The fight for the young Hispanic vote is on. With 50,000 Latinos turning 18 every month the stakes are high. NBC News’ Gabe Gutierrez takes a look at VotoLatino, one organization using the star power of celebrities like Rosario Dawson and Wilmer Valderrama to get young Latinos to register to vote for this election.

Source: NBC Latino

A recent study by the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI), a policy analysis organization, indicates that the drop in registered Latino voters in 2010 “may diminish the size of Latino voter turnout in November 2012 by more than a million,” according to WCVI President Antonio Gonzalez.

Ahead of that curve — and along with a coalition of several Hispanic organizations working to register Latino voters ahead of November — Voto Latino, an organization dedicated to empowering U.S. Latino youth to organize around the vote, held its first annual conference this weekend in Los Angeles.

Over 300 youth leaders and activists from Washington, D.C., Arizona, Florida, and California, among others, gathered at the University of Southern California (USC) for a two-day conference “on media, leadership and activism.”

“We are thrilled that we are having this power summit,” said Sindy M. Benavides, Vice President of Field Operations and Political Affairs at Voto Latino, to The Huffington Post. “Our goal is to make sure that the students who are coming are getting the tools that they need when it comes to organizing folks to register to vote and then turning out to vote, and making sure that in November, they are at the polls.”

Founded in 2004 by civic leader Maria Teresa Kumar and actress Rosario Dawson, Voto Latino’s first annual Power Summit was sold out.

“Our outreach is organic, it comes directly from the individual and their willingness to really reach out to the community,” Benavides explained on the standing-room only turnout at some panels.

Rocio Martinez, a USC graduate student in the School of Social Work and an organizer with the South Los Angeles neighborhood council said, “This event fits perfectly with how I want to promote and help my community. I want to get as much information and resources as I can to bring back to my community on how to [register to] vote.”

The conference brought together noted activists and community leaders who spoke about a range of topics concerning civic engagement, from how to run for office and coalition building to preparing for the polls. Speakers included Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, Maria Elena Durazo, actor Wilmer Valderrama, and legendary labor leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers (with Cesar Chavez), Dolores Huerta.

“A lot of people know about the farmworkers movement,” said Huerta to a room full of youth activists and community leaders from all around the country.

“But what a lot of people don’t know is that a very large part of our movement was register people to vote. When we talk about leadership, the first leadership experience that I ever had was asking people to register to vote. Going door-to-door, knocking on doors, and talking to people, and for Cesar [Chavez] too.”

The presence of DREAM Act-eligible youth — undocumented persons who qualify for the federal immigration bill — at the conference was also evident. During the question and answer portion of the opening plenary, two students alluded to their immigration statuses as motivation to their community organizing efforts.

Myrna Orozco, a United We Dream member from Kansas City, Missouri wore an Orange County DREAM Team t-shirt — a reappropriation of the now famous San Diego, CA caution sign — the running family now replaced with undocumented graduates, cap, gown and diploma included.

“Whether we are advocating for immigration reform, the DREAM Act, healthcare issues, education, etc.,” said Orozco, “This is a great space to come and just talk about voter registration and get-out-the vote efforts for the Latino community, which provides a focus point for all of our different issues.”

Durazo stressed the importance of reaching out to young people very early on.

“Today’s focus on young people is just great. The sooner that they become involved in the political process, then it just becomes part of the culture,” Durazo said to HufPost. “Our most important activist group within the youth is the DREAMers. They are just extraordinary [and] so courageous. So, when they’re involved, they really inspire their generation.”

Rosario Dawson ended her remarks with “Thank you all for not being at Coachella this weekend, and being with us” — referring to the music festival happening at the same time — “I truly appreciate that.”

“Where you put your heart, your time and your mind is really what is going to affect the change that we need to see. Especially this upcoming election.”

Source: Huffington Post Latino

“We are honored to have this accomplished group dedicate the time and care it takes to view and discuss the films in competition this year,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Festival, in a statement.

The juries will award $175,000 in the six categories of World Narrative, World Documentary, Best New Narrative Director, Best New Documentary Director, Narrative Short Film Competition, and Documentary and Student Short Film Competition.

TFF also announced the judges for their Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Awards, which include Rosario Dawson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Gabourey Sidibe, and Mekhi Phifer.

Support one of Rosario Dawson’s favorite organizations! The Two Boots Mardi Gras Benefit Ball, is the party of the year – with incredible costumes, bands from New Orleans and NYC, the crowning of a celeb Queen and King, live art, DJs and great food and drink. The Girls Club is building our new building on Avenue D and needs your support more than ever!

Purchase your tickets now ($20 or $100) and get ready to let the good times roll!

100% of all proceeds go directly to The Lower Eastside Girls Club!

Third Annual Two Boots Mardi Gras Benefit Ball
Featuring Los Po-Boy-Citos, direct from New Orleans!
Tuesday, February 21st 2012
7pm to 12am
Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street New York, NY)

Tickets:
$20 in advance, $25 day of event
$100 VIP ticket (includes food, 3 hour open bar & reserved seating)

It was Paris in the spring at Vanessa Bruno’s Melrose Avenue boutique opening last Thursday night as chiffon-clad models swayed back and forth on swings suspended from the loft ceiling and artist Cyprien Chabert painted flowers on the wall. “It really feels like we’re not in L.A.,” said Rosario Dawson. As the designer chatted with her guests, including Minnie Driver, Kelly Lynch, Shiva Rose, Erin Wasson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Elodie Bouchez, Jessica Stroup and Shenae Grimes, budding DJs Charlie Eisner (son of Lisa and Eric) and Binki Shapiro spun electro pop and other chic yet obscure tunes (no Kanye or Katy in the house). Last-minute cancellations are derigeur at such affairs, but most had good reason–Beck was was stuck in the studio with Thurston Moore, and Abbie Cornish was sidelined after fracturing her ankle that day.

Source: WWD

View more photos from the event at the Rosario Dawson Online Gallery. Registration is quick, easy and free

WHEN: Monday, October 27th, 2008 4:30-6:30 pm
WHERE: City Hall Chambers, Broadway between Chambers and Park Place

Rosario Dawson Award Presentation | Spike | SPIKE.com

• Mi TRL Voto Latino Special (Updated)
• Candid – Dinner with Friends at Gemma
• Launch Party for the new T-Mobile G1
• Spike TV Awards 2008

The Lower East Side Girls Club is delighted to announce that the 2008 Willow Awards Gala and Benefit Bash will take place on Tuesday, October 28th. This year’s gala will be hosted by actress Rosario Dawson (Seven Pounds, Rent, Alexander, Shattered Glass) with music by Moby, and will feature great food, exclusive luxury silent auction items, and a special auction of unique commissioned work created by celebrated artists Kiki Smith, Robert Gober, Tom Otterness, and Donald Baechler. This year’s event is also very special as it celebrates the groundbreaking of a brand new facility, NYC’s first and only Girls Club building.

Founded in 1996, the Lower Eastside Girls Club is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to providing a place where economically disadvantaged girls and young women ages 8-23 can grow, learn, have fun, and develop confidence in themselves and their ability to make a difference in the world. By delivering strong and innovative arts, athletic, cultural, life skills and career-oriented programming, we provide girls with the vision to plan—and the tools to build—their future.

In previous years, Susan Sarandon, Katie Holmes, Claire Danes, Zac Posen, Chloe Sevigny, Iman, Richie Rich & Traver Rains of Heatherette, Amanda Lepore, Drea de Matteo, Patricia Field, Patrick McMullan, Charlotte Ronson, Mark Ronson, Rashida Jones, Tara Subkoff, and Amy Sacco attended the event. This year’s crop of celebs includes Rosario Dawson, Moby, Artists Kiki Smith, Robert Gober, Tom Otterness, and Donald Baechler; The Scissor Sisters, Actress Piper Perabo, Socialite Jennifer Marsico and many more.

Tickets start at $250, tables start at $2000. The event will take place at Jing Fong, 20 Elizabeth Street, NYC. Click here for more information.