Our Story
OCMC (Organizing for Change in Merced County) is a group of community leaders throughout Merced County who came together in 2019 after we were inspired by the results of the 2018 election, where Anna Caballero became the first woman and the first Latina in history to serve as our State Senator, winning a seat that had been held by Republicans for 24 years.
OCMC (Organizing for Change in Merced County) is a group of community leaders throughout Merced County who came together in 2019 after we were inspired by the results of the 2018 election, where Anna Caballero became the first woman and the first Latina in history to serve as our State Senator, winning a seat that had been held by Republicans for 24 years.
Senator Caballero inspired us with her vision of fighting for rural California and ensuring that together we create a decision-making table where all of us have a seat. Many voters were inspired by that vision as well, and they turned out in record numbers, making the 2018 election turnout 15% higher than the previous State Senate election in 2014.
Senator Caballero inspired us with her vision of fighting for rural California and ensuring that together we create a decision-making table where all of us have a seat. Many voters were inspired by that vision as well, and they turned out in record numbers, making the 2018 election turnout 15% higher than the previous State Senate election in 2014.
Those of us who were energized and motivated by helping out on that campaign decided that we needed to continue our civic engagement. So, rather than become inactive until the next election, we led the charge and gave birth to OCMC.
Those of us who were energized and motivated by helping out on that campaign decided that we needed to continue our civic engagement. So, rather than become inactive until the next election, we led the charge and gave birth to OCMC.
Merced County is our home and we want to work together to improve Merced County for our families and for all who live here. We knew that we could only be successful if the voters inspired in 2018 stayed engaged and worked with us.
Merced County is our home and we want to work together to improve Merced County for our families and for all who live here. We knew that we could only be successful if the voters inspired in 2018 stayed engaged and worked with us.
OCMC has worked since 2019 to create a powerful dialogue between State Senator Caballero and Merced County residents. She hears directly from us about what concerns us and she keeps us informed and active as she champions legislation in Sacramento. The result is a powerful partnership that allows us to fully participate in building a better Merced County.
OCMC has worked since 2019 to create a powerful dialogue between State Senator Caballero and Merced County residents. She hears directly from us about what concerns us and she keeps us informed and active as she champions legislation in Sacramento. The result is a powerful partnership that allows us to fully participate in building a better Merced County.
What We Have Done with State Senator Caballero
Meeting, Sharing Stories and Acting Together
Over the last 2 years, we have organized 20 House Meetings involving Senator Caballero and almost 350 Merced County residents. Pre-Covid 19, these meetings were held in homes and in 2020 they were virtual. The Senator and residents spent time with each other, held conversations and shared stories of the things they were concerned about.
Coming out of the House Meetings in November 2019, almost 100 OCMC leaders met with Senator Caballero and formed 4 issue caucuses: Social and Economic Equity, Education, Community Health and Well-being and Youth Issues.
Organizing on Issues of Concern
From April 2020-June 2020 we held Virtual Conversations with Senator Caballero and Merced County residents as we all struggled to stay safe and understand how to deal with the personal, social and economic effects of the pandemic.
In June 2020, the OCMC Education Caucus held a Virtual Meeting with 150 community residents, Senator Caballero and 9 School District Superintendents from throughout Merced County. They agreed to work with us on issues such as safe school openings, LCAP funding equity and broadband access for students
Merced County has one of the fastest growing youth populations in California. Our OCMC Youth Caucus has worked to involve young people in issues such as community safety, mental health support services in schools, and empowerment of youth to be full partners with school administrators.
In full partnership with Senator Caballero, we have fought to ensure that LCAP funds meant for the most vulnerable students in Merced County are actually spent on those students.
The pandemic has shown us that the digital divide is real and that many students do not have the internet access they need to succeed. We have organized support throughout Merced County for Senator Caballero’s legislation to remedy this problem.
Keeping Merced County Residents Engaged
The work that goes on in Sacramento can sometimes seem far away, but we have been able to work with State Senator Caballero to make sure that Merced County residents are aware of what is happening and how it affects them
In October of 2020, we held a Community Voter Education night with UFW organizer Dolores Huerta, State Controller Betty Yee and State Senator Caballero. We wanted to make sure that Merced County voters knew how to vote and how to make sure their voice was heard in this important election
We believe that voters should be welcomed and made to feel important and so we have organized a volunteer effort to recognize and reach out to 5,000 voters who voted for the first time in the 2020 election to find out what they care about and to make sure they stay involved.
How You Can Be Involved
We can accomplish so much more when we work together and we invite you to join us! Trabajemos juntos!
Please fill out the form on the website that says “Join Anna” and we’ll be in touch