Build Power: Community Paralegals in Puerto Rico

As we get closer to the upcoming elections, we decided to shift to our community paralegals program. We decided to call coastal leaders across the Island to engage in electoral education and advocacy skills to be applied as we move toward the electoral race. If we want to move forward with our policy requests regarding climate and housing justice, leaders must be able to navigate narratives between political parties and candidates. This semester will help us share information on voting rights, discrimination principles, and the capacity of community groups and organizations to participate in platforms that serve their collective interests.

Although the meetings just started, representing a big difference from previous years, the reception and participation have been considerable. Throughout campaign processes, leaders want to learn about candidate-based voting and protections against exclusion and discrimination. They are interested in learning legal and media skills to promote counternarratives that focus on their social justice demands. This effort will be joined by two other institutional initiatives at a different level. First, a non-partisan platform on housing justice is available to all parties and candidates, and second, education is directed to nonprofits who want to engage in electoral rights advocacy.

As November comes closer, we ask you to continue supporting Ayuda Legl Puerto Rico and the work of nonprofits trying to advance social justice on the brink of whatever may come. A just world is possible; we are moving to make it happen.