As a child, Maria Teresa Kumar often acted as her family’s de facto translator, in some instances going to the doctor with her grandmother to make sure she received the right prescriptions. Her responsibility meant she often navigated two worlds and assumed the role of advocate for those the system quickly left behind. Today, as president and CEO of Voto Latino—and as an Emmy-nominated MSNBC contributor—she maintains an advocacy for Latinos that is louder and more critical than ever before.