Posts by Hannah Esqueda
On A Star Wars Scale: This Year’s Budget Rates @ The Phantom Menace
Another year and another budget season in the books! After some back and forth negotiations between Governor Newsom and the state legislature, California has landed its final budget. And how would we rate it? A very solid “OK.” On a scale of Star Wars movies, this year definitely feels like The Phantom Menace of budget…
Read More ...Celebrating 3 Years of School Transformation in Long Beach
Eighty-plus attendees showed up on May 20th, 2023, to celebrate Year 3 of our Professional Learning Network (PLN), where five high schools have committed to transforming their Long Beach Unified school communities into racially just Relationship Centered Schools. Team members reflected over the past year’s progress and looked to the future for another year of…
Read More ...What’s in the budget for CA schools?
Above Image: Californians for Justice youth leaders and allies gather in a show of support for LCFF during a 2017 rally in Sacramento. In the decade since it’s passing, the Local Control Funding Formula continues to be our path forward to full and equitable funding for CA’s students and families. Governor Newsom just unveiled his…
Read More ...Here’s How We Can Support Teachers Year-Round
What’s the best way to show your teachers they’re appreciated? Investing in them and our schools! It’s no secret teachers deserve to be paid more. Retaining well-qualified, fully prepared and supported educators is one of the most critical solutions for racially just schools.. Our educators deserve investment in professional development training for career advancement, more…
Read More ...Deep Learning As A Declaration of Love For CA Youth
By Asher Ki “Transformative Community Schools Framework” is THE long-term strategy for whole school and systems transformation. Community schools are an authentic approach designed directly by impacted students, along with their families, community partners and educators, centered on a framework inclusive of partnership, equitable decision making, and learning as a tool for transformation. A strategy…
Read More ...Student Voice: The Heart of Radical Transformation
By Asher Ki Decades ago, student voice was a concept very few had the luxury of understanding. The idea that youth are illustrators of change and contributors to the education systems’ transformation was dismissed and purposely overlooked by adults who thought power rested solely in their hands. Organizations like Californians For Justice firmly believe transformation…
Read More ...California’s Budget is Good News for School Transformation!
Above: Original art by Eden Meseret (she/her) for the California Partnership for the Future of Learning 2022 Arts Showcase. Two weeks into the year and we’re already celebrating some good news! On Tuesday, Governor Newsom released the 23-24 State Budget proposal naming key investments for students, and doubling down on commitments to public education. Most…
Read More ...Meet the New Co-EDs of CFJ: Yasmine Safinya-Davies & Mauro Sifuentes!
After a long and thoughtful search process, we’re proud to announce the new leadership team for Californians for Justice: Co-Executive Directors Yasmine (Yasi) Safinya-Davies (she/her) and Mauro Sifuentes (they/them)! “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to welcome Yasi and Mauro into the leadership of Californians for Justice. Individually and together they…
Read More ...Time to Celebrate AND Build Power for 2024
Election Day 2022 has come and gone but our work doesn’t stop here! In fact, these next few days, weeks and months are crucial to the fights our communities will face in 2024 and beyond. Already, we have so much to celebrate in our communities and across the state. From empowering Black and Brown youth…
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