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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George Floyd & Black Liberation #BlackLivesMatter
Statement From CFJ Leadership & Staff: Black Lives Matter. George Floyd’s life mattered. Breonna Taylor’s life mattered. Tony McDade, Nina Pop and Ahmaud Arbery’s lives all mattered. Not just because they were stolen at the hands of police and white supremacists, but because they were human beings, pieces of our communities and valuable voices we…
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SF Chronicle Letter to the Editor: An Economic Crisis Is The Worst Time To Cut Education Funding by Saa’un Bell
An economic crisis during COVID-19 is the worst time to cut education funding.
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Major Milestone Update On Schools & Communities First
Having bleak budget blues? Here’s some good news: Californians are about Schools and Communities First. Earlier this month, the Schools and Communities First coalition submitted 1.7 million signatures of support. The most signatures ever submitted for a ballot measure in California history. Those numbers continue to speak for themselves, as we enter a pandemic recession. …
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Black & Brown Youth Stand With Gov. Newsom to Make Racial Equity Top Priority in Pandemic Budget
CFJ May Revise 2020 Statement: On May 14th, California projected the bleakest budget in the State’s history. Of the $54 billion in cuts, $19 billion, or 35 percent, comes from California’s K-14 Education, which already ranks in the bottom tier in the nation for per-student funding. Californians for Justice acknowledges the Coronavirus pandemic impact on…
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Press Release: High School Students Across CA Talk School Closures, Impact And Needs In The Wake Of The Coronavirus
Young people are inheriting a California that is one of the wealthiest states in the United States but only for those who can afford it. Despite our state’s vast material wealth, Coronavirus has illuminated how easily overwhelmed and under-resourced our city and county infrastructures are in a time where crises are becoming commonplace. More importantly it has highlighted how essential public institutions like schools are, and the alarming need to invest in our local community and school infrastructures to provide the most basic of needs to our families and young people across the state.
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100+ Powerful Black Leaders for Schools & Communities First
Californians for Justice is proud to have our Strategy Director Saa’un P. Bell included on this list of 100 powerful Black Leaders in support of the Schools and Communities First initiative! We know that to have a truly prosperous future for California, we must deeply invest in Black students and families. The Schools &Communities First…
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