Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Lugo
Hi Jessica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. I grew up surrounded by incredible, dedicated, passionate educators who made a profound impact on me. I wanted to be that teacher for students who might need a safe space to feel accepted and important, so I got my bachelor’s degree in History and went on to get a Master’s in Education. From there, some of those same teachers I mentioned before then helped me start my career in the same district from which I graduated. I spent 10 years teaching social studies to 11th and 12th graders, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience.
The more I engaged with students and my community, the more interested I became in voting rights and, as a result, was introduced to March to the Polls in 2018. at the time, MTTP was a relatively new organization. Its focus on voter education really appealed to me because, while voter registration is incredibly important, that’s the piece of the puzzle that is likely easiest to access. What happens next? How do people know when to vote, or where to vote, or what they’re voting for? I was a freshman in college in 2004 and was SO excited to have the opportunity to vote in my first presidential election. I had checked a box when I renewed my license to register to vote. I had no idea that if I moved out of my county after high school that I would need to re-register at my new address. When I went to my closest polling place, ready and excited to cast my vote, I was told that I was not registered to vote and therefore couldn’t do so. I also had no idea at the time that you could vote before Election Day so that left me no opportunity to drive home and cast my ballot there.
My story isn’t unique. Many new voters lose the opportunity to participate in elections simply because they don’t have the resources or information to do so. I began volunteering for March to the Polls shortly after I was introduced to the organization. Then, in 2022, I was given the opportunity to lead the Student Voter Empowerment Clubs program as a full time staff member. While I loved being in the classroom as a teacher, this job afforded me the opportunity to continue working with students on high school campuses AND to help empower them to be engaged, informed citizens. They then become the experts for their peers, and the knowledge expands on their campuses and in their communities.
I have been in this role for almost 2 years and have loved every minute. I get to work with students AND do work that I am passionate about – there’s nothing better than that.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think the biggest struggle for me was making the decision to transition into a new career. Making the decision to leave the classroom was a difficult one, not only because I loved the job, but also because I had been told my entire life that teaching is a calling. That you serve a higher purpose by being there for kids who need you. There’s a real sense of guilt when thinking about transitioning out of that role. After much thought and inner reflection, I knew that this new role would give me the opportunity to make a difference in the community in ways that I was unable to from the classroom.
Every role comes with its challenges and adjustments, but the benefits have far outweighed the struggles along the way.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
March to the Polls is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to substantially increase electoral participation in underrepresented communities. Our focus is primarily on youth and people of color.
I believe what sets March to the Polls apart is our focus on voter education. Once a person is registered to vote, the process of then making a plan to vote can feel daunting and overwhelming. It can be difficult to find information if you don’t know where to look and even more difficult to determine what resources to trust in an increasingly partisan society. This is where March to the Polls steps in. We seek to be a trusted resource in our community to provide those resources.
One way we work to share this information is by partnering with school districts and high school campuses to provide voter education programming. Instead of setting up a voter registration table somewhere on campus (with very little opportunity for meaningful engagement), March to the Polls schedules voter education lessons in senior classes. These lessons are high-energy, intimate meetings meant to foster discussion and to help students feel prepared to take the next step in their civic journey.
The program that I oversee with March to the Polls is our Student Voter Empowerment Clubs. These clubs are student-led and non-partisan. They focus on making civic engagement fun and meaningful to students in grades 9-12. SVEC works to cultivate a lifelong commitment to voting in students and their families through voter education and engagement. As the Director of this program, I help to establish these clubs. but I also get to support those clubs already active across the metroplex. Students plan campus and community outreach events, organize marches to the polls, often lead our in class lessons to ensure their peers are more prepared to be informed first time voters. Presently we have 36 active clubs in 7 school districts with the goal of increasing that number to 40 in the 2024-2025 school year.
One other thing I think sets our organization apart, and one that I’m most proud of, is the collaboration we have been fortunate to sustain with local school districts and county elections offices. We couldn’t do this work without their constant support.
What makes you happy?
My family makes me happy. I have a wonderfully supportive husband and 2 daughters – a 9 and 6 year old – who keep me very busy, but incredibly happy. My mom and brother live just a few minutes from me, and my sister is a successful producer in Los Angeles. They are the best.
I have had the fortune to maintain close friendships with people that I met in elementary school, junior high and high school. Those friendships have existed for more than half of my life. That makes me happy.
Traveling makes me happy. I have been afforded special opportunities to travel within the United States and abroad in recent years – sometimes independently and other times with a group of students – and each time it is a humbling experience.
Watching young people learn makes me happy. There are times where you see a student’s spark as they “get it.” Whether it’s curriculum content or a life lesson, that is a truly rewarding thing to experience.
Seeing former students thrive makes me happy. One of my former students helped establish the first Student Voter Empowerment Club in Tarrant County and now serves on our board. Another served as our club coordinator for a time. The opportunity to stay in touch with these “kids” who are now successful adults makes me happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marchtothepolls.org
- Instagram: @mttptexas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mttpdfw
- Twitter: @mttptexas
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marchtothepolls5301
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/svectexas
