‘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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
Elections are Over; What Does it Mean for California’s Schools?
After a lengthy election cycle that saw mass mobilization of youth and voters of color, Californians for Justice is eager to see how Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom will continue efforts to fully fund our public schools. We are looking to Newsom to be a governor who can lead together with youth, parents, educators and other elected…
Read More
Don’t be Afraid — Talk about Race with Your Students
As students across the state go back to school, 1 in 3 will fail to identify a single caring adult on campus. For Black, Brown, Native American, Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian Students, these relationships are even more scarce, and students of color frequently report feeling unnoticed and uncared for by teachers and staff. When…
Read More