MOVE the Valley coalition takes a collective approach to act, vote, and lead in the Central Valley

“I feel like every day there’s a news headline about a new policy or action coming down from the White House that directly impacts our most vulnerable and historically marginalized Valley families and neighborhoods,” says Mai Thao, executive director for regional community-based coalition MOVE the Valley.

“Many people I speak to are alarmed by what they perceive as erosion of democratic norms, including efforts to limit civil rights, restrict inclusive policies, or challenge long-standing principles of equity and access.”

Since the age of 14, when she first volunteered to canvas in support of Fresno City Council candidate Blong Xiong, Thao has been dedicated to affecting positive change through organizing, policy change and direct action. Xiong became the first Asian-American and Hmong council member in her hometown, and Thao, the daughter of refugees, has since served as a political community organizer in the labor movement; in various positions at community-based and nonprofit organizations; and in state government, most recently with the Office of Community Awareness, Response and Engagement (CARE) under California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“We don’t want community members to lose hope that people power is still at the core of our democracy.”

Mai Thao, Executive Director, MOVE the Valley

MOVE the Valley is a coalition of non-partisan community-based organizations with the collective goal of increasing civic participation in California’s Central Valley. The MOVE in the moniker stands for “Mobilize, Organize, Vote, Empower,” and its focuses include integrated voter engagement, voting rights advocacy, and get out the vote (GOTV) efforts within historically marginalized and excluded neighborhoods. MOVE’s partner organizations work in nine counties, from the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley to the state capital.

“What makes MOVE really special is that it’s a dynamic coalition,” Thao says. “We have organizations, all with the same values, working with an array of ethnicities, languages, and ages. We come together to plan out how to organize across cultures, languages, and even generations, because at the end of the day the various community bases that we’re working with live in the same neighborhoods and are struggling with the same issues—we all share a common future.”

Thao believes in the strength that lives in each person. “We don’t want community members to lose hope that people power is still at the core of our democracy. We want them to feel that change is not only possible, it’s already in motion.”

MOBILIZE, ORGANIZE, VOTE, EMPOWER

Vision Statement:

Embracing our diversity to empower the marginalized/disenfranchised of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys to ensure electoral power, responsive government, and community voice where all families thrive and find belonging.

More information on MOVE the Valley’s member organizations, current efforts and how to get involved can be found at www.movethevalley.org.