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Vicky RamirezVirginia Garcia Ramirez, AKA Vicky Ramirez, is a long term Richmond, CA Resident and grassroots leader. Vicky is Mexican American, and is proud to say her parents worked in the vegetable fields. Humility is her strength.
Since 2016, she has been a member of the grassroots organization ACCE: Alliance of California for Community Empowerment. ACCE is a member-led, statewide community organization working with more than 15,000 members across California. ACCE is dedicated to raising the voices of everyday Californians, neighborhood by neighborhood, to fight for the policies and programs we need to improve communities and create a brighter future. Vicky joined ACCE when a member knocked at her door and informed her of the injustices of high rent increases, causing harm to families who often have to pay over 60 percent of their income on housing. Many stated they had to stop buying food or taking children out of sports and programs to pay rent increases. Vicky was not personally impacted, but saw how a majority of her largely Latino community was, and wanted to help. She noticed many were too afraid to speak out against their landlords for fear of retaliation, and not believing that it would make a difference. Vicky was part of the movement of mobilizing the community and helped pass Rent Control in Richmond. This experience led her to run for city council in 2018. Unfortunately, she did not win but had a good run. Vicky states than in order to create change in the community, we must be part of the local government process. As ACCE puts it: “We want to change the systems that cause oppression rather than just addressing the symptoms of oppression.” Vicky will continue to be an advocate for her community because she is passionate to speak out against injustices. |