Onondaga Latino Caucus (Syracuse, N.Y.)

In 2001, the Onondaga Latino Caucus was founded by Fernando Ortiz, Dr. Maritza Alvarado, and Bethaida Gonzalez. The non-partisan group's goal is to help Latinos understand that their vote counts and to educate and engage the Latino community in the political process by providing voter registration sites, educational forums, and other activities. Among the Latinos representing the community was Bethaida Gonzl̀ez, who served on the Syracuse City School Board from 1991-1994 and was elected President of the Syracuse Common Council in 2001. Around the same time, Laura Cardona became the city's first Latino judge and Marisol Hernandez was elected to the Syracuse City School Board.