b'result 5 SAN FRANCISCOS LATINO RESIDENTS ARE DECISION-MAKERS IN THE INSTITUTIONS AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVESWhat Do We Envision?Achievement of this result means that Latinos across the city are empowered to create MEDA systemic change and serve as community leaders. We envision that elected and appointed offices, City agencies, and philanthropic and nongovernmental organizations PROMOTESacross San Francisco would have substantial Latino representation in matters with the greatest impact on the lives of our working-class Latino families. On the ground level, ECONOMICthis means that Latino families, workers and small business owners have the knowledge, EQUALITY resources and agency to be civically active, whether or not they are citizens and eligible to vote. Community members would inform and educate each other, mobilize around AND SOCIAL critical issues and ensure that public officials use their power to advance social equity.JUSTICE.Why Does this Matter? SAN FRANCISCO MAYORDemocracies thrive when civic engagement is an everyday practice across our LONDON BREED communities, not just at the ballot box. Grassroots power is essential to reforming the systems that shape opportunities and life chances for our community members. Our communitys residents are the most informed about the problems they face and are critical partners in advancing solutions that will bring about lasting change. Engaged communities are also best poised to elect and appoint representatives in positions of authority, and to hold decision-makers accountable to the communities they represent.MEDAs RoleWe have a three-pronged approach to advancing Latinos as decision-makers in San Francisco: 1. As an advocate, we push for2. As an activator, we organize3. As a service provider, we help equitable policy at the city andLatino residents, parents andfamilies achieve a greater levelstate level, plus fight for Latinosmall business owners toof financial security, so they representation in public officesengage their own communities,have the time and resourcesand initiatives that impact ourshare resources and mobilizeto get more involved in their community members.around systemic change. local communities.Context and BackgroundSTEPS TO EQUITY MEDA emerged at a time when young Latinos started to advocate for self-n# residents engaged in: determination: That marginalized communities should have the right to nCivic participation activities make their own decisions about how to ensure their residents well-being. Five decades later, these concerns are still relevant. The nCommunity leadership efforts underrepresentation of Latino leaders who can speak to the needs of n# policy advocacy initiatives led/co-led byour communities has direct consequences on the distribution of MEDAn# equitable land use and zoning policiesresources. Many Latino residents also face daily barriers to full enacted in San Francisco / California participation in democracy such as financial stress, language barriers, n# of Latino elected officials in Sanineligibility to vote or unfamiliarity with U.S. political systems.Francisco / Bay Area / California Yet we live in a time when Latinos are coming into political power, with surging numbers of voters and many people motivated to join anti-racist movements. Like those young activists in the 1970s, we aim to push for change from the ground up.24MISSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY'