Valores & Blueprint NC Expand Medicaid Access
Building Community Power
In February 2024, Valores joined a yearlong project with Blueprint NC (BPNC), a 501(c)(3) state table, to advance Medicaid access and economic justice. Alongside five partner organizations, Valores worked to expand healthcare access and identify key community issues, particularly around economic justice. Each organization set a goal of holding 300 conversations with community members, using relational organizing to foster meaningful dialogue and re-engagement.
The project was designed to (1) build a strong and lasting base, (2) embed the practice of year-round organizing, and (3) adopt a digital tool to track outreach and engagement. Valores excelled in activating their base, primarily Latinx and monolingual Spanish-speaking communities, and tracking it all on Empower. They exceeded their outreach goals and sustained relationships beyond initial conversations. This success extended through the end of 2024, with lasting momentum. As a result, Valores and BPNC will continue their partnership in 2025 to deepen relationships, expand access to additional public benefits in North Carolina, and ensure consistent follow-up through Empower.
Looking ahead, these ongoing conversations will not only connect community members with the benefits they deserve, but also help them strengthen their civic engagement skills. By fostering advocacy around the protection and funding of public benefits at both the state and federal levels, Valores is building long-term community power alongside immediate access to resources.
