Turning Data into Power: Insights from the Latino Summit
LEDC Latino Summit, August 29, 2026
When community leaders, organizers, educators, and neighbors gathered last weekend, the choice of venue was anything but incidental. We chose the Omaha Central Library, a space where diversity arises organically, where nationalities collide through words and adventures, and where we openly acknowledge that our varied lived experiences and perspectives are what bring true richness to our lives.
A library is a sanctuary of shared truths and interconnected stories. In many ways, that is exactly what this Summit sought to achieve: to bring our individual stories out of the shadows and validate them through undeniable data, charting a path forward for Latino leadership and equity across Nebraska.
Convened by the Latino Economic Development Council, this gathering served as a vital checkpoint. Mark Hugo Lopez, Director of Race and Ethnicity Research at the Pew Research Center led the stage, because real advocacy requires an unshakeable foundation. As an internationally recognized, nonpartisan fact tank, the Pew Research Center provides the gold standard in demographic research. Mark’s presentation allowed us to look beyond political rhetoric and ground our shared reality in empirical truth.
More Than Numbers: The Reality of Our Growth
It is one thing to say our community is growing; it is another to understand the weight of that growth. The U.S. Hispanic population has officially surpassed 70 million. Here at home, the Omaha metropolitan area is now home to 141,000 Latinos, making up 13% of our metro population. Statewide, 272,000 Latinos represent 14% of Nebraska, firmly standing as the state's second-largest racial or ethnic group.
But what do these data points actually mean for our daily lives? It means that our youth, our families, and our workforce are the undeniable engine of this state's future. With a median age of just 25 years among Nebraska Latinos (compared to 39 for non-Hispanics), we are a vibrant, foundational pillar of the community. It means our educational strides, particularly the strong gains in bachelor’s degrees among Hispanic women are actively reshaping the professional landscape (talk about Latina Power, now THAT’S Chic!).
Our Interconnected Community: Citizenship and Immigration
To understand our community is to embrace the full spectrum of our origins. Nationally, the vast majority of U.S. Hispanics, 79%, are U.S. citizens. This includes 67% who are U.S.-born and 13% who are naturalized citizens.
However, we must also fiercely support and recognize the 21% of our population who are immigrants without U.S. citizenship. This percentage represents a deeply woven tapestry of individuals: lawful permanent residents building businesses, asylum seekers searching for safety, temporary visa holders driving our agricultural and tech sectors, DACA recipients who know no other home, and undocumented neighbors who are essential contributors to the local economy. In Nebraska alone, 37% of our Latino community are immigrants.
These are not separate groups; they are our parents, our siblings, and our amigos. When the data shows that 52% of Latino adults worry about deportation impacting a family member or close friend, and 43% worry about being asked to prove their legal status, it reflects a collective anxiety that touches us all, regardless of our own personal citizenship. Our struggles and our futures are inherently tied together.
The Turning Point: 1 Million Voices a Year
Perhaps the most empowering data point shared during the Summit was this: every single year, approximately 1 million Latino youth turn 18 and become eligible to vote. Nationally, these young people account for a staggering 80% of all Latino eligible voter growth.
In Nebraska, we now have 109,000 Latinos eligible to vote, making up 8% of the state's electorate, up from just 3% two decades ago. We are standing at a demographic tipping point. However, as the research clearly reminds us, eligibility does not guarantee turnout. The potential of those 1 million new voices a year is only realized if we actively mentor, organize, and mobilize them to the ballot box.
And if you missed our Summit, we have a gift for you…
Because equitable progress requires open, transparent access to knowledge, just like a library, we have embedded the complete presentation slides from the Pew Research Center. We encourage you to review the data, share it with your networks, and use it to inform your local advocacy.
Understanding these numbers is only the first step. The true test is how we use them to advocate for accessible healthcare, build equitable pathways to generational wealth, support our mixed-status immigrant families, and awaken the civic power of our youth.
Information is power, y juntos podemos hacer el cambio.
