For the first time in history, Pennsylvania will have a State Director serving on the National Board of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Established 96 years ago, LULAC has long been a cornerstone in advancing civil rights, educational access, and civic participation for Latino communities across the United States.

The decision received overwhelming support from LULAC’s National Board, with a resounding “yes” from members representing states across the country—from California to New York, and from Ohio to Texas.

“It is with great pride that we formally welcome the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the national table. Having Pennsylvania’s strong voice on the National Board will immediately strengthen our collective impact for Latino families across Pennsylvania, the entire Northeast, and our great nation.”- Ramery De Luna, LULAC Northeast Regional Vice President

This milestone comes at a pivotal moment for Pennsylvania, one of the fastest-growing Latino populations in the nation. According to recent Census data, Pennsylvania’s Hispanic or Latino population increased by more than 185,000 people (+17.7%) between 2020 and 2024. Despite this growth, Latino representation in public office remains strikingly low: only 1.6% (four of 253 members) of the state legislature is Latino, and in Philadelphia—where Latinos make up about 15% of residents—only 5.9% (one of 17) of City Council members are Latino. Yet, Latinos live in nearly every ZIP code across the city, reflecting deep and diverse community roots.

Nationally, Pennsylvania holds growing political significance. It is not only a key swing state but also home to the tenth-largest population of Latino eligible voters in the U.S., with approximately 579,000 Latinos eligible to vote, according to the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute.

The achievement of statehood within LULAC was driven by LULAC Philadelphia, which recently established seven new councils across the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania State Board includes Maridarlyn Gonzalez, (State Director),  Chris Gale (Deputy State Director), Joanna Maxwell (Treasurer), Stephanie Rivera- Kumar (Scholarship Director), Roseilyn Guzman (Director of Young Adults), Orfelina Payne (Director of Women Affairs), Delilah Dee (Director of Community Affairs), Oscar Lopez (Director of Communications),Maryelis Santiago (Membership Director),  and Francisco Fermin (Policy and Data Director).

“From running for office to stepping into leadership at every level of government, we are here to take up space and show up for each other.From Bad Bunny headlining 2026 Super Bowl to Reading having their first Latino Mayor, we are becoming the change we want to see and we will not be silenced. ¡Vamos por más, porque si se puede!”- Xiomara Santiago, LULAC Philly Events Chair.

In addition to the Philadelphia-based councils, there are four other active LULAC councils across Pennsylvania, three of which are in the Lehigh Valley, each doing incredible work to uplift their local Latino communities through civic engagement, youth mentorship, and advocacy. Together, these councils form a growing statewide network dedicated to equity, education, and representation. Key leaders such as Carlos Aponte (Community Affairs Chair) and Xiomara Santiago  (Events Chair) have been instrumental in expanding community programming, boosting voter turnout, and strengthening fundraising efforts. Their work has been bolstered by dedicated members and allies including Delilah Dee, Adamary Sosa, Ileana Fortuño, and Zoraida Cordero.

Scholarship Chair Roseilyn Guzman, in partnership with Concilio, successfully expanded LULAC’s scholarship program—raising awards from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per student. Meanwhile, Amy Eusebio and Orfelina Feliz Payne have provided critical support for LULAC’s advocacy efforts, helping draft letters to government officials on behalf of immigrant communities.

This historic achievement would not have been possible without the ongoing guidance of LULAC’s trusted advisors: Rev. Luis Cortes, Jennifer Rodriguez, Javier Suarez, Tiffany Tavarez, Rachael Barrett, Antonio Valdes, Adonis Banegas, Edwin Desamour, Peter Gonzalez, David Dix, and Glenn Bryant.

Achieving statehood within LULAC marks a transformative milestone for Pennsylvania, elevating the Commonwealth’s Latino community to national representation for the first time in the organization’s 96-year history. This achievement reflects the rapid growth, deep roots, and rising leadership of Latinos across Pennsylvania, at a moment when the state’s political and civic influence is more significant than ever. With this recognition, Pennsylvania not only strengthens its own movement for equity and representation but also contributes a powerful voice to LULAC’s national mission to advance civil rights, educational opportunity, and justice for Latino families across the country.

Ultimately, this collective effort, driven by dedicated leaders, community advocates, and allies across the Commonwealth, ushers in a new chapter for Latino empowerment in Pennsylvania. It ensures that Latino voices are not only heard but help shape the decisions, policies, and possibilities that define our state and nation.