The White House Correspondents Dinner weekend has concluded, but not until after Voto Latino hosted its seventh annual "Diversity in Media" reception gathering celebrities, newsmakers and members of the media in one room.

Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar told Latin Post that the purpose for creating the "Diversity in Media" program was because there were not enough Latinas, African Americans, Asians and women represented on television and news representing issues that were impactful to their communities.

"We figured that if we put our friends together with producers of major T.V. networks in the news, that we would start seeing a conversation shift," said Kumar. "Our hope is that [at the reception] people network, but more importantly, we start seeing those results on television, and the stories that cover it and also who is covering those stories."

From Washington, D.C. last Friday, the program provided a platform for Golden Globe award-winner Gina Rodriguez, star of The CW's "Jane the Virgin," to talk about diversity in media and ultimately its effects in society.

"To me it's no question: It's equality," Rodriguez told Latin Post before the reception began. "It's about allowing every culture to be shined and allow them to be in a light that portrays them positively and uplifts the community."

Rodriguez added, "The truth is that we make art to reflect daily life, so when you walk out into that world, what is your daily life look like? If I want to be a true artist, then I'm going to reflect that, and reflecting that means diversity has to exist, not just with ethnicity but with religion, with gender equality, with sexual equalities. For me, diversity is a necessity for us to all create unity and create, in my opinion, tolerance."

According to Kumar, America is witnessing a "huge shift," and it includes a much more diverse invovlement in the media. The Voto Latino president and CEO said the youth need to see, on film, what they can aspire to become.

"The more diversity that we have -- not just when it comes to people behind the camera but also in front of the camera, people telling our stories -- we explain to America that we are proud to be American, proud to be Latino and that we also give our young people ideas of who they can aspire to instead of just basically chilling images that are not positive," added Kumar. "We actually aspire to show images of where they can be, that they too can be president, that they too can be executives, and that's why it's important to see ourselves in film and also in the news."

During the reception, Rodriguez told guests about the seeing the Latino community as positive influences and heroes on the screen.

"Why? Because when I was a little girl, I didn't see them, I thought I was less than. When I was a little girl and when I didn't see them, I thought I didn't belong, that I wasn't going to be able to be that which I desired, that which I dreamed because I didn't see them on screen," said Rodriguez.

She noted the power of television, film, social media, marketing and publicity is a strong tool in educating the next generation and added that it is important for everyone to contribute to making these a reality. Rodriguez said that while Latinos may also consider themselves as Chilean, Ecuadorian, Dominican, Mexican, Panamanian and Puerto Rican, or etc. across Latin America, there is the need to unite the Latino community.

"The truth is that nobody is looking at us like that except ourselves. ... [W]e all deserve to have our culture exemplified, glorified, recognized and valued," said Rodriguez, adding that every single Latino in this country has been dealing with the same struggle, hardship and viewed the same way.

"Let's call to action that Latinos unite. We are looked at as one people. Why? From such a passionate culture, do we not see ourselves that way? That is the way they view us in America," Rodriguez continued.

"Let us show them that if we unite, our power is tremendous, so much so, there are afraid of it, so much so, we put Obama in office, so much so, we can put somebody else in office that we want. Let's unite. ... I don't want to divide and conquer, I want to unite and conquer."

Rodriguez told Latin Post about Voto Latino's continuing support long before she became Jane Gloriana Villanueva on The CW's hit primetime show, "Jane the Virgin."

"Voto Latino, they've always supported me in my efforts as a Latina in the industry to change the perception of Latinos in the media, to help change the perception of women in the media," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez acknowledged Kumar's support "even when nobody knew who [I was or] what I was doing," including when she starred in the 2012 Edward James Olmos film "Filly Brown" in 2012.

"Gina has been working for Voto Latino for now about five years, and it's amazing to see the trajectory of her career," said Kumar. "She is someone who is incredibly special, and she has a heart that really believes in giving back, and she does it every single day. Her star is just starting to rise, and even though it's just starting to rise, she, from the very beginning, has made it a powerful reminder that diversity in media needs to be a must, so I commend her for that."

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