Episode 54: How to Register to Vote in New York City

Episode 56: How The Big Beautiful Bill Threatens the Health and Wellbeing of Garifuna New Yorkers

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508443/fan_mail/new] In this critical episode, host José Francisco Ávila breaks down the federal legislation H.R. 1 (the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act") and uncovers its disproportionate, sweeping impacts on Garifuna American New Yorkers. While the bill reshapes national tax codes, it introduces a massive shift toward aggressive interior immigration enforcement and slashes federal funding for essential healthcare safety nets. We dive deep into exactly what this means for our community, including: * The Healthcare Crisis: How a 12% cut to Medicaid and federal defunding of the Essential Plan could leave up to 1.5 million New Yorkers—including thousands of Garifuna seniors, children, and mixed-status families—completely uninsured. * ICE Expansion & Community Fear: The reality of a $100 billion enforcement budget that target essential worker sectors, create administrative red tape, and introduce steep, prohibitive fees for asylum seekers and legal status adjustments. * The New York Fightback: A breakdown of NYS Senate Bill S9589, recently introduced by Senator Gustavo Rivera, and how New York State is moving to create a state-funded shield to protect vulnerable immigrant communities from losing coverage. H.R. 1 isn't just a policy shift—it’s a direct threat to the safety, economic stability, and dignity of Garifuna families. Tune in to learn how we can stay informed, stay protected, and stay united. Resources: * Subscribe on your favorite podcast app [https://thegarifunaexperiencepodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7p6fXHGiJvbNNQ4u3ux7Xl] * iHeartRadio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-garifuna-experience-po-280280354/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuEuzWeRSPWhUFWQEnh9neTO1GDq5Bc_q] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80f4e54d-429d-4f86-a8ee-91d8d437a613/the-garifuna-experience-podcast?ref=dm_sh_Tfhr4GlgoHEGXqINpyacBWNVd] * Subscribe to our newsletter  [https://mailchi.mp/josefranciscoavila/the-garifuna-experience-podcast-newsletter] * Register To Vote Online for the June 23 Primary Election [https://vote.nyc/page/am-i-registered] * Request a Ballot Application Online  [https://requestballot.vote.nyc/] * Find Your Pollsite and View a Sample Ballot [https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/] * Garifuna Coalition [https://garifunacoalition.org/] Books by José Francisco Ávila * Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride:: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Pan-Garifuna-Afro-Latino-Power-Pride-Ancestral/dp/B09HG6H321&ved=2ahUKEwjTyZT5m4OTAxVELVkFHS0bJzMQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2BR_lhsV0_yHKeTG3-BFtF]

Episode 55: New York Midterm Primary Election Guide

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508443/fan_mail/new] Mabuiga! Welcome back to The Garifuna Experience Podcast. Your voice is your power, and the upcoming New York Primary Election on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, is one of the most direct ways to protect and empower our neighborhoods across the five boroughs. In Episode 55, host José Francisco Ávila breaks down everything you need to know to confidently cast your ballot—whether you are a first-time voter or a seasoned pro. We tackle the local and state offices on the ballot (from Congress to the State Assembly), explain how New York's closed primary system works, and layout your legal rights at the polling site (including language assistance and paid time off to vote). Key 2026 Deadlines to Lock Into Your Calendar: *  June 13: Last day to register to vote OR apply online/by mail for a ballot. * June 13 – June 21: Early Voting Period. * June 22: Last day to apply for a ballot in person. * June 23: Primary Election Day! (Polls open 6 AM–9 PM. Ballots must be dropped off by 9 PM or postmarked by today). Our community’s future is in our hands. Don't sit this one out. Tune in, get informed, and let’s make our voices heard. Sungubei Lidan Aban (Together as one). Resources: * Subscribe on your favorite podcast app [https://thegarifunaexperiencepodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7p6fXHGiJvbNNQ4u3ux7Xl] *  iHeartRadio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-garifuna-experience-po-280280354/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuEuzWeRSPWhUFWQEnh9neTO1GDq5Bc_q] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80f4e54d-429d-4f86-a8ee-91d8d437a613/the-garifuna-experience-podcast?ref=dm_sh_Tfhr4GlgoHEGXqINpyacBWNVd] * Subscribe to our newsletter  [https://mailchi.mp/josefranciscoavila/the-garifuna-experience-podcast-newsletter] * 2026 New York Primary Election Voter Guide [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cRhBiFxSh9kU8Z0bfj0R8K4zCOboQehl?usp=sharing] * Register To Vote Online for the June 23 Primary Election [https://vote.nyc/page/am-i-registered] * Request a Ballot Application Online  [https://requestballot.vote.nyc/] * Find Your Pollsite and View a Sample Ballot [https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/] *  Garifuna Coalition [https://garifunacoalition.org/] Books by José Francisco Ávila * Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride:: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Pan-Garifuna-Afro-Latino-Power-Pride-Ancestral/dp/B09HG6H321&ved=2ahUKEwjTyZT5m4OTAxVELVkFHS0bJzMQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2BR_lhsV0_yHKeTG3-BFtF]

Episode 54: How to Register to Vote in New York City

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508443/fan_mail/new] “Our vote is our voice, and our voice is our power.” With the crucial June 23, 2026 Primary Election quickly approaching, host José Francisco Ávila sits down for a vital, community-first civic masterclass. In New York State, the absolute deadline for the Board of Elections to receive your voter registration form is June 13, 2026. If you aren’t registered by then, you cannot cast a ballot in this June's primary.  In this episode, José strips away the dry, confusing bureaucratic jargon and walks you through the New York State Voter Registration Form line-by-line. Whether you are registering for the very first time, updating your home address after a move, or a 16- or 17-year-old looking to pre-register, this episode ensures your application is filled out perfectly so your vote counts. What we cover in this episode: * The 3 Eligibility Requirements: Who can legally register in New York. * Line-by-Line Form Breakdown: Exactly what to write in Boxes 1 through 15—and the minor mistakes that cause forms to get rejected. * Identity Verification: How to navigate the form if you don't have a NY Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ID. * Closed Primaries Explained: Why party enrollment matters in New York and how it affects your ballot. * Language Access: How to request official forms in Spanish, Garifuna-community spoken languages, and other translations via the NYC Board of Elections.  Grab a blue or black ink pen, pull up the form, and let’s get registered together. Sungubei Lidan Aban—Together as One! Resources: * Subscribe on your favorite podcast app [https://thegarifunaexperiencepodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7p6fXHGiJvbNNQ4u3ux7Xl] * iHeartRadio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-garifuna-experience-po-280280354/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuEuzWeRSPWhUFWQEnh9neTO1GDq5Bc_q] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80f4e54d-429d-4f86-a8ee-91d8d437a613/the-garifuna-experience-podcast?ref=dm_sh_Tfhr4GlgoHEGXqINpyacBWNVd] * Subscribe to our newsletter  [https://mailchi.mp/josefranciscoavila/the-garifuna-experience-podcast-newsletter] *  Register To Vote Online for the June 23 Primary Election [https://vote.nyc/page/am-i-registered] * Request a Ballot Application Online  [https://requestballot.vote.nyc/] * Find Your Pollsite and View a Sample Ballot [https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/] * Garifuna Coalition [https://garifunacoalition.org/] Books by José Francisco Ávila * Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride:: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Pan-Garifuna-Afro-Latino-Power-Pride-Ancestral/dp/B09HG6H321&ved=2ahUKEwjTyZT5m4OTAxVELVkFHS0bJzMQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2BR_lhsV0_yHKeTG3-BFtF]

Episode 53 Script: New York City Campaign Finance Board’s 2025 Voter Analysis Report

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508443/fan_mail/new] In local New York City politics, the margin of victory in a City Council primary can often come down to fewer than 3,000 votes. Your vote isn't just a drop in the bucket—it is the deciding factor. In this episode, host José Francisco Ávila breaks down the groundbreaking data from the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s (CFB) freshly released 2025 Voter Analysis Report. While NYC saw historic, record-breaking voter registration rates surpassing 94% and the highest general election turnout in over 50 years, a deeper look at the data reveals a persistent gap: voter turnout in the Bronx still lags behind the rest of the city at just 30.3%. What is keeping our community from the ballot box, and how do we fix it? José discusses the restrictive, confusing deadlines of New York's closed primary system and highlights how Garifuna VOICE (Garifuna Voice Voting and Organizing to Increase Civic Engagement) is hit-the-ground running in the South Bronx Corridor. Tune in to learn how we are turning "occasional voters" into "habitual voters," engaging our youth and new citizens, and pushing for common-sense policy reforms to make voting accessible for everyone. The future of our community is in our hands—and it is written on the ballot. Sungubei Lidan Aban (Together as one). Key Takeaways From This Episode: * The 2025 Surge: How NYC surpassed a 94% voter registration rate and what drove 260,000 first-time voters to register. * The Turnout Gap: Why the Bronx recorded the lowest turnout (30.3%) despite citywide historic highs, and why the CFB has labeled the South Bronx a "priority community district." * Navigating the Deadlines: A breakdown of NYC's confusing voter deadlines (including the February 14th party enrollment cutoff) and the CFB's recommendation to align them. * Garifuna VOICE in Action: How our nonpartisan civic empowerment campaign is targeting the South Bronx Corridor to build long-term political power. Resources: * Subscribe on your favorite podcast app [https://thegarifunaexperiencepodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7p6fXHGiJvbNNQ4u3ux7Xl] * iHeartRadio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-garifuna-experience-po-280280354/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuEuzWeRSPWhUFWQEnh9neTO1GDq5Bc_q] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80f4e54d-429d-4f86-a8ee-91d8d437a613/the-garifuna-experience-podcast?ref=dm_sh_Tfhr4GlgoHEGXqINpyacBWNVd] * Subscribe to our newsletter  [https://mailchi.mp/josefranciscoavila/the-garifuna-experience-podcast-newsletter] * Register To Vote Online for the June 23 Primary Election [https://vote.nyc/page/am-i-registered] * Request a Ballot Application Online  [https://requestballot.vote.nyc/] * Find Your Pollsite and View a Sample Ballot [https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/] * Garifuna Coalition [https://garifunacoalition.org/] Books by José Francisco Ávila * Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride:: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Pan-Garifuna-Afro-Latino-Power-Pride-Ancestral/dp/B09HG6H321&ved=2ahUKEwjTyZT5m4OTAxVELVkFHS0bJzMQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2BR_lhsV0_yHKeTG3-BFtF]

Episode 52: Strengthening Democracy Through Nonpartisan Voter Engagement

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2508443/fan_mail/new] Is your voice being heard, or have you been labeled an "unlikely voter"? In this powerful episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila pulls back the curtain on the "participation gap" that has historically sidelined immigrant communities, youth, and people of color. We dive deep into the political "feedback loop" that ignores non-voters and explain why nonpartisan outreach is the ultimate tool for democratic resistance. Learn how the Garifuna Coalition is utilizing its 501(c)(3) status to break this cycle, build "civic muscle," and ensure our community isn't just a checkbox on a census form, but a force at the ballot box. In this episode, we discuss: * The "Unlikely Voter" Myth: How political campaigns ignore new voters and how we are changing that narrative. * Nonpartisan vs. Paartisan: Why being independent of party loyalty allows us to be louder on the issues that matter. * Garifuna VOICE: A breakdown of our five strategic pillars, from Year-Round Registration, the 2030 Censusand Data Equity to Redistricting Advocacy. * Youth & Digital Activism: Bridging ancestral heritage with modern political power for Gen Z and Millennials. Our vote is our voice, and our voice is our power. Tune in to learn how we are transforming the electorate to reflect the true diversity of the communities we serve. In this episode, we discuss: * The New York Connection: Why "smug" New Yorkers shouldn't ignore this ruling, and a look back at the "political trickery" that once required federal oversight in Brooklyn and the Bronx. * The Shirley Chisholm Legacy: How the VRA paved the way for the first Black woman in Congress, and how those same districts are now at risk. * Voices of Defiance: Hard-hitting reactions from leaders at NALEO, UnidosUS, and LULAC. * The 2026 Action Plan: How we can fight back through state-level legislation and local vigilance at the ballot box. As we approach the 2026 midterms, the message is clear: We will not be silenced by judicial fiat. Our vote is our voice, and our voice is our power. Resources: *  Subscribe on your favorite podcast app [https://thegarifunaexperiencepodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7p6fXHGiJvbNNQ4u3ux7Xl] * iHeartRadio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-garifuna-experience-po-280280354/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuEuzWeRSPWhUFWQEnh9neTO1GDq5Bc_q] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80f4e54d-429d-4f86-a8ee-91d8d437a613/the-garifuna-experience-podcast?ref=dm_sh_Tfhr4GlgoHEGXqINpyacBWNVd] * Subscribe to our newsletter  [https://mailchi.mp/josefranciscoavila/the-garifuna-experience-podcast-newsletter] * Register To Vote Online for the June 23 Primary Election [https://vote.nyc/page/am-i-registered] * Request a Ballot Application Online  [https://requestballot.vote.nyc/] * Find Your Pollsite and View a Sample Ballot [https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/] * Garifuna Coalition [https://garifunacoalition.org/] Books by José Francisco Ávila * Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride:: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Pan-Garifuna-Afro-Latino-Power-Pride-Ancestral/dp/B09HG6H321&ved=2ahUKEwjTyZT5m4OTAxVELVkFHS0bJzMQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2BR_lhsV0_yHKeTG3-BFtF]