In a nonpartisan community gathering, leaders and members of the Latino community of Durham and the Triangle area met on August 27 at the United Church of Chapel Hill to participate in a summit on civic engagement and electoral rights.
The event, organized by LILA Latinx LGBTQ in collaboration with Global Exchange, was the 12th stop on the Democracy Defenders Roadshow, an initiative that connects Latin American democracy defenders with communities across the United States.
“For LILA, it was an honor that Global Exchange chose North Carolina as one of the stops on its tour across the country,” she told Enlace Latino NC Marco Partida, executive director of LILA Latinx LGBTQI.
The tour has also taken them to Minnesota, New Jersey, and California, among other states. Partida said the trip will conclude on September 17 with the Peace Summit, a binational meeting between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
What is the Democracy Defenders Roadshow?
Democracy Defenders Roadshow It is a tour organized to foster conversations between leaders and advocates of democracy from Latin America and U.S. communities on topics such as civic participation, voting rights, democracy, and the defense of human rights.
Organized by Global ExchangeThe tour, organized by an international human rights organization, aims to help people connect, share ideas, and find ways to move forward together.
Local and international experts participated in the event
The meeting in North Carolina included the participation of several local and international experts.
Among the local experts was Ron Garcia-Fogarty, campaign manager for eastern North Carolina and the Latino community of You Can Vote.
Garcia-Fogarty kicked off the day with a presentation on barriers to civic participation, access to clear electoral information, and strategies to strengthen the voice of historically excluded communities in the state.
Among the international panelists was Ernesto Ledesma, investigative journalist and founder of Rompeviento TV in Mexico, who spoke about the role of independent journalism, abuses of power, disinformation and its impact on democracy.
Lucía Vijil, a researcher at CESPAD in Honduras, also participated, sharing her experiences on Honduran election observation.
Finally, Elena Gutiérrez, from Global Exchange Mexico, shared lessons learned from her transnational work and highlighted the importance of solidarity in the face of violence, displacement, inequality, and political exclusion.
The interventions addressed various challenges that communities face in defending their rights and participating in democratic processes, both in the United States and in Latin America.
Related: Voting for the first time in 2026? Tips for participating in North Carolina elections
The relationship between LILA Latinx LGBTQI and Global Exchange
LILA Latinx LGBTQI Partida has been working directly with Global Exchange for four years. That's why, for Partida, it was crucial that the conversation take place in North Carolina.
“Thanks to this relationship, we have been able to discuss and learn about the challenges faced by migrant communities and how elections and political changes, both in Mexico and the United States, directly affect our communities,” Partida explained.
“That’s why, when we talk about civic participation and voting rights, for us it’s not just about voting. These are decisions that become policies and impact the daily lives of the people we serve, especially our Latino, immigrant, and LGBTQI+ community,” she added.
The summit in Chapel Hill allowed Partida and the other participants to share what they experience in North Carolina.
“It made us realize that we are not alone or isolated from what is happening in other parts of the country. For LILA, this is an opportunity to strengthen our three pillars: health, education, and advocacy. We feel that now is the time to resume our advocacy and community leadership work with renewed vigor,” Partida concluded.
What motivated LILA Latinx LGBTQI to hold this meeting
Partida highlighted the importance of creating these spaces for conversation before the November midterm electionsHe noted that one of the tasks of community organizations is to help voters understand the importance of each election, in a nonpartisan manner.
He also noted that fear and uncertainty related to immigration actions and the presence of ICE can lead some immigrant families to distance themselves from community participation spaces.
“That’s why I think it was so necessary to have this conversation. It wasn’t about telling people who to vote for; that was never the purpose of the event. We wanted to remind everyone that, regardless of our immigration status, we are all part of the community. There are many ways to participate and make our voices heard,” Partida added.
And although only those who meet the legal requirements can register and vote, the event sought to highlight that people who are not citizens can also actively participate in their community: by organizing, talking to their families, and staying informed.
“I hope that, above all, they understand that their voice truly matters,” Partida clarified. “If anyone left this meeting thinking, ‘My voice matters, I can participate too, and I can do something for my community,’ then I think we accomplished something very important.”
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