Nonprofit uses World Cup soccer to engage Yakima community on energy affordability | Sports - RAW CHILI

The Brief

Poder Latinx, a nonprofit focused on political and civic participation in the Latinx community, hosted a “One Hot Summer” event in Yakima that combined World Cup soccer with education about energy affordability.

The organization is conducting surveys to understand how much residents pay for electricity based on their income and is partnering with Yakima Valley College to teach students about the impacts of high energy bills.

Volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods to help residents understand their electric bills and advocate for themselves in local politics.

Yakima, Wash. — On a day when temperatures soared up to 100 degrees, Poder Latinx brought the heat in a different way, combining the excitement of World Cup soccer with a serious message about energy affordability.

The nonprofit, which connects with the Latinx community through political and civic participation, hosted the “One Hot Summer” event to engage residents on utility costs while capitalizing on widespread enthusiasm for the World Cup tournament.

“Our community got really excited about the World Cup,” said Merivet Lombera, Washington State Coordinator for Poder Latinx. “With our surveys that we have been doing we tied the campaign to soccer where we are asking the community who do they think is going to win the World Cup.”

The nonprofit is currently running surveys to gather data on how much residents pay for electricity based on their income levels. This information helps the organization and the people they help better understand the financial burden energy costs place on different households in the Yakima Valley.

To expand its reach and impact, Poder Latinx has partnered with Yakima Valley College to run a leadership program that teaches students about the consequences of high energy bills. The program equips young leaders with knowledge they can share with their neighbors and families.

Volunteers with the organization are taking the message directly to residents through neighborhood canvassing efforts. Max Torres, a volunteer with Poder Latinx and student at Yakima Valley College, explained the approach: “We’re going to be canvasing, going to neighborhoods and talking about how their electric bill works, and what exactly is costing them. We’re going to do a breakdown of what that is. So in the future people can of course reach out to our organization and we can help them try to break down their power bill so they know where all their money is going.”

Beyond the immediate goal of helping residents understand their utility bills, Poder Latinx is addressing a broader civic issue within the Latinx community.

“We are a big number of Latinos here, we’re also a small number of voters,” Torres said. “And we’re trying to flip that script and help Latinos realize we have a voice to advocate for ourselves in the politics.”

By helping residents understand their bills and the systems that determine their costs, Poder Latinx hopes to empower them to engage in the political process and advocate for policies that address their needs.

The “One Hot Summer” event featured more than just education. The free community gathering included games, food, and a watch party for the World Cup semi-final that resulted in Argentina defeating England, creating an accessible entry point for residents and students to learn about the organization’s work while enjoying summer activities.

While the World Cup tournament concludes on Sunday, Poder Latinx is hoping the messages from the event encourage engagement with the community long after the final match is played. The organization’s surveys, leadership program, and canvassing efforts will continue as they work to build a more politically active and informed Latinx community in Yakima.