This session takes a clear look at the growing pressure on public education in 2026, from federal and state budget cuts to key programs like Head Start to continued efforts to weaken the role of the Department of Education. It will examine the expansion of voucher programs and charter schools, along with ongoing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion and the targeting of Hispanic-Serving Institutions that have long supported Latino student success. Panelists will also address the impact of immigration enforcement actions, including ICE activity near schools, on students and families. The focus is direct: how these shifts are reshaping access and opportunity for Latino, immigrant, and low-income students, and what it will take for communities to respond, organize, and defend equitable education.
This session looks directly at mental health in a difficult moment, with a focus on suicide prevention for youth, young adults, and adults. Latino families are under strain, from immigration crackdowns and rising costs to healthcare that remains out of reach and a growing sense of social isolation. The session is practical. It shows how to recognize warning signs, reduce stigma, and support someone who may be in crisis. The point is to give people tools they can use, not just ideas.
This session takes a hard look at what coalition building actually requires in 2026. For Latino communities, it means moving past surface-level alignment and doing the work of showing up for others, even when the issue is not our own. The panelists are practitioners, people who have built and sustained coalitions across lines of race, status, and identity. They bring a clear view of what works, what does not, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
This session brings together voices from across the Latino community to confront the myths that flatten our experiences. Speakers come from different backgrounds, regions, and walks of life, alongside those at the intersection of identities too often targeted, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, undocumented communities, and Black communities. The challenge in building solidarity is simple: we fail to see our struggle in the struggle of others until it reaches our own doorstep. LULAC’s 97-year history makes the lesson clear. The goal here is direct: replace assumption with truth, stereotype with reality, and use that clarity to build stronger, more honest coalitions in 2026 and beyond.
This panel looks directly at the 2026 midterms and what they mean for Latino voters. It draws on LULAC’s recent work confronting disinformation, pushing back on restrictive state policies, and strengthening voter protection in the places where Latino turnout will matter most. The focus is practical: making sure Latino voters have clear information, know their rights, and can respond to intimidation when it happens. The goal is straightforward: ensure Latino voters can participate freely, safely, and without interference in one of the most consequential elections ahead.
As the final session of the 2026 Convention, this Community Forum brings together the central issues shaping this moment, from economic pressure and education challenges to civic engagement and the broader issues facing Latino communities nationwide. This moderated discussion focuses on advocacy and strategy, with an emphasis on building smart coalitions that can move work forward across organizations and communities. It identifies where pressure points exist and what actions are needed next. The goal is clear: leave with a shared understanding of priorities, a stronger strategy, and a commitment to act with purpose beyond the Convention.
