging them to Register Now
instead of putting it off until it may
be too late to vote in the November
3rd General Election.
The BOE and its partners used
their social media and websites to
promote registration and to update
the progress of their efforts for
three weeks leading up to National
Voter Registration Day.
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22. NationalVoter
RegistrationDay
Events
The Board of Elections held
Register Now events on
September 22nd:
• Cleveland State University
Student Union, 2121 Euclid
Ave. from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00
p.m.
• Cuyahoga County
Community College Metro
Campus Cafeteria, 2900
Community College Drive
from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Tower City Food Court from
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and
3:00 -6:00 p.m.
• Urban West Community
School, 4909 Lorain Ave,
Cleveland from 4:00 - 8:00-
p.m. Bilingual Event
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23. NationalVoterRegistrationDayEventsSummary
Goal
Register or update the registrations of at least 10,000 voters by
encouraging them to “register now” instead of putting it off.
Voter Registration Results from September 1 – 28, 2015
New Registrations: 3,334
Updated Registrations: 6,919
Total: 10,253
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24. ResultsandAccomplishments
Results
• Increased bilingual workforce based on the Hispanic total population in
Cuyahoga County
• Increased visibility and services
• Strengthened partnerships with Latino leaders and organizations
Moving Forward
• Many partnerships will continue to work with us on similar campaigns in 2016
• Establish additional partnerships in 2016
• This campaign served as a pilot project for next year’s “Election Ready” voter
education campaign
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