Voto Latino encourages youth to vote with free music comp featuring Pitbull, Rodrigo y Gabriela and more

Voto Latino co-founders Maria Teresa Kumar & Rosario Dawson

By Laura Ferreiro

In an effort to engage Latino youth in the political process and get them to participate in the 2012 presidential election, Voto Latino is offering 35 free songs via iTunes when young people take a pledge to vote. The compilation features tracks by the likes of Pitbull, Mariachi El Bronx, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ozomatli, Los Tigres del Norte and other renowned artists from a variety of musical genres.

People can download the compilation when taking the pledge on Voto Latino’s Facebook page. The forward-thinking non-profit organization was co-founded by actress Rosario Dawson and Maria Teresa Kumar in 2004 and uses music, technology and celebrity voices to engage Latino youth in the political process.

“Our interest is to keep bringing people into the political mix,” Dawson said in a statement. “Everyone should have an understanding of the system whether or not they’re eligible to vote and we believe that offering free music through social media platforms will help continue to motivate and engage those that may not already be a part of the conversation.”

This isn’t the first music compilation Voto Latino has released to engage young Latinos in the political process—it also put out a popular collection to encourage participation in the 2010 Census.

The non-partisan organization has played a key role in registering approximately 120,000 young Latino voters to date, and will ramp up its efforts even more this year to encourage Latino youth to participate in the 2012 elections and have a say in the vital political decisions that affect their futures.

Check out the compilation tracklisting below:

Pitbull – “Something For the DJ’s”
Miguel – “Girls Like You”
Kat Deluna – “Bailando”
Los Lobos – “On Main Street”
Rodrigo y Gabriela – “Hanuman”
Ozomatli – “El Jardinero”
Los Tigres del Norte – “Somos Mas Americanos”
Ana Tijoux – “Shock”
Zoé  – “Labios Rotos”
Mariachi El Bronx – “48 Roses”
Ximena Sariñana – “Wrong Miracle”
Nortec Collective – “I Count the Ways”
Beatriz Luengo – “Lengua”
Vicente García – “Yo Robo”
24 Horas “Te Sorprenderás”
Domino Saints – “No Me Digas Que No”
Los Cuates de Sinaloa – “Enamorado al Millión”
Shaila Dúrcal – “El Día Que Me Fui”
Mariachi Divas – “Órale”
Diego Garcia – “All Eyes on You”
Ceci Bastida – “No Me Conocerás”
Ocote Soul Sounds – “En El Temblor”
Girl In a Coma – “Hope”
Carla Morrison – “Suciedad”
David Garza – “Minority Boys Got $”
Brownout – “Olvídalo”
Pilar Díaz – “Ilegal en Estyle”
Los Rakas – “Vengo de Panamá”
Akwid – “Payaso de Ojos Tristes
Ritmo Machine – “Maestro”
Jiggy Drama – “El Culpable”
Maleco Collective – “Respira”
Céu – “Bubia”
Luisa Maita – “Desencabulada”
Paulina Aguirre – “Abrázame”

What’s more, Voto Latino is holding a two-day conference in Los Angeles at USC April 14-15 to empower young Latinos from across the country to create positive change in their communities. Visit Voto Latino’s website to find out more about the Latino Power Summit and to get involved.

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