Q&A: UHCL alumnus aims to educate minorities through ‘Political Power Tour’

There’s only one way to define University of Houston-Clear Lake alumnus Antonio Arellano; a young man with a dream and a desire to empower others.

Arellano was born in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico and then moved to the United States when he was just three. Despite the many challenges, Arellano managed to rise to the top and is now a social media correspondent and content contributor at the ABC news local affiliate, KTRK.

This one-of-a-kind millennial now uses his social media influence to spark conversations about local politics and empower local minorities.

Q: Can you tell us about your background, both personal and professional?

A: Originally born in Uriangato, Guanajuato in México, I am a proud immigrant and fortunate DACA recipient. I have lived in the United States since the age of 3.

When I close my eyes and try to relive the very first memory my brain can produce, it’s crossing the border and arriving in America, that’s where it all begins.

I grew up in a very traditional Mexican household. And even though we were challenged by every obstacle you can imagine, including economic and language barriers, I never heard my parents complain about our situation, for even at its worst it was 100 times better than what we had experience in our native country. Our optimism was fueled by the land of opportunity and we were grateful and ready to work to contribute to this country and achieve the promise of the American dream.

At a very early age, my parents always humbled me by reminding me that we came from nothing and had very little, but my ticket to success was my education. I have always been very ambitious, I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and drive that I can only attribute to the strength of my parents, and the sacrifices my ancestors made to give me a chance at a better life.

I was the first in my family to graduate from college and shortly after interning for the Houston Chronicle, I became the first social media influencer to ever be signed by ABC13 Houston.

Now I am refocusing my time and energy to helping Latinos forge the future of America, embarking on the Texas Latinx: political power tour to help educate, engage, and empower our Latino community to organize, mobilize and become civically engaged.

Q: How did you get involved in the world of journalism?

A: At home, we only spoke Spanish and only consumed Spanish news. I remember my passion for journalism begins by watching María Elena Salinas y Jorge Ramos en el noticiero de Univisión. What impacted me the most was witnessing these profoundly influential Latinos narrate history as it unfolded before our eyes. But most importantly I wanted to give my community a voice and amplify the issues that weren’t being addressed.

Q: What inspired you to get involved in local politics and become one of the top social media influencers in the city?

A: Shortly after graduating from high school and moving to Houston I begin to use Twitter to disseminate information regarding topics that affected the Latino community, specifically the undocumented demographic. I realize I could contribute a very unique perspective to the way this news was being disseminated and also shine the light, on what I consider the civil rights movement of our time and the fight for comprehensive immigration reform.

I quickly realized that if I really wanted to make a difference I needed to begin to encourage the youth to become civically engaged and use our power in numbers to reflect our strength at the voting polls. So I begin to engage our citizen allies — many of them first-generation Mexican-Americans and prepare them to vote.

My social media has grown exponentially ever since. now reaching an estimated 90,000 followers on my social media platforms combine, many of which are now millennial Latinx registered voters.

Early on I became involved with a lot of nonprofit organizations including Mi Familia Vota and emerging Latino leaders in Houston. It was these organizations that gave me the opportunity to interview all of the Houston Mayoral candidates in the 2015 election. I used the space to my advantage and made sure to address the concerns of Houston’s Latino electorate.

Q: Tell us about your Texas Latinx Political Power tour. What’s the concept behind it and what would you say is the overarching purpose?

A: Latinos are not done making history in Texas. Since the early Chicano movement for civil rights and social justice Texas has been ground zero for the empowerment of Latinos. Now we’re quickly approaching a historic demographic shift in the Lone Star State. It is projected that by 2022 Latinos will become the majority of the population in the state of Texas.

I’ve created the Texas Latinx: Political Power Tour to address the disproportionate and inaccurate representation that currently exist within our state while empowering our community with the tools they need to change it.

Q: What are some of the things you will be discussing during these talks?

A: In Harris County, 40 percent of the population is Latino, yet none Latinos hold or have been elected to the highest leadership positions.

Today there are no Latinos in the 5 seat commissioners Court, no Latino representatives in Congress, no Latino ever elected county judge, and no Latino ever elected mayor in Houston, which is home to the second largest Latino population in the United States. This is simply unacceptable.

This type of lack of true representation is widespread throughout Texas. Through the TLPPT I want to not just raise awareness of the problems but also offer solutions in regards to how we must modernize civic engagement and the way we reach out to the Latino electorate. Phone banking and block walking maybe the bread and butter of our democracy but it simply not how you’re going to activate or mobilize the Latino voting block — we must do better. It’s time to have those conversations and begin to address how we must innovate and incorporate the digital generation.

Q: What is your definition of civic engagement?

A: To me, civic engagement means working together towards improving the every day lives of our communities. Through political and non-political organizing and actions.

Q: What’s would you say is the most rewarding thing about educating the public? 

A: Giving the youth the tools to defend their freedom for a future generation.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to empower Latinos, specifically given the current political climate? 

A: Latinos are currently under attack. We must put and end to the discrimination and negative rhetoric. With the exponential growth of the Latino population in Texas will come a need for a shift of power, to help amplify and validate the voices of the new driving force of the Texas economy — the Latinos. We must prepare for that and demand to be respected and recognize for the positive contributions we make in both Texas and across the United States.

Q: How did your time at The University of Houston-Clear Lake influence your professional career?

A: The University of Houston-Clear Lake was one of the best resources I’ve had on my mission to create a new era of opportunity and prosperity for all in Texas.

Q: Are you hoping to bring this tour to other parts of the state?

A: Yes, that’s the plan, but if you wanna change the world you have to start with your backyard.

For more information about Antonio and his Texas Latinx Tour, click here.