This is a message from one Latina to another: It’s time to decide whether we Latinas are going to play a major role in this coming election.

We are the fastest growing minority population, and because of this, we have the privilege of making an impact on this election. We can have a say in who will become the leaders of our country and states—but our voice counts only if we get to the voting booths.

Remember that President Obama has shown conviction and commitment to the problems that some Latinas face, such as being uninsured, unemployed, and lacking education. He is the only presidential candidate that is going to help us eliminate the health disparities we encounter. So let us, as Latinas, show that we are responsible, concerned citizens by voting and making an impact in this year’s election. Let us rise to the occasion and show our country that we make a difference—and let us make sure that President Obama has another four years in the White House.

With this year’s presidential election only 270 days away, the sense of urgency and mission to re-elect President Barack Obama increases with each passing hour. There is so much at stake in the upcoming elections – especially for my community. As a first generation Latina, I am proud be the daughter of a hardworking, immigrant mother. The GOP’s discourse on immigration often seems so one-dimensional, discounting the human factor and extreme circumstances that lead many immigrants – especially parents – to come to this country and give their children the future they could otherwise not provide.

Many come to the United States to due to extreme economic hardships, some come due to intolerable violence in their home countries, others come simply to chase their dreams – but if there’s one thing I am sure they all come for is to give back. Give back to a country where everybody can see the fruits of their labor. Give back to a country whose basic principles respect the liberty and equality of all of those that inhabit it. And give back to a country where future generations can continue building the dream that was begun by those before them. My mother left everything behind in her native country and came to this country with nothing else but a dream. That dream is seeing her daughter become the first in her family to graduate college. For me, the dream is working for a man, who against all odds was able to become the President of a country that is the landmark of opportunity and hope – the country that made my mother’s dream come true.

Immigration is not solely about economic motives, it’s about real human beings that want the opportunity to chase dreams only this country can provide. For this reason, I will continue working for the remaining 270 days to make sure this country has a President that can protect not only the dream of a young immigrant mother, but the dreams of every single American that lives here. Si se puede!

The day seemed to creep up on us but it is here: 270 days until Nov. 6, 2012 and 270 electoral votes. I know what I’ll be doing: working hard so that we as a country, as a people, re-elect President Barack Obama. For me, it’s a no-brainer. In my lifetime, I have seen an administration work towards giving every American access to a doctor- and not just for emergencies. I have seen an administration committed to making sure my right to choose, better yet–my right to access–is protected. I have seen this administration make a concerted effort to take care of our true heroes while abroad and when they come home. As a Dominican- American, I’ve been fortunate enough to have access to quality education, a loving family, and an encouraging group of friends. It is my obligation to pay it forward. I am in for the next 270 days to ensure that the President can continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform, for policies that embrace quality education for all, sustainable economic growth and above all, access to the true American Dream. 

Will you join me?

Today starting at 12:50 p.m. ET, President Obama will address the National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the country. Today’s speech will underscore the President’s commitment to the Hispanic community—and his efforts to enact policies that lift up our country and invest in our shared future.

Watch the President deliver remarks starting at 12:50 p.m. ET at whitehouse.gov/live.

Today, President Obama kept a promise he made to the Puerto Rican people back in 2008—that he would return to the island as President of the United States. In remarks that he delivered at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, President Obama paid homage to John F. Kennedy and also underscored his administration’s commitment to strengthening the Puerto Rican economy, helping families make ends meet, and ensuring a top-tier education for the next generation.

The President addressed the will of the Puerto Rican people when it comes to the future of the island, saying:

First of all, we’ve addressed the question of political status. In March, a report from our presidential task force on Puerto Rican status provided a meaningful way forward on this question so that the residents of the island can determine their own future. And when the people of Puerto Rico make a clear decision, my administration will stand by you.  

President Obama also spoke about the ongoing effort to improve educational opportunities and expand access to jobs on the island. He praised the progress of green innovation in Puerto Rico, exemplified by the retrofitting of the Cuartel de Ballajá building—a well-known historical site built in the 19th century.

The President closed with these inspirational words: 

Puerto Rico, I don’t need to tell you that we’re not there yet. We’re not where we need to be. But in these challenging times, people on this island don’t quit. We don’t turn back. People in America don’t quit. We don’t turn back. We place our bets on entrepreneurs and on workers and on our families. We understand that there is strength in our diversity. We renew the American Dream. We have done it before. We will do it again.

Read the President’s full remarks at the welcome event in San Juan.