Executive Director Taryn Ishida Announces Transition Plans
After 8 incredible years leading Californians for Justice, Executive Director Taryn Ishida is moving on to the next adventure. Read her letter below and stay tuned for more info about the transition plan as we gear up for the next chapter at CFJ. I knew about Californians for Justice long before I had ever considered…
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School Safety Means We Keep Us Safe
This fall has brought renewed concerns about campus safety. But while we all want to see our students safe, we know that pro-police policies will only cause more harm. Having cops on campus doesn’t work. Having police present on campus means Black and Brown students, API students, Native students and students with disabilities are all…
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CFJ Featured in National Media Series on Youth Organizing in the U.S.
Young people throughout history have come together to radically transform culture, policies, and the faces of politics. Californians for Justice is honored to be featured in an incredibly important issue series. With 25 years of organizing history and experience in California at our backs, long-time CFJ organizers and leaders, Saa’un Bell and Geordee Mae Corpuz…
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Californians For Justice Statement on Governor Newsom’s Education Budget
Today, Governor Newsom announced key highlights for the State’s May budget revision in a press conference, and the #1 takeaway was the historic and long overdue investments in public education. The directive is clear. To meet the needs of students of color, we must reimagine and rebuild our schools. Californians for Justice is excited to…
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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…
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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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CA Youth Power Levels Up — Young People’s Task Force is Now Official!
We are excited to see the formation of the Young People’s Task Force in partnership with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. On June 8th of this year, over 20 racial justice and youth organizing groups sent a letter to Governor Newsom in the wake of…
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Governor Gavin Newsom Backs Schools & Communities First Initiative Prop. 15
Californians for Justice is elated with the latest endorsement of Prop. 15, Schools and Communities First initiative from California Governor Gavin Newsom. On Friday September 11th, Governor Newsom described Prop. 15 as a “fair, phased-in and long-overdue reform” that will “fund essential services such as public schools and public safety.” Newsom’s endorsement is significant. It’s…
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Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom: Fighting for Black Youth in California #Cali4BlackYouth
Dear Honorable Gavin Newsom, we applaud your remarks on Friday acknowledging the historical injustices that have led to this moment, impacts of institutional racism, and harm caused by police, while lifting up the leadership of young people. We appreciate your commitment to taking bold action to address systemic racism including your endorsement of ACA 5…
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