Dare to Lean on Love, Power & Strength in Spite of Fear
Starting the Conversation Why this work matters Violence has long been a fundamental part of the American experience for communities of color and immigrants, but the visibility and frequency has jumped dramatically since this president took office in 2016. And now, with this past weekend’s historic level of violence and the mass ICE raids we, like…
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1 Year Later: We Still Demand Justice for Nia Wilson & Frederick Taft
Last July, Californians for Justice staff, students and communities were rocked by the murders of Nia Wilson in Oakland and Frederick Taft in Long Beach. We condemned these hate crimes for what they were, white supremacist violence aimed at destroying the love and joy in our Black communities, and called for justice in their names. …
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‘And I’m Holy by My Own’: Power and Politics in Black Music
June is Black Music Appreciation Month and at CFJ, we want to celebrate some of the artists that have us vibing every week as we fight for racial and educational justice! Listen to our #BlackMusicMonth Playlist on Spotify. Here are 5 of the artists inspiring our staff the most, and why: Nina Simone “One of…
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Teacher Appreciations: More than just a week in May
Recent teacher strikes in communities throughout California have sparked a public conversation this year on how we value teachers, and the answer is simply: not enough. Teachers are the backbone of our public school system, working long hours for inadequate pay all while receiving few resources and limited professional development. This is especially true for…
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This Tax Day It’s Time for Big Corporate to Pay Their Fair Share!
This tax day we urge you to take a moment and think about where your money is going. Like most taxpayers in our communities, your money goes to help our schools — but big corporations like Shell and Chevron, benefit from property tax loopholes that allow them to skip their part. The effect is our…
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Movement Builders: Faces of CFJ
Californians for Justice is proud to have worked with thousands of youth leaders across California over the last two decades. We’ve helped students organize and step into their power, using their voice to fight for their schools and communities. But did you know many of our staff started their social justice work with us as…
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Time for Radical Revision of what Public Education Can Look Like for Black Students & Families
Black History Month offers an important time to examine issues of racial justice in communities and our education system. When public education was dreamed up by its founders, Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson, neither person envisioned Black students attending integrated schools. That much is evident when we look at the history of schooling in America…
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Check Us Out: CFJ Youth Leading School Safety Conversations Locally & Nationwide
Californians for Justice is working across three levels of government to improve school climate, school safety, and student and family engagement. Building Relationships in Long Beach On November 30th, CFJ hosted a series of teacher luncheons in partnership with Long Beach Unified School District. Youth leaders and staff learned more about what Relationship Centered Schools…
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Communities across CA mobilizing in solidarity with Asylum Seekers
While the violence experienced by children, families and young people at the California border may have slipped from the news cycle, it’s important to remember that our government continues to attack and vilify this community. The violence these asylum seekers are fleeing from is directly linked to U.S. intervention in Central America, and yet our…
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