Pacific County Voices Uniting is a 100% BIPOC-led organization located along the edges of Willapa Bay in Southwest Washington that aims to shift, balance, and develop a culture of healthy civic engagement. In a county with large disparities, we are uniting cross-cultural and multi-generational demographics to participate in collaborative social movements that increase civic engagement through education, create more reflective representation and build political power. By lifting and supporting BIPOC leadership, we strive to promote systems and policies that create equitable access to resources for those often forgotten or silenced in our communities. More specifically, we seek racial, political, social, and economic justice for those most marginalized in our communities: Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander peoples of color, the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and people living with disabilities.

Pacific County is home to diverse communities with deep roots in the region. However, people of color, the LGBTQIA2S+ community and people living with disabilities are disproportionately underrepresented and excluded from systems of governance and distribution of resources. Furthermore, in this divisive political climate, many community members have grown hopeless that change can happen. Consequently, community disinterest and disengagement are prevalent. PCVU is committed to building trusting relationships and bringing our communities together so that change is possible.

Through education and other methods of engagement, we facilitate opportunities for community members to participate in the civic process and exercise collective power. We build authentic relationships with and increase the capacity of current and future leaders to understand issues and create more reflective representation of our diverse communities. As we grow and expand our resources as an organization, we develop community, regional, statewide and national partnerships to connect with broader political movements.

PCVU was originally founded by Mechele Johnson and Bethany Barnard in 2019. Our current team span the North and South ends of Pacific County with strong community connections and experience in: political organizing; community engagement, development and support; and working with tribal and non-tribal governments. Also, we are currently receiving non-profit training, and coaching as part of the Northwest Health Foundation’s Civic Health Cohort.
We continue to make significant impacts throughout Pacific County and look forward to advancing this important work in 2023!