About AACT


AACT began in order to forge a single organization that will improve voter registration and voter turnout in the community.

For over 50 years, South Texas has been well below the state average for voter turnout. Reaching the community in a meaningful way has proven to be a difficult task to many in state and out of state organizations. As a result, a group of concerned leaders from the South Texas community came together to form the Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas (AACT).

This organization was envisioned by all as a nonprofit, nonpartisan entity. On October 3, 2011, AACT filed with the State of Texas to officially request their 501(c)(3) status. The goal of this endeavor was to forge a single organization to serve as a uniting “table” for all nonpartisan, charitable voter registration and turnout efforts in the community.

Our Goal


A 65% Voter Turnout Rate for South Texas.

The formation of AACT and its nonpartisan nature of work allows us to effectively send a message that what we do will stay in our community. AACT is committed to a year-round effort to educate, engage, and empower the citizens of South Texas.

Through integrated coordination and micro‐targeting, AACT will partner with large employers, community organizations, hospitals, schools and universities, as well as state and national entities, to coordinate a unified voter outreach effort that avoids duplication and streamlines messaging. As South Texas's population grows at record pace, our proportional representation in the electorate does not.

To change this outcome, AACT has crafted a 65% voter turnout campaign for the Rio Grande Valley, a four county area in the southernmost region of Texas with a population of over 1 million. The 65% voter turnout campaign goal will help AACT reach a voter turnout parity with other counties in the state.

AACT Board and Staff


AACT Board President

Luzelma Canales, Ph.D

Director
Educate Texas/Communities Foundation of Texas

AACT Board Members

Alonzo Cantu

Business Owner/Developer
Cantu Construction & Development Company

Jennifer Garza

CEO
Edinburg Regional/Children's Hospital

Ricardo Godinez

Attorney
Godinez Law Firm

Ambrosio Hernandez, MD

Pediatric Surgeon
Driscoll Hospital & Doctors Hospital at Renaissance

Juan Peña

Partner
Valley Land Title Company

Abraham Quiroga

District Manager
Magic Valley Electric Coop

Mario Reyna

Dean of Business and Technology
South Texas College

Rodrigo Rodriguez

Business Owner
Rio Bravo Pictures

Sergio Sanchez

Program Director
R Communications

Tom Torkelson

CEO & President
IDEA Public Schools

Veronica Gonzales

VP for Govt./Community Relations
UT-Rio Grande Valley

Tania Chavez

Special Projects Coordinator
La Union del Pueblo Entero

AACT Staff

Carlos W. Martinez

Executive Director