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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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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