Claudia Yoli Ferla is the Executive Director at MOVE Texas, a nonprofit organization working to build the political power of young people in Texas. She is a dedicated community organizer born in Venezuela and proudly raised in El Paso, Texas. Drawing on her power and unique experience as a DACA recipient, she advocates on behalf of young Texans everywhere looking to find their voices to affect change in their communities.
Claudia has served in multiple roles across the political and advocacy sectors, working with organizational leaders like Battleground Texas, Texas Freedom Network, and United We Dream. Prior to her role at MOVE Texas, Claudia served as the co-Executive Director of Deeds Not Words, training hundreds of young leaders across the state and building chapters across 25 Texas high schools and higher learning institutions. She also formerly worked as the Director of Community Affairs and Media Relations for the Office of Texas State Senator José Rodríguez, a staunch advocate for social justice and civil rights, and an inspirational leader whom she considers to be one of her strongest mentors. Claudia is proud to be part of the generation of young people who won the protections of the DACA program and who unapologetically continue to tell the world that immigrant stories do not belong in the shadows. Over the years, she has worked with other young leaders to help register voters, elect candidates, and support policies that improve our communities. It is because of these experiences that she is committed to developing the leadership of young people, by uplifting their voices, stories and power. As someone who is deeply impacted by the mission of MOVE Texas, Claudia brings her personal experiences and contributes to the talented youth-led team that is powering political change across Texas and beyond.