Vayong Moua leads advocacy to advance racial and health equity (RHE) in policies and structural determinants of health. His philosophy and action focus on integrating RHE equity into governance across sectors, issues, and cultural communities. Moua applies cross-cultural power and equity analysis into advocacy approaches, community engagement, and upstream solutions. He has worked on myriad COVID-19 equity, commercial tobacco control, healthy food systems, community design, and cultural leadership issues. Moua championed Blue Cross’ Health in All Policies investment and co-founded the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition that led passage of Minnesota’s state Complete Streets law. Moua chaired (2015–2019) the legislated Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (CECLC) that catalyzed the Department of Human Services’ agencywide policy on equity. Currently, he’s the first chair of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s Health Equity and Public Policy workgroup. At BCBSMN, Moua leads Racism as Public Health Crisis and racial equity in policymaking efforts.
Moua received his BA with a triple major in Philosophy, Sociology/Anthropology, and Asian Studies from St. Olaf College. He received his MPA from Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Moua was a Public Policy/International Affairs Fellow, Humphrey Policy Fellow, and Bush Fellow. Outside of work, you’ll find him outdoors disc golfing, fishing, one wheeling, and snowboarding with loved ones. He celebrates his Hmong refugee identity, and along with Pha Chia, enjoys raising Ishii, 8, and Ishua, 4.
