Posts by Hannah Esqueda
Student Power Wins Big to Pave Way for Racially Just Schools
We did it – all of our collective hard work paid off! On Friday, Governor Newsom signed the AB 130, a K-12 education trailer bill with HISTORIC investments in education including nearly all of the CFJ student demands from our Relationship-Centered Schools and Reimagine and Rebuild campaigns. This budget shows that we are winning the…
Read More ...CFJ Youth Leaders Secure Major Wins in Long Beach & Fresno Unified
We’re so excited to share even more incredible wins from our youth organizers! Our student leaders won major initiatives and secured millions in funding for new policies in Fresno and Long Beach Unified. Fresno Expanding Ethnic Studies & Paying Students for Expertise and Labor That’s right! This summer and fall, Fresno Unified will expand the…
Read More ...CFJ Youth Leaders Win Restorative Restart & More in Oakland & San Jose!
We’re celebrating some major news! Our youth leaders fought for and won commitments for a restorative restart in Oakland Unified and the East Side Union High School District in San Jose! Oakland Youth Win Mental Health, Relationships Supports & More In Oakland, the district has committed $9 million to a mental health resolution prioritizing supports…
Read More ...CFJ Fulfilling the Promise of Brown vs. Board of Ed
It’s been 67 years since 13 Black families won their lawsuit to desegregate schools and secured the right to equal education for students of color. All these years later and we still know that for any real and lasting progress to be made, we must center the voices and leadership of Black students and families. …
Read More ...State Ed Budget: Crucial Investments in Young People’s Health & Wellness
On January 8th, Governor Newsom released his proposed 2021-2022 budget. After a year when students and families have struggled through a pandemic, natural disasters, a historic election, and the different manifestations of white supremacy, we commend Governor Newsom’s commitment to addressing racial equity by investing in public education, and also recognize we still have a…
Read More ...Building Youth Power Through Healing
This piece was originally published as part of KCET’s City Rising series, and is written by Dr. May Lin, close CFJ ally and researcher, and Geordee Mae Corpuz, Strategy Director with CFJ. What comes to mind when you think about what youth movements look, sound and feel like? You might envision BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People…
Read More ...Some Good News While We Wait for Results
Today, like many of you, Californians for Justice (CFJ) staff and students are feeling a wide range of emotions. We have all poured so much of ourselves into this election, amidst the pandemic, the uprisings, and so much uncertainty. And with the presidential and statewide races being too close to call, millions of votes still…
Read More ...3 Things to Keep in Mind These Final Weeks of Election 2020
Original Art by Orion Camero for Californians for Justice. Title: Learning Liberation, Artist’s Description: “What do you see when you see this painting? Inspired by relationship-centered schools, this piece speaks to the power we have as young people to nurture future generations and build the skills necessary to manifest our wildest dreams.” We have just…
Read More ...Newsom Vetoed Ethnic Studies AB 331, But We Won’t Give Up
Above: Aniyah Story, a Junior at Oakland High, studies her U.S. History textbook while distance learning at home. We are deeply disappointed to hear that Governor Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 331 on Wednesday, which would have made Ethnic Studies a high school graduation requirement. In a year where students are facing historical challenges learning in…
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