A new broad-based people’s organization, United San Joaquin, will launch on May 3, according to a March 16 announcement. The group, formerly known as Central Valley IAF, aims to bring together parishes and other community institutions to address challenges faced by rural communities in the Central Valley.
The formation of United San Joaquin comes as many families in the region struggle with access to basic healthcare. Residents often face long distances to clinics and hospitals, limited public transportation options, and shortages of primary care providers. These barriers can turn routine appointments into hours-long commitments that result in lost wages. Seniors, farmworker families, and those without reliable vehicles are especially affected when even picking up prescriptions or attending follow-up visits becomes a significant burden.
The announcement said that when transportation barriers combine with provider shortages, preventable conditions too often become emergencies. Families are left carrying stress that “no one should have to bear alone.” The statement also referenced Catholic teachings on healthcare: “Our Catholic faith teaches that healthcare is not merely a service, but a matter of human dignity and the common good. When communities lack the basic infrastructure needed for families to flourish, we are called to respond—not only with charity, but with collective action rooted in solidarity and subsidiarity.”
United San Joaquin plans to address these issues through responsible and nonpartisan collective action. The organization invites interested individuals or parishes seeking involvement or more information to contact Tim McManus, Senior Organizer with United San Joaquin.
The launch of this organization signals an effort by local faith-based groups and community partners to tackle longstanding challenges facing rural residents in the Central Valley.
