We Want To See Joy, Celebration & Liberation in CA Public Schools
Students walking back into classrooms this fall deserve to feel safe, seen and celebrated. We want CA’s public school students to see teachers and staff who look like them, come from their local community and understand the hurdles they face. We want Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islander students and families to be centered…
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26 Moments From 26 Years of CFJ
Since our founding in 1996, generations of young leaders have been making countless memories while being on the forefront of change in our communities and in the future of California schools! To celebrate 26 years of movement building, leadership development, and youth empowerment, we’ve compiled a list of 26 of our favorite CFJ moments to…
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3 Powerful Moments from CFJ’s Statewide Leadership Retreat
What inspires you to invest in your future? This past weekend, we were inspired by the more than 30 youth who joined us for our annual Statewide Leadership Retreat (SLR). For two days, we got to build with our newest members and youth organizers from across the state! Together we learned about the fight for…
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New Case Study Shows the Power of Student Voice to Transform Our Schools
We’re excited to share key findings from a case study released by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools showcasing the lasting impact student voice engagement has in our schools. The new report “Nothing About Us Without Us” examines the last decade of CFJ’s work organizing with student leaders in the East Side Union…
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20 Years of Summer Youth Leadership Academy!
Cue the air horns! Sound the drums! From the humble roots of backyard BBQs, neighborhood canvassing, and word of mouth recruitment in our Bay Area regions, the CFJ Summer Youth Leadership Academy is now in four cities across California. On this 20th anniversary year, we celebrated with our largest SYLA class ever with 69 students!!…
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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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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…
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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…
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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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