Dear Jolt Family,

Jolt is more than just a nonprofit organization empowering Latinos in Texas to be civically engaged. Jolt is made up of driven community members whose motivation is rooted in the effects of Texas politics. While each of the experiences that brought us to Jolt may be different, we all came to the same conclusion: Latinos in Texas deserve better.

While the 2024 election results were disappointing, it is important that we understand the root frustrations that led to these shifts within the broader working-class bloc. These results do not reflect a lasting realignment, it is instead a manifestation of the economic discontent and political neglect felt by Latinos. To move forward, we need a deep reflection and a sincere effort to understand the economic and cultural divides driving these shifts. There’s time to address these challenges, but only if we’re willing to listen and act.

In the 2023-2024 election cycle, Jolt helped register over 34,000 Texans – primarily young Latinos. Jolt organizers established 18 student chapters on college campuses across Texas and reached over 66,000 Jolt members encouraging them to vote in the November elections. These aren’t just numbers — this is a stronger democracy in action.

As the largest Latino-focused organization in Texas, we understand what it takes to educate, register, and mobilize our voting bloc. Our work is deeply rooted in culture and connection — engaging Latinos in spaces that celebrate our traditions, from Dia de Muertos parades to quinceañeras. These moments spark meaningful conversations that drive change.

Through leadership development programs like Arriba las Mujeres, we empower young Latinos to navigate their civic journeys, from their first voter registration to becoming civic leaders for their communities. Our efforts in 2024 have us eager to dive in and apply everything we’ve learned into 2025.

With the Texas Legislative session around the corner, it’s essential to think strategically and proactively about how we can organize to defend our communities. Jolt will push for policies that unite us, like healthcare access, affordable education, and pathways to citizenship.

The political landscape in Texas is shifting, and Jolt is proud to be at the forefront. With your support, we will continue to mobilize the largest and youngest demographic in Texas to achieve fair representation and lasting progress.

>> READ OUR FULL ANNUAL REPORT 2024 <<

AUSTIN – Jolt, the leading Latino voter registration organization in Texas, today announced the departure of Diana Maldonado, who has served as Interim Executive Director for the past two years. Maldonado’s tenure has been marked by steadfast leadership, strategic organizational restructuring, and remarkable growth in voter registration efforts. Her last day with the organization will be November 30th.

Maldonado initially stepped into the role in an interim capacity, and with her deep seeded  influence in politics  and relationships across the state, set the stage to elevate Jolt’s impact. With her extended tenure, she expanded its network of supporters and funders and had a profound influence. Under her leadership, Jolt successfully negotiated its first Collective Bargaining Agreement and unionized its workforce, enhancing the organization’s commitment to its values of equity and justice. She provided deposition testimony for SB1(77R) on voter suppression, a group plaintiff represented by MALDEF.  With Latinos now making up over 40% of the majority ethnic group in the state, Jolt  has steadily increased its outreach to eligible young Latino voters by facilitating access to  new voters.  

“Being part of Jolt’s legacy project—empowering Latino voices and emphasizing the importance of informed voting—has been a privilege and honor in paying it forward to the next generation,” said Maldonado. “I have enjoyed the opportunities and challenges that are part of democracy and have cherished every moment spent with such a talented team. I am filled with excitement about the new opportunities that lie ahead for my professional endeavors and Jolt. I leave knowing Jolt is stronger and more prepared for the future than ever.”

The Board of Directors will lead the search for a permanent Executive Director, ensuring continuity as Jolt approaches the new year. In the interim, Jolt remains committed to its mission of empowering Latinos across Texas, setting records in voter registration and leading grassroots initiatives for political engagement.

“Diana has been an invaluable leader during her time at Jolt,” said Anthony Elmo, Jolt Initiative’s Board Chair. “Her leadership has strengthened the organization and built a lasting foundation that will continue to grow and empower Texas Latinos. 

For more information, please contact media@jolttx.com, 512-200-2878.

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ABOUT JOLT INITIATIVE

Jolt Initiative is a non-profit organization that increases the civic participation of Latinos in Texas to build a stronger democracy and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.  Learn more at joltinitiative.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 16. 2024

CONTACT: Bloom Communications, media@jolttx.org, (512) 200-2878

Federal Court Suit Alleges Violations of the First and Fourth Amendments and Unlawful Voter Intimidation

Contact: Seeker Strategies, 956-459-8498, press@seekerstrategies.com

AUSTIN, TX – On September 13, Jolt Initiative sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in federal court to stop his baseless demand for the organization’s records related to its voter registration and civic engagement efforts. The filing comes amid an onslaught of investigations into civil rights and civic engagement nonprofits throughout the state. [Texas Tribune, September 13, 2024]

Attorney General Paxton served Jolt with a “request to examine” letter that demanded that Jolt Initiative provide documents containing confidential information, including the identities of its volunteer deputy registrars and the private citizens they have registered to vote. Providing this information would expose Jolt staff, volunteers, and private citizens to intimidation and threats, and would chill the organization’s exercise of fundamental freedoms of expression. While Paxton does not have criminal prosecutorial authority, his letter threatened Jolt with the termination of its registration and ability to carry out its work in Texas if Jolt does not hand over the sensitive documents by September 19, 2024. 

“Tyranny thrives in silence. That is why the freedom of speech and association guaranteed by our United States Constitution is so critical to our democracy. That is why the protections afforded by the Voting Rights Act against intimidation tactics are still necessary today. Here in the United States and in the great State of Texas, we have the right to speak out, organize, and mobilize for change,” said Mimi Marziani of Marziani, Stevens & Gonzalez PLLC. “Jolt will not be silenced. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s latest attack on Jolt is part of his larger efforts to bully Latino civic engagement organizations. Prompted by wild conspiracy theories from extremist activists on social media, AG Paxton launched a sham investigation into Jolt. But his unauthorized demand for confidential information, including the names of Jolt’s volunteers and voters, is unconstitutional and unlawful, and we are confident the federal courts will agree.” 

“Jolt works every day to increase the civic participation of young Latinos in Texas to build a stronger democracy that works for all of us. To do that, we call upon our staff and enlist trained community members to conduct nonpartisan voter registration in accordance with state law,” said Diana Maldonado, Executive Director at Jolt Initiative. “There is always a rush of new voters as the registration deadline approaches and interest in elections grows. This investigation is nothing more than a scare tactic meant to impede our voter registration efforts, subject our volunteers and voters we’ve registered to unnecessary scrutiny and harassment, and isolate Jolt from our partners and the community we serve. Jolt remains committed to its mission to support the Latino community and encourage communities to get out and vote in record numbers.”

“Jolt is the latest target of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign to undermine and silence Latino civil rights organizations in Texas,” said Mary McCord, Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center. “The intrusive and baseless document demand violates Jolt’s Fourth Amendment rights, infringes its First Amendment right to freedom of association, retaliates against Jolt for protected expression, and violates the Voting Rights Act’s prohibition on voter intimidation.  We look forward to vindicating the rights of Jolt and its employees, volunteers, and the voters they register.”

Click here to read the court filings in Jolt Initiative v. Ken Paxton 

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Jolt initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization that increases the civic participation of Latinos to build a stronger democracy and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.

Young Latina leadership virtual training across the state Sat. July 29

Austin, TX – Jolt Initiative gears up for the nonprofit organization’s Arriba Las Mujeres
Leadership Program to offer free virtual training events for participating young Latinas on
Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and wraps up with an in-person Networking
Session in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio on Saturday, August 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Jolt
offices. Jolt Initiative invests in empowering women to harness their creativity and
motivational skills to become powerful leaders in their communities.
“In one year, Texas’ Latino population will not only be the largest underrepresented group
by numbers, but also in its ability to influence jobs sectors in the largest metropolitan
communities,” said Diana Maldonado, Interim Executive Director at Jolt Initiative. “And
Latina women are at the forefront of that change with more of them graduating with
associate degrees from community colleges and baccalaureate degrees in high-demand
fields such as manufacturing, technology, nursing, and biosciences. At our events, we want
our young Latinas to network with each other and build the confidence needed to be
prepared for negotiating job salaries and take on board and leadership roles that will
shape the future of our state.”
The virtual professional development and leadership program is open to young Latina
women and people who self-identify as women, preferably between 16-26 years old, in our
major Texas cities. The goal for Arriba Las Mujeres is to give young women the opportunity
to engage with the five core issues of Jolt Initiative’s advocacy: Democracy for all,
immigration, jobs/economy, healthcare, and climate issues.
“At the end of the program, all participants will have the opportunity to meet and network
with influential Latina leaders across the state that are working directly on issues
impacting the Latino community,” said Maria Tolentino, Director of Programs at Jolt
Initiative.
Interested young Latina adults can sign up for each of the free training events online
before July 27 at joltinitiative.org/arriba-las-mujeres/. Sessions will be held virtually.

To arrange an interview about this event, contact the Communications Team at
antonio@jolttx.org.