Cal Wellness Issues in the News

We regularly collect news relating to each of our four portfolios. Read on to learn more.

Sept. 6, 2023

Community Well-Being

A new study shows that climate change has increased the risk of explosive wildfires in California by 25%. Higher temperatures alone do not increase fire danger — they do so by drying out vegetation. Direct, on-the-ground solutions such as fuel reduction, prescribed fire, and mechanical thinning will be necessary since emissions reductions have minimal impact on wildfire danger in the short-term.

Equity in Access

The Alabama Attorney General ruled that the state can prosecute people who help people travel out of the state to get an abortion. The attorney general acknowledged that state law does not restrict individuals from seeking an abortion in another state, but the AG will investigate groups that are “conspiring” to raise funds to facilitate trips across state lines.
The MLK Community Hospital is trying to improve the birthing process for its patients by relying on certified nurse midwives. Midwifery has been promoted as a way to provide more sensitive and individualized care, an especially urgent concern for Black women. Births with the assistance of midwives are associated with fewer C-sections and preterm births. Only about 10% of hospital births in the U.S. were attended by midwives as of 2021. It’s increasingly challenging to employ midwives as hospitals deal with financial strains, particularly in their labor and delivery units.

Leading for Power and Change

Federal judges blocked congressional maps drawn by Alabama lawmakers and will require a new congressional map that creates a second majority-Black district in the state. Alabama lawmakers had argued that the map they drew in 2022, which only had one majority-Black district in a state with 27% Black residents, complied with the Voting Rights Act.

Aug. 23, 2023

Community Well-Being

A recent study found that the California carceral system is not prepared to respond to climate hazards in or near prisons. California prisons are highly susceptible to climate hazards because they are located in or near remote areas, have an aging population and infrastructure, and are overcrowded. One of the recommendations by the researchers includes reducing the incarcerated population by 50,000 and prioritizing the release of the most vulnerable.
Clear backpacks have become a common response to school shootings and to fears sparked by students showing up to school with guns. Critics say it has come to symbolize the lengths lawmakers will go to avoid passing meaningful gun control.

Equity in Access

A report by the Urban Institute shows that the chilling effects from “public charge” continue to persist. About 1 in 4 adults in mixed-status families did not participate in safety net programs last year because of green card concerns and 7% of adults in all-citizen families did not participate in safety net programs.
A study conducted by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network on policy efforts to advance health equity in the state found that there was increase interest and significant activities by the Governor, Legislature, and agencies related to health equity. Some of the cross-cutting strategies include greater partnership with CBOS, collecting and using demographic data, utilizing health equity tools, and engaging beneficiaries in program design.

Economic Security and Dignity

A UCLA study shows that the shortage of Latinx physicians has worsened over time. Latina physicians in California and the U.S. are the most underrepresented group. In the U.S., Latinas make up only 2.4% of the physician population. In California, Latinos account for 39% of the population but Latinas make up less than 3% of California’s physician population.

Leading for Power and Change

Community health representatives play an integral part in ensuring people receive the care they need, especially for chronic illnesses, by helping close gaps in areas with medical provider shortages. Yet, most state Medicaid programs don’t recognize or pay for services offered by health workers who work on tribal lands. Nevada, South Dakota, and Arizona are the only states that treat community health representatives serving Native American populations as eligible for the same Medicaid reimbursement as their similarly named counterparts in nontribal areas.

Aug. 16, 2023

Community Well-Being

Offshore wind turbines are being proposed in Humboldt County in effort to dramatically increase renewable energy. The proposal could generate jobs and lift up the economy in a region that has experienced several boom-and-bust cycles. The project faces many hurdles including economic and bureaucratic challenges as well as opposition from locals who distrust outsiders. Project developers are initiating a federal permitting process that’s expected to take six years and they’re assessing impacts to the economy, tribes, and lands.

Equity in Access

Inspectors examined over two dozen facilities across 16 states and found that between 2017 and 2019 there was negligent medical care, unsafe conditions, and racist abuse of ICE detainees. ICE detention can be problematic because detainees are frequently transferred between facilities, which increases the odds that medical records and care plans fail to move with people, and because the facilities are often located in remote areas that lack access to high-quality health care.

Economic Security and Dignity

A study by the Urban Institute shows how much poverty would decrease and how much benefits would increase if all people eligible for safety net programs received the full benefits they qualify for. In California, residents would have received nearly $45 billion more in benefits under full funding and full participation across seven safety net programs. Nationally, poverty would decrease by almost one third overall with full funding and full participation.

Leading for Power and Change

California will be providing grants to federally recognized tribes in the state to investigate cases involving missing and murdered indigenous people. The grant funds are available to provide resources for tribal police and prosecutors, counseling services, education, and other activities.

Aug. 2, 2023

Community Well-Being

A provision in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is expected to vastly increase the number of background checks in the unregulated gun market. The regulations required to put the new law into effect would require anyone who earns a profit from selling firearms to obtain a federal license and conduct background checks. The new measure is an attempt for the first time to regulate private dealers and online marketplaces responsible for selling tens of thousands of guns every year.

Equity in Access

The nurse vacancy rate is 30% in some hospitals, and the steep understaffing is driving some overworked nurses out of the industry. Two union-backed bills aim to address the nursing shortage. One bill would give preferential admission to high school students who take additional classes, and another bill would require community colleges to set aside 15% of enrollment slots for health care workers looking to further their education with a more advanced degree. Community college leaders say enrollment is not the issue; more admission slots are critical.

Economic Security and Dignity

Immigrant workers with no legal status are ineligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits. A report found that in 2019, over 1.2 million of the noncitizen workforce in the state lacked legal work documents. The undocumented population is rapidly aging, and some lawmakers are advancing legislation to allow workers to retire with dignity. If approved, AB 1536 would expand access to the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants to undocumented immigrants who, due to their immigration status, aren’t eligible for the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled.

Leading for Power and Change

There is a national dam removal movement to return the natural flow of the nation’s rivers and restore habitats for fish and other wildlife. The largest dam removal project is underway in northern California and once the demolition is complete at the end of next year, local tribes will attempt to restore the Klamath River and the surrounding area. Biologists say it will take at least a generation for the river to recover.
The Yurok Tribe has held an annual Salmon Festival for over 50 years, but the forecasted fish run on the Klamath River is one of the lowest on record. Habit loss, disease outbreaks, water quality issues, dams and excessive water diversions are some of the factors that led to low salmon stocks this year. In addition to not catching fish for the festival, the tribe will also not harvest salmon to protect the fish population.

July 19, 2023

Community Well-Being

A federal judge in Oregon upheld a state law that places restrictions on large-capacity magazines. The judge ruled that LCMs are not protected under the Second Amendment because the magazines are not commonly used for self-defense. The National Rifle Association ranks the Oregon law as “the nation’s most extreme gun control initiative.”
As of October 1, Los Angeles County courts will scale back the use of cash bail in misdemeanor cases and nonviolent felonies. The revised bail schedule should ensure defendants return to court without the need to be placed in the county’s crumbling jails, where defendants are often injured. Cash bail has been a controversial issue in Los Angeles and around the country in recent years, with criminal justice reform advocates often arguing for pretrial release to be dependent on an individual’s criminal history and personal situation as opposed to an arbitrary dollar amount.

Equity in Access

Texas Governor Abbott sent another group of migrants to Los Angeles this week. A coalition of community-based organizations, city leaders, and faith-based organizations has been providing aid to migrants upon arrival. Texas has now transported over 22,000 migrants to Democratic-run cities across the U.S.

Economic Security and Dignity

As the 2024 election cycle approaches, candidates, campaigns, journalists, and the public would benefit from better understanding Latinos and their economic condition. The average white family has five times the wealth of the average Latino family and efforts to minimize disparities in wealth tend to concentrate solely on addressing behaviors and decision-making of Latinos as opposed to addressing systemic barriers. Significant differences in asset ownership—not solely debt—may be driving some of these wealth disparities.

Leading for Power and Change

“Power building” works to support communities to organize, advocate, agitate, and gain power to influence government, markets, and society and in a new SSIR series, practitioners, scholars, and funders will share lessons on how to build the power of communities. The series will address the specific ways foundations and donors can invest in policy advocacy, community change, leadership development, and youth organizing.

July 10, 2023

Community Well-Being

State officials have been criticized for their response to extreme heat and as the state braces for an intense heat wave, Governor Newsom is launching a campaign to warn residents about the dangers of rising temperatures. The Heat Ready campaign will partner with 121 community-based organizations to conduct outreach in every county in more than 30 languages through door-to-door canvassing, phone banking and other community activations. Improved public communications are only one of several strategies outlined in the Extreme Heat Action plan, which also recommends infrastructure improvements, better monitoring of heat deaths and greater investments in shade and green space, among other measures.

Equity in Access

California has opened up government programs to undocumented residents more than any other state but budget deficits are putting the brakes on other expansions including a $330 million proposal to offer unemployment benefits to undocumented workers. The programs that have proven to reduce poverty the most are tax credits and CalFresh — the state’s food stamps program – and advocates want California officials to commit to food stamps for undocumented immigrants of all ages.

Economic Security and Dignity

The L.A. Regional Contractor Development and Bonding Program provides financial tools and guidance to help small and disadvantaged companies compete for government contracts. Supporting small companies does not just create opportunities for a wider range of contractors — it also saves taxpayers money by increasing the pool of contractors that are competing for public works projects. The program helps small businesses with obtaining costly performance bonds and meeting administrative requirements.

Leading for Power and Change

Colleges and universities across the country are facing a reckoning from Native communities and scrambling to find ways to make amends. The University of California system has pledged to give free tuition to some Native American students amid a movement to reclaim tribal lands. Native advocates have said that on the whole, colleges have fallen short of providing real reparations.
Nearly 50 election-related bills were introduced this session and though many have failed, there are still some active proposals that could impact voting in 2024. Assembly Bill 421 would clarify ballot language for referendums and Assembly Bill 1248 would require independent redistricting commissions for cities and counties with more than 300,000 residents.

June 22, 2023

Community Well-Being

Shootings, including mass shootings, killed and wounded people in cities and rural areas across the country last weekend. Gun violence continues to rise in the U.S., but researchers disagree over the cause. While some argue that violence may be driven by the prevalence of guns in the U.S., others say less aggressive police tactics are to blame.

Equity in Access

According to the National Institute for Reproductive Health, at least 15 city and six state governments allocated nearly $208 million to pay for contraception, abortion and support services since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. California has set aside $20 million to help out-of-state patients travel to the state for abortion care.

Economic Security and Dignity

Millions of parents who work low-paid jobs in retail, service, and hospitality frequently struggle with childcare. These jobs often offer volatile work schedules, and these workers also often work untraditional work schedules, yet just 2% of childcare centers and 16% of home-based day care facilities are open after 7 p.m. Cities, including San Francisco, have passed “fair work week” legislation, requiring companies to give employees their schedules at least two weeks in advance and pay them more for last-minute changes.

Leading for Power and Change

The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is creating conflicts in communities across the country. As in the Imperial Valley, a lithium mine is being proposed in northern Nevada but some groups, including tribal residents, are calling these clean energy projects “green colonialism.” These groups say lithium mining can have severe environmental impacts. However, other local groups support the lithium project because they have been promised jobs. The lithium mine in Nevada is facing legal challenges, including an appeal that a federal court will hear this month.

June 15, 2023

Community Well-Being

In the U.S., most people that move due to climate change stay within a short drive of their original homes. A recent study on relocation patterns due to flooding shows that mass migration due to climate change may be less pronounced than previously predicted. The study also shows that housing segregation based on race persists despite migration, with 96% of people who started in a majority-white neighborhood remaining in such a neighborhood after relocating.

Equity in Access

Texas Governor Abbott sent a group of migrants to Los Angeles and Florida Governor DeSantis transported asylum-seekers to Sacramento this week as part of an effort to call attention to U.S. immigration policy. DeSantis and Abbott have defended their migrant relocation programs by saying border towns have become overwhelmed by new arrivals.

Economic Security and Dignity

Many in-home child-care providers are licensed by the state and can accept vouchers, but providers say the state needs to overhaul how those rates are set. For those running larger programs, the median annual income ranges from $46,200 to $57,500. While state lawmakers have proposed rate increases, Governor Newsom did not include a rate increase for in-home child-care workers in his budget proposal. Most in-home child-care providers are women of color and many of them are immigrants who say they earn less than minimum wage because they work more than eight hours per day.

Leading for Power and Change

The LA Governance Reform Project is researching and developing a set of proposals to reform Los Angeles city government. The group formed after a leaked audio recording exposed councilmembers discussing the redistricting process and making racist remarks. Initial reform recommendations include expanding the number of City Council seats to reduce district sizes, implementing an independent redistricting commission, and reforming the city’s ethics commission. The City Council is widely expected to put a government reform proposal on the 2024 ballot.

May 25, 2023

Community Well-Being

In a recent poll, a majority of survey respondents stated that it is more important to curb gun violence than to protect gun rights. However, sentiments on how to address gun violence are mixed; more people now believe the solution to mass shootings is more people carrying guns. While banning assault-style weapons is the top choice to reduce gun violence for 44% of Democrats, only 13% of Republicans think banning these firearms will have the highest impact.

Equity in Access

The Biden administration has stated that crossings along the southern border have declined since the end of Title 42 earlier this month but huge numbers of migrants are continuing to enter the U.S. illegally, particularly in the border zone between Guatemala and Mexico. Mexican authorities have changed their tactics in response to the end of Title 42 and their intention appears to be to disperse the swelling migrant population and avoid highly visible buildups in northern and southern border communities.

Economic Security and Dignity

Los Angeles County will relocate roughly 300 youths out of its two juvenile halls within the next two months. Regulators from the Board of State and Community Corrections found that the county did not come into compliance with several state regulations and declared the halls “unsuitable.” The regulators’ decision came after intense pressure from youth advocate organizations, which accused the board of shirking its legal responsibility by giving the county numerous extensions to comply.

Leading for Power and Change

As of last week, more than 30 tangled human skeletons have been unearthed at a site near the Inyo County community of Cartago. Tribal historic preservation officers are demanding that the California Department of Transportation halt construction on a planned highway project and realign the project to avoid the gravesites. Unless the state government agency yields to tribal concerns, they are headed for a showdown of complicated and competing values.

May 17, 2023

Community Well-Being

Nearly 40% of forest burned by wildfire in the last forty years in the western United States and southwestern Canada can be attributed to carbon emissions. The emissions generated in the extraction of fossil fuels and the burning of those fuels have created a “vapor pressure deficit” that amplified dry conditions across the West and raised global temperatures. As wildfires in the western U.S. have grown in size and intensity, the public has been left to cover much of the cost through higher taxes and utility bill surcharges, while many corporate actors have not been held accountable at all.

Equity in Access

Advocates have filed a federal complaint against the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for allegedly failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter, and aid to hundreds of migrants at a San Ysidro camp. The complaint alleges CBP violated its own detention and sanitary standards.

Leading for Power and Change

San Francisco is weighing reparations that would compensate Black residents. San Francisco’s Black population has shrunk from 13% in 1970 to about 5% today, driven first by cycles of redevelopment and then by the gentrification. The city’s reparations task force has declared a one-time, $5 million payment to anyone eligible. Every member of the San Francisco board of supervisors, which will consider legislation later this year, has expressed support for some form of reparations, although not all believe that has to be in cash payments.

May 10, 2023

Community Well-Being

On Tuesday the Port of Long Beach released plans for Pier Wind, an offshore wind project expected to generate up to 20 megawatts of energy per turbine for the state, helping California move toward a zero-emission future. The project will require a new terminal to be built and the turbine facility is expected to be operational by 2035.

Equity in Access

Starting Thursday, migrants will be denied asylum at the southern border unless they first applied online or applied for asylum in a country they passed through on their journey North. The Biden administration said it plans to create new legal pathways including opening 100 regional migration hubs where migrants can apply to go to the U.S., Canada or Spain.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a multistate coalition to ensure access to abortions during life-threatening medical emergencies. The coalition filed an amicus brief supporting the use of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act which requires doctors to perform abortions in emergency situations. The amicus brief was led by AG Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Leading for Power and Change

Cultural burning, the practice of using controlled fires to tend the landscape, was once widespread practice among many native groups. Indigenous residents are over three times more concentrated in California census tracts that see fires most frequently and where the most acreage burns, but cultural burning ceased with the arrival of European settlers. The Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation is not federally recognized, and many members were displaced during the Oak fire. Now members face an uphill battle with recovery without federal aid.
After two years of deliberations and numerous public hearings, the California Reparations Task Force approved economic models for lawmakers to calculate the cost of reparations owed to eligible Black residents. Ultimately, the state Legislature and Governor Newsom will decide on recommendations and eligible residents should not expect cash payments anytime soon.

May 4, 2023

Community Well-Being

Last Friday the California Air Resources Board voted to ban the sale of new diesel big rigs, delivery and garbage trucks by 2036 and to require large fleets to reach 100% zero-emissions by 2042. Implementing the changes will be difficult and expensive. Electric models currently cost more than twice a diesel truck, take hours to charge and the state lacks a robust charging network. Additionally, the state must triple its power-generation capacity if it wants to electrify vehicles and other sectors of the economy.

Equity in Access

COVID-19 immigration restrictions will lift May 11 and U.S. and Mexican officials have agreed on new immigration policies meant to deter illegal border crossings while also opening up other pathways. The Biden administration announced Tuesday that 1,500 active-duty U.S. troops are deploying south for administrative support and other enforcement measures in place. Mexico said Tuesday it would continue to accept up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela that are making up a ballooning share of the overall illegal border crossings.

Economic Security and Dignity

The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to rule on a case that challenges race-conscious admissions programs and the admissions director at the UC Davis School of Medicine is sharing his strategy on increasing the number of BIPOC students. California hasn’t allowed affirmative action in admissions since 1996 but the director’s strategy shows that it’s possible to create a multiracial campus using alternative means. Under his leadership his team has transformed the university’s School of Medicine into one of the most diverse medical schools in the nation.

Leading for Power and Change

A group of advocates is pushing the Biden administration to incorporate the Molok Luyuk ridge into the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to permanently protect the land rich in biodiversity. Conservationists hope to co-manage the land with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The ridge used to be a corridor for California condors and tribal leaders hope to see them return from extinction.

April 20, 2023

Community Well-Being

A state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would end indefinite solitary confinement by limiting segregation to 15 consecutive days, or 45 total days in a six-month span, and ban its use entirely for those with certain mental and physical disabilities, pregnant and postpartum prisoners, and anyone younger than 26 or older than 59. A primary goal of AB 280 is ensuring access to the kind of mental health treatment and programs that lead to rehabilitation and give prisoners better odds for when they are released.

Equity in Access

The Supreme Court will soon rule on access to the abortion pill and the ruling will have implications beyond reproductive health. The ruling could carry implications for states’ rights and the FDA’s independence. A manufacturer that produces a generic version of the abortion pill sued the FDA on Wednesday in an attempt to preserve access to the drug.

Economic Security and Dignity

Two assemblymembers authored two bills that would expand California’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and its Young Child Tax Credit. AB 1498 would raise the minimum EITC to $300 from $1, regardless of number of dependents, as long as a recipient makes less than $30,000 a year. AB 1128 would enable tax filers with dependents who also qualify for the state EITC to continue qualifying for the young child tax credit until the child reaches the age of 18. The two bills may face a challenge given the projected state budget deficit.

Leading for Power and Change

A state lawmaker has introduced a bill to establish an “Ebony Alert” which would trigger an emergency alert system for Black youth between the ages of 12 and 25 who are reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances. According to the Black and Missing Foundation, Black children are disproportionately classified as “runaways” when they go missing.

April 13, 2023

Community Well-Being

The Biden administration announced new greenhouse gas emission standards that closely mirror California’s more aggressive standards mandating the sale of electric vehicles. If adopted, the new standards would have no effect on California car sales, but the nationwide standards will help cut greenhouse gases by regulating emissions of cars purchased in other states.

Equity in Access

A federal appeals court ruled that the abortion pill mifepristone can still be used for now but reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail. This latest ruling still represents a stark challenge to the FDA’s authority overseeing how prescription drugs are used in the U.S. An earlier ruling by a lower court judge had completely blocked use of the pill. The case is expected to go to the Supreme Court.

Economic Security and Dignity

A study on Stockton’s guaranteed income pilot program found that the results were inconclusive given that the program partially ran during the pandemic. Additionally, since the pilot was relatively small, many results of the program were not statistically significant. Under normal conditions, guaranteed income programs help reduce income volatility and calm financial and emotional distress.

March 29, 2023

Community Well-Being

The mass shooting in Nashville this week that left three children and three adults dead put the spotlight back on gun violence. President Biden says the families of the victims are “owed action” and he continues to ask Congress to ban assault weapons. A lead negotiator for the Safer Communities Act said that the bipartisan Senate group that crafted that package is not currently discussing additional gun violence prevention legislation.

Equity in Access

A number of immigration policies have created a bottleneck along Mexico’s northern border as migrants await a shift in U.S. policy. The U.S. is expected to lift a policy in May that has allowed border authorities to expel unauthorized migrants to Mexico. Some U.S. officials say the Biden administration is responsible for the bottleneck because they indicated they would lift Title 42, which drew migrants to travel to the border, and then quickly reimposed the restrictions.

Leading for Power and Change

A team of economists and policy experts estimate that the cost of reparations in California is over $800 billion. The state’s reparations task force will discuss the calculation and decide if it wants to adopt the figure or calculate its own estimate. Critics of reparations pin their opposition partly on the fact that California was never a slave state and say current taxpayers should not be responsible for damage linked to events that took place hundreds of years ago.

March 22, 2023

Community Well-Being

A Supreme Court ruling from 2022 requires county sheriffs and municipal police chiefs to issue concealed carry permits to anyone who meets basic legal requirements. Applications for concealed carry permits have swelled since the ruling. There is fairly strong evidence that more permissive concealed carry laws seem to be associated with increased rates of firearm homicide and total homicide.

Equity in Access

Medicaid funds cannot be used to pay directly for rent but Governor Newsom is asking President Biden to authorize a “transitional rent” program that would provide up to six months of rent to Medi-Cal recipients. Medicaid officials have approved similar experimental housing subsidy programs in Oregon and Arizona. If approved, rent payments could begin as soon as 2025 and nearly 11,000 people already enrolled in Medi-Cal housing services stand to benefit from the program.
State Senator Wiener introduced a bill to begin the process to allow Medicaid and Medicare funds to be used for a single-payer healthcare system. The bill would require the state’s health secretary to offer recommendations for seeking a waiver from the federal government to repurpose federal funds so that healthcare in California can be financed entirely with public funds.

Economic Security and Dignity

Governor Newsom made a stop in the Imperial Valley this week to get an update on lithium production in the region and to highlight the potential for it to become the nation’s manufacturing center for clean energy batteries. The Imperial Valley has one of the world's largest lithium deposits and advocates are working to ensure that production will bring good paying union jobs filled by local workers.

Leading for Power and Change

Assemblymember Bryan is introducing a proposal to reform state elections law by making it more difficult for campaigns to mislead voters when circulating petitions to qualify a statewide referendum. The bill would establish new oversight of signature collection, require more transparency about the groups funding referendum campaigns, and mandate that at least 10% of petition signatures must be obtained by unpaid volunteers. The bill could become one of the most high-profile political fights in California this year.

March 15, 2023

Community Well-Being

During his visit to Monterey Park this week President Biden announced that he signed an executive order to strengthen background checks, promote more secure firearm storage, and ensure law enforcement agencies better implement the bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The executive order mandates more reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement but local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data.

Equity in Access

State lawmakers in California are continuing to work to strengthen the abortion infrastructure and make the state a sanctuary for abortions. The Legislative Women’s Caucus unveiled a package of 17 bills including bills to expand privacy protections while others aim to add new requirements for insurance companies.

Economic Security and Dignity

State Senator Cortese introduced a bill that would provide $1,000 monthly payments to unhoused high school seniors. An estimated 15,000 high school seniors are unhoused. If approved, the guaranteed income pilot program would run between April and August of 2024 for the graduating class of 2024, but the program could be extended.

Leading for Power and Change

On Tuesday the San Francisco Board of Supervisors reviewed over 100 recommendations made by the city-appointed reparations committee. The recommendations submitted vary widely and the committee has not completed an analysis of the cost of the proposals. The Board expressed unanimous support for the recommendations, but they may not adopt all of the proposals.

March 10, 2023

Community Well-Being

There are several high-stakes legal battles currently being waged over California’s assault weapons bans in federal court. Both lawyers for the state and gun rights groups have been arguing over the relevance of older laws governing different weapons. Legal experts who have been following the California gun cases have little doubt U.S. District Judge Benitez will rule against the state and will overturn several California gun laws.

Equity in Access

Attorney generals from the 21 Republican states threatened legal action against Walgreens and CVS if they continued to sell abortion pills in their states. Walgreens announced that they will stop selling abortion medication in 21 states and now California will cut ties with the company over their decision. California will not renew its $54 million contract with Walgreens to provide medications to inmates in correctional facilities.

Economic Security and Dignity

Approximately 7% of Californians don’t have traditional checking or savings accounts and are considered “unbanked” while an additional 18% are “underbanked” because they have bank accounts but use high-fee financial services. Financially underserved households spend an average of 10% of their take-home pay in fees and interest. A commission is exploring a public banking option but it may be several years before it materializes.

Leading for Power and Change

The California Reparations Task Force met over the weekend and voted in favor of asking the state to create a California American Freedmen Affairs Agency that would directly implement their recommendations. In addition to other responsibilities, the task force recommends that the agency should perform oversight of existing state departments that provide services aimed at racial equity. The task force has yet to vote on final dollar amounts for reparations. The state legislature is ultimately tasked with implementing the task force’s recommendations and figuring out how to pay for reparations.

Feb. 23, 2023

Equity in Access

The Biden administration is proposing a rule that would bar migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S. unless they sought asylum in another country while in transit to the U.S. The proposed rule is intended to slow the number of crossings which the Biden administration predicts will increase once the Title 42 policy ends later this year. This proposal is expected to be challenged in court.

Economic Security and Dignity

Data suggest that the U.S. faces a shortfall of about 450,000 nurses and 120,000 doctors in the coming years, and 100,000 dentists now. One of the fundamental problems is that many medical professionals began leaving their fields during the pandemic and academic institutions are not graduating enough new ones to replace them. Federal lawmakers are contemplating legislation to address the widespread shortage of health care workers.

Leading for Power and Change

California’s State Water Resources Control Board waived state rules that require water to be released to the Delta to protect endangered fish including salmon. Instead, cities and farmers will get more water as the state captures and stores water in reservoirs. In the past, the flow rules have been waived during drought periods, but now they are being waived because of the high-volume storm conditions.

Feb. 8, 2023

Community Well-Being

A report by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows that Asian Americans are more worried about being victims of gun violence and hate crimes compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Researchers believe that the surge in hate crimes and hate incidents towards Asian residents during the pandemic contributed to the heightened sense of fear. The study was completed before the mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay.

Equity in Access

State Senator Scott Wiener introduced a bill that would limit out-of-pocket costs for insulin. Though California plans to manufacture and distribute its own low-cost insulin, rollout is expected to take at least two years. A similar bill to enact caps on copays for insulin failed last year. Congress passed a cap of $35 a month for diabetics covered by Medicare that went into effect in January.

Economic Security and Dignity

The U.S. is facing a growing crisis of unfilled job openings and high staff turnover in the long-term care industry. Long-term care jobs are poorly paid and physically demanding so they are a tough sell in a competitive job market. Experts say opening pathways for care workers to immigrate would help fill gaps, but policymakers haven’t made much progress on building a pipeline.

Leading for Power and Change

Gen Zers turned out in historically high numbers for the 2022 midterm election. A new post-election report found that many Gen Z voters felt uninformed during the midterm election and want more information about candidates. Gen Z primarily relies on social media for news instead of more traditional media platforms like local television and cable news networks.

Feb. 1, 2023

Community Well-Being

The American Rescue Plan Act included funding that many cities are spending on “community violence intervention,” programs. Some approaches incorporate violence interrupters while others offer employment and counseling in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Many cities are receiving an unprecedented level of resources, but organizations are having difficulties with scaling and they may face challenges with measuring outcomes and impact.

Equity in Access

The fight over abortion rights has moved to state-level supreme courts and constitutions. Since decisions about abortion rights have been left to the states, there is a patchwork of approaches across the country. For abortion rights groups, state constitutions are a critical part of a strategy to overturn abortion bans. Both sides of the abortion debate are expected to devote new energy to seat and unseat judges, and into efforts to explicitly protect or restrict abortion protections in state constitutions.

Economic Security and Dignity

Colorado is the first state to create an unemployment assistance fund for undocumented workers. Since the state’s unemployment fund is a federal program, undocumented immigrants can’t access the benefits so Colorado established a separate fund. State leaders hope the fund will stabilize their workforce by encouraging seasonal workers to stay local. Last year, Governor Newsom vetoed a bill that would have created a similar unemployment fund for undocumented immigrants.

Leading for Power and Change

Some of philanthropy’s most influential organizations released an open letter urging support for Black feminist movements and organizations. The Black Feminist Fund has raised $35 million to support nonprofits led by Black women but hopes to reach $100 million. Though Black women and girls make up approximately 7% of the U.S. population, organizations that specifically support women of color only received 0.5% of philanthropic contributions in 2018.

Jan. 25, 2023

Community Well-Being

The new gun policy framework established by the Supreme Court threatens significant actions that California lawmakers may want to pursue in the wake of two mass shootings this week. State lawmakers have introduced a bill to impose new excise taxes on the sale of guns and ammunition, but a similar bill failed to get enough votes last year. Currently, California’s ban on assault weapons, ban on high-capacity magazines, and regulation of ammunition purchases are entangled in a court fight.

Equity in Access

The gap in life expectancy between varying populations residing in different counties has widened during the pandemic. Variations in county-by-county lifespan numbers were accelerated by the pandemic, but demographers say the stark differences also reflect longstanding and rising inequality. Life expectancy numbers also have been reshaped by factors that aren’t, or have yet to be proven to be, linked to the pandemic, including gun violence.

Economic Security and Dignity

Women in California continue to experience systemic health and economic disparities that were exacerbated by the pandemic. The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls released a statewide blueprint that centers women and promotes deliberate gendered policy interventions including recommendations to close the wage gap and strengthen the child care system.

Jan. 12, 2023

Community Well-Being

Data from an annual report suggests that racial profiling remains a systemic problem in California, particularly with “pretextual stops”, when police officers use minor violations as a pretext to investigate someone or launch a search. The report also found that transgender people were disproportionately stopped for alleged loitering offenses, which advocates say have long been cited by police to criminalize and harass trans people and sex workers.

Economic Security and Dignity

Incarcerated people will soon be eligible for Medi-Cal up to 90 days before release. People will also be eligible to receive assessment and treatment shortly before release. Advocates for incarcerated folks applaud the policy change and view this an essential part of improving reentry programs.

Leading for Power and Change

Los Angeles County will be purchasing the Bruce Beach property it returned to the Bruce family after acknowledging that it had been stolen from them. The Bruce family will receive nearly $20 million in the historic deal. The Bruce family wanted to have the option to sell the property back to the county, so the sale was expected. County leaders have expressed that this transaction is an example of reparations at work.
Sheng Thao is Oakland’s first Hmong mayor and the most prominent Hmong American officeholder in the United States. While Mayor Thao did not have a sizable Hmong voter base in Oakland, she benefited from the nationwide Hmong clan system, which has been key to the success of some Hmong American political campaigns.

Dec. 15, 2022

Equity in Access

Results from prenatal screenings, which help detect birth defects, are seeing delays. The state recently changed regulations for the screening program and awarded testing rights to four companies. In addition to delays for results, in April the FDA warned that the tests could give false results. The agency said it was aware of reports where patients have decided to terminate pregnancies based on the test results.

Economic Security and Dignity

As federal policymakers have taken actions to curb inflation, economists expect that employers will slow hiring and increase layoffs. Through recent job market upswings and downswings, Black and Latinx Californians, particularly Black men, have consistently been most likely to face unemployment. Policymakers can tackle the drivers of inequitable racial and gender disparities in unemployment by advancing racial equity, strengthening workplace anti-discrimination laws, addressing inequities in education attainment, and removing employment barriers.

Leading for Power and Change

Outside of Florida, Democrats did not lose ground with Latino voters in the midterm election, as was predicted. Results from the 2020 election suggested a realignment of the Latino vote, especially among Latinos that align with GOP views on religion and small business economics. One reason Democrats won the Latino vote in battleground races was that they outspent the GOP in Spanish-language ads.

Dec. 7, 2022

Community Well-Being

Proponents of tougher restrictions on assault weapons, universal background checks and other measures believe the window for enacting more gun laws is likely closed, even while Democrats still hold Congress. Lawmakers will instead focus on the annual Pentagon policy bill and will try to overhaul the Electoral Count Act. The inability to tackle gun legislation this year means it is likely considerations for new federal gun restrictions will have to wait at least two years.

Equity in Access

Data shows that the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. exceeds the rate in other high-income countries and it has been getting worse over time. The mortality rate in the U.S. is exceptionally high for Black women who die at nearly three times the rate as white women. Other countries have implemented policies to reduce mortality rates including universal health care, comprehensive reproductive health care, and a maternal health care workforce mainly comprising midwives.

Economic Security and Dignity

A coalition of businesses and restaurant trade groups claims it has gathered enough signatures for a ballot measure to overturn AB 257, a law that could raise wages to $22 an hour. Advocates for AB 257 say the coalition obtained the signatures fraudulently and it will take several weeks for the California secretary of state to review and validate the signatures submitted. If the referendum qualifies, the law will be put on hold until 2024 when voters can weigh in again.

Leading for Power and Change

Three tribal communities that have been impacted by climate change will receive $25 million each from the federal government to relocate. The tribes are vulnerable to rising sea levels, flooding, tsunamis, and coastal erosion. Undergoing such a transformative move upends many of these communities' ties to tradition. FEMA may provide additional funds to help the tribes buy and build new infrastructure.

Nov. 30, 2022

Community Well-Being

Earlier this year lawmakers approved a bill that makes California the first state to automatically seal most criminal records for those who complete their sentences. Criminal records can prevent formerly incarcerated people from getting jobs, housing, schooling and more. People convicted of serious and violent felonies, as well as those requiring sex offender registration, won’t have their records cleared under the law and criminal histories will still be disclosed in background checks for some employment opportunities.

Equity in Access

California’s Office of Health Care Affordability launched on Wednesday. The OHCA is charged with setting and enforcing cost growth targets within the health care system, promoting the use of alternative payment models, and stabilizing the state’s health care workforce.

Economic Security and Dignity

Each California county pays an hourly rate between $15 and $18.75 to caregivers, who are mostly women of color, in the In-Home Supportive Services program. Experts and advocates argue that the hourly wage is too low and forces families to put their disabled loved ones in costly facilities. Experts blame the low wages on a complicated funding arrangement which dissuades counties from increasing wages.

Leading for Power and Change

Though the midterm election failed to deliver widespread Republican victories, many candidates across the country who believe in QAnon and other conspiracy theories were elected into office. A profile of right-wing conservatives from small town America highlights some of their fundamental beliefs, including that Americans have a right to overthrow tyrannical governments.
In 2020, Oakland voters supported lowering the voting age to 16 for school board races but Alameda County has yet to implement the measure. The Oakland measure, and a similar measure approved in 2016 in Berkeley, failed to specify a deadline for implementation. The registrar’s office expects to expand voting rights in the 2024 election.

Nov. 16, 2022

Community Well-Being

Six Los Angeles residents filed a class-action lawsuit to challenge the county’s bail schedule. The plaintiffs allege that they have not yet seen a judge, been arraigned, or assigned a public defender in a jail system that has recently faced controversy for “barbaric” conditions and physical abuse. A similar lawsuit in San Francisco led to changes in the bail system and advocates are hopeful that this lawsuit will undo policies that keep people incarcerated based on their inability to pay bail.

Equity in Access

A federal judge blocked the use of Title 42, a border policy that has allowed border agents to rapidly expel migrants. The judge stated that not everyone who arrives at the border will be granted asylum, but they have a right to a hearing. The Biden administration requested a 5-week stay of the order to allow for an orderly transition in border processing.
New analysis shows that Latinas are the largest group of women of color affected by current and future state abortion bans and restrictions. Nearly 6.5 million Latinas live in 26 states that have banned or are likely to ban abortions; about 75% of them are concentrated in Texas, Florida and Arizona.

Economic Security and Dignity

Project Rebound is a campus-based student program dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated students graduate from the CSU system. At CSU Fullerton, Project Rebound oversees a housing initiative for formerly incarcerated students and given its success, other CSU campuses are considering similar initiatives.

Leading for Power and Change

State and tribal officials gathered at the California Capitol this week to break ground on a statue of a member of the Miwok tribe who worked to preserve tribe culture. The statue of William Franklin Sr. will replace the statue of missionary Junipero Serra. Serra’s statue was torn down by protestors in the summer of 2020.

Nov. 9, 2022

Community Well-Being

Jails and prisons narrow the electorate by barring people from exercising fundamental voting rights. Jails and prisons are used to gerrymander voting lines in ways that marginalize communities of color; during the 2020 census, roughly 1.4 million people in prison were counted not in the communities where they live, but rather in the districts where they were incarcerated when the census was taken.

Equity in Access

Eligibility requirements for Covered California are changing and hundreds of thousands of Californians may soon be eligible to enroll. Individuals who have access to employer-based health insurance through a family member may now be eligible for Covered California because the updated rules address the “family glitch” that previously made them ineligible.

Economic Security and Dignity

State and federal safety net programs and the expansion of federal child tax credits helped reduce poverty in California during the pandemic. The deadline to file for the tax credits is next week and analysis shows that nearly 290,000 children living at or near the poverty level could lose out on the benefit because many individuals who are eligible for the credit have not filed their taxes.

Leading for Power and Change

Health care institutions across the United States have mounted get-out-the-vote efforts in recent years, inspired by a growing belief that voting improves the health of individuals and communities. Some institutions, including AltaMed, have civic engagement departments and offer early voting at clinic sites. Surveys show that health care is a top concern for Latinos and so these efforts may help increase voter turnout among this group.

Nov. 3, 2022

Community Well-Being

Black farmers are attempting to shift the narrative and legacy of Black farming to one that is sustainable, resilient, and on a pathway to autonomy and self-determination. Some Black farmers are experimenting with climate-innovative farming practices including growing climate-smart crops like hemp which enables farmers to earn carbon credits. Some farms are also launching agrotourism businesses.

Equity in Access

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, women living in states where abortions are now banned are increasingly using telemedicine to get abortion pills. The legality of providing abortion pills via telemedicine across state lines is unclear. Clinic-based procedures fell in states that banned or restricted abortion access following the ruling, signaling that people are continuing pregnancies they may not have planned for or wanted.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Community Learning Partnership and California Youth Leadership Corps launched a new website to support the expansion of CLP/CYLP’s network of community change career pathways across California. The new resource will help to strengthen partnerships among public two and four-year institutions, students, community organizers, and social justice and grassroots organizations.

Leading for Power and Change

Community organizers in some parts of the state believe that voter outreach to the Latino community has been low this election cycle. Experts say that regional organizing may be the key to getting out the Latino vote, which could sway results in local and statewide elections. The Latino population also skews younger, signaling that there is potential for this voting bloc to grow in both size and influence in years to come. Much outreach needs to be done as people coming from immigrant households, where voting may be new, may need help with building a new practice of voting.

Oct. 26, 2022

Community Well-Being

Governor Newsom signed a bill banning the creation of new oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of community areas but a referendum effort is underway for California voters to reconsider the law. If supporters of the referendum effort collect enough signatures by December, the law will be put on hold until the 2024 general election instead of going into effect as planned in January 2023.

Equity in Access

Approximately 2,000 registered nurses from Oakland and Berkeley began a strike on Monday. The nurses are fighting for safer working conditions and workplace violence prevention plans. This strike is just one of many labor actions among healthcare workers in the Bay Area and represents nationwide trends in the workforce. The healthcare sector overall has a renewed interest in unionization since the pandemic.

Economic Security and Dignity

Labor unions have pushed for a statewide $25 minimum wage at private hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and dialysis clinics but a union in Southern California is attempting a piecemeal approach to increase wages for this workforce. An analysis commissioned by the California Hospital Association estimated that the wage increase would raise costs for private facilities by $392 million a year across the 10 cities in the union. The union has dropped efforts in several cities, but Inglewood and Duarte residents will cast their votes on wage ordinances this November.

Oct. 19, 2022

Community Well-Being

A San Diego County judge blocked a law that provides the names and other identifying information of gun owners to researchers on the grounds that it violates privacy rights. The law allowed the California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis to receive data collected by the state attorney general’s office. The judge prohibited any further data disclosures to the research center pending a final ruling.

Equity in Access

Last week President Biden invoked Title 42 to deny Venezuelans from seeking asylum in the U.S. Venezuelans who walk or swim across the U.S. southern border will be expelled. The policy marks an abrupt shift for the White House, which just weeks ago was criticizing Republican governors for using Venezuelan migrants as political pawns. The administration says the policy is aimed at ensuring a “lawful and orderly” way for Venezuelans to enter the U.S.
Last month, Governor Newsom signed a bill that makes California the first state in the nation to create a sanctuary for transgender youth seeking gender-affirming care. The law shields families from being criminally prosecuted for seeking gender-affirming care and declares that any out-of-state warrant for violating laws related to gender-affirming care will be given “the lowest law enforcement priority.”

Economic Security and Dignity

An evaluation of education and training programs for health professions using a career pathways framework offers findings and recommendations to strengthen programs. Key findings from the evaluation include: longer healthcare trainings provide greater benefits but are more difficult to access; short-term trainings do not provide the same earning boost as mid or high-level trainings; and participants who received wraparound services were more likely to start and complete trainings.

Leading for Power and Change

The Supreme Court may soon set a precedent for how congressional voting districts are created. Lower courts in two cases found that maps recently drawn in Alabama and Louisiana were drawn in a way that diluted the power of Black voters and violated the Voting Rights Act. Many voting rights advocates are watching to see if the Supreme Court rules that race cannot be considered when drawing districts unless there's evidence of intentional racial discrimination.

Oct. 13, 2022

Community Well-Being

In California the property crime rate rose by 3% and the violent crime rate went up by over 6% between 2020 and 2021. However, analysis from the California Budget & Policy Center shows that both violent and property crime rates are at a historic low. Governor Newsom signed more than a dozen criminal justice reform bills on a range of subjects from compassionate release for terminally ill inmates to laws that address barriers to employment and housing.

Equity in Access

Mortality rates among unhoused people surged in 2021 with drug overdoses serving as the biggest driver in the increase. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services began ramping up “street medicine” programs during the pandemic and recently launched a system of rolling clinics to expand the range of services offered to unhoused communities. Though mobile clinics are common, the scale of this effort is rare.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services introduced a universal basic program which will provide 300 young adults with $1,000 monthly payments for three years. Those eligible must currently be enrolled in the GROW program which provides employment and training services for young adults who often come from vulnerable backgrounds, including being unhoused.

Leading for Power and Change

An Altadena homeowner agreed to return a one-acre parcel to the Tongva people, marking the first time in nearly 200 years that they would have land to call their own. The Tongva people have been able to enter some of their sacred sites but faced restrictions on the size of gatherings for ceremony. Tongva leaders say they hope the land, assessed at a value of $1.4 million, can provide paths for the community to reconnect with its culture and promote healing from centuries of trauma.

Oct. 5, 2022

Equity in Access

One of the largest studies focused on the health care experiences of Black Californians has released new findings. In the study, 90% of Black Californians said they currently have health insurance coverage but nearly one third has been treated unfairly by a health care provider because of their race or ethnicity. More than a quarter of those surveyed avoid care due to concerns that they will be treated unfairly or with disrespect and many adopt measures to mitigate potential negative experiences during health care visits including tailoring their speech.

Economic Security and Dignity

There are several nonprofit organizations with a track record of lifting low-income people out of poverty that use a holistic approach to workforce development; they offer training for both technical and “soft” skills and help minimize challenges by offering child care and transportation to program participants. The Biden administration is looking to replicate some of these comprehensive “work-and-learn” models in its $500 million Good Jobs Challenge.
Two guaranteed income pilot programs will be launching in the San Diego region this Fall. One pilot program will be administered by county government while the other will be coordinated by two local nonprofit organizations. The first pilot program in the area, San Diego for Every Child, has been making $500 monthly payments to 150 families since March.

Leading for Power and Change

Though voter turnout increased, Latinos were more underrepresented at the ballot box in the 2020 election than in the previous presidential election. By creating several Latino-majority districts, the state redistricting process and local redistricting efforts have created many new opportunities for California to increase Latino representation and leadership.

Sept. 29, 2022

Community Well-Being

A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against a California ban on for-profit private prisons and immigration detention facilities, citing that the state law is preempted by a “supremacy clause” in the Constitution.
State Senator Kamlager introduced a bill this year to raise California’s “gate money” to $1,300. Currently the state gives people $200 when they are released from prison and that sum has remained unchanged since 1973. Advocates say that increased financial support may help reduce recidivism.

Equity in Access

Over 1.7 million Californians may have to switch health insurers as a result of a statewide contract bidding that may cause four managed-care insurers to lose their Medi-Cal contracts. The losing insurers are contesting the results and final contract decisions could be delayed by months or even years. The Department of Health Care Services says member access and continuity are top priorities for the department.

Economic Security and Dignity

There is growing evidence that giving people money to alleviate poverty is working. After just the first month’s payment of the expanded Child Tax Credit, the child poverty rate fell by 25%. Proponents of guaranteed income programs say the success of the Child Tax Credit offers the ultimate proof-of-concept of an idea they have been testing on a smaller scale for years.

Leading for Power and Change

California’s Reparations Task Force convened over the weekend. During the convening the panel heard from experts on other reparations movements throughout history and from members of the public. The panel also heard from economic consultants who have completed some calculations that could be considered for reparations including the cost of the housing wealth gap and mass incarceration.

Sept. 22, 2022

Community Well-Being

California will be the first state to create an anti-gun violence office. The Office of Gun Violence Prevention will work to identify evidence-based and data-driven approaches to combating gun violence. The Supreme Court, which has recently taken an expansive view of gun rights, will significantly impact just how much this new office can achieve.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law promised that federal funding would fix dilapidated infrastructure, but government funding has often bypassed small, rural, and BIPOC communities. Climate change has increased the frequency of severe weather events and poor infrastructure has turned natural disasters into long-lasting crises for Black Americans across the country. While predominantly White regions receive funding, Black communities are largely left to rely on grassroots networks during disasters.

Equity in Access

A five-minute video shows the journey of one of the many migrant families that have been sent to Democratic-led cities since April by governors from Texas, Florida, and Arizona. The White House has called the actions “an inhumane political gimmick” that has turned asylum-seekers into political pawns.

Leading for Power and Change

Advocates in Fresno, Kern, and Riverside counties are pushing for independent redistricting commissions to draw county supervisor districts beginning with the next census. Local leaders say that current supervisor districts disenfranchise voters, particularly those in the Latino community.

Sept. 14, 2022

Community Well-Being

An organization that sets standards for business transactions has voted to create a special code for gun stores to use when processing credit and debit card transactions. Virtually every retailing category in the US has a code that is attached to each card transaction but, until now, there was no code for gun stores. Gun safety advocates say this is an important step towards improving coordination with law enforcement and preventing gun violence. It is unclear whether the new code will actually be used.

Equity in Access

Thousands of California farmworkers marched to the state capitol to convince Governor Newsom to sign a bill that will allow them vote for a union. Farmworkers who try to unionize are typically more vulnerable than other workers because they are threatened with deportation. President Biden and other party leaders have publicly supported the bill.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Social Security Administration is expected to announce an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the over 70 million people who receive Social Security benefits. The adjustment would be the highest increase in over forty years. COLA is typically offset by higher Medicare premiums, but premiums are expected to increase by only a modest amount next year.
Guaranteed income programs are gaining traction across the country with nearly fifty programs launching since 2020. Some researchers say applying lessons from municipal pilot programs on a nationwide scale will be difficult and the best pathway isn’t through scaling up a pilot, but in reforming and expanding existing federal programs such as the earned-income tax credit and the child tax credit.

Leading for Power and Change

Advocates are calling on Governor Newsom to veto a bill that would extend the deadline to July 2024 for the state’s reparations task force to submit its report assessing the compensation owed to descendants of enslaved people. The bill was sponsored by a member of the task force who argues that though the committee is expected to complete its report by the original deadline, it needs more time to lobby and push for reparations.

Sept. 8, 2022

Equity in Access

The Biden administration announced it will roll back the public charge rule that considered cash assistance as well as supplemental health benefits as factors in green card applications. Immigration advocates note that much work needs to be done to reverse the chilling effect the previous rule had on people’s willingness to access public benefits.

Economic Security and Dignity

Governor Newsom signed a bill to create a Fast Food Council that will be empowered to set minimum standards for wages, hours, and working conditions in the state. The bill also sets a cap on minimum wages at $22 an hour next year for workers at chains with more than 100 restaurants.
Los Angeles County’s guaranteed income program launched last week with 1,000 residents receiving $1,000 monthly payments for the next 36 months. Over 180,000 people applied for the program. The program administrator will assist participants to help them reach their personal and financial goals.

Leading for Power and Change

The midterm elections are around the corner and ballots will be mailed to registered voters no later than October 10 and voters can return ballots by mail, drop them at collection boxes or turn them in at voting centers by November 8. California lost a congressional seat but will be key to determining the balance of power in Congress. The most closely watched local contest is the mayoral race in Los Angeles. There will be seven statewide propositions on the ballot for sports betting, tobacco, dialysis centers, and abortion rights.

Aug. 25, 2022

Community Well-Being

Researchers have found that witnessing the killing of a loved one can do more psychological damage to children than if they were shot themselves. The devastating effects of intimate partner violence on children exposed to it have been well documented in recent years but seeing one parent kill another inflicts an especially harmful form of trauma because it deprives the children of both caretakers: one to death, the other to prison or frequently suicide.

Equity in Access

The California Department of Health Care Services announced it will continue to offer government-funded health insurance to undocumented young adults through the end of 2023. A new law scheduled to take effect in January 2024 will extend health insurance benefits to cover all adults who, but for their immigration status, would qualify for the state’s Medicaid program. An estimated 40,000 young adults would have had their benefits lapse had the department not extended coverage until the new law goes into effect.

Leading for Power and Change

Political candidates are gathering likes and views on TikTok to try to educate, encourage and hook young people on politics. The platform offers politicians a valuable opportunity to promote civic engagement and helps elect candidates, particularly progressive ones as TikTok use among politicians skews Democratic. There are concerns that the algorithm of the social media platform could be meddled with to change the tone of public discourse.

Aug. 17, 2022

Community Well-Being

An article by the Center for Effective Philanthropy makes recommendations for foundations to do more to address climate change. Recommendations include looking for opportunities to incorporate climate change in current grantmaking and programs, asking grantees how climate is affecting their work and their communities, talking with board of directors about how the climate crisis is relevant to the work, and connecting with a collaborative fund to pool resources and learn more.

Equity in Access

An issue brief by the California Health Care Foundation describes key care delivery transitions that will impact seniors and people with disabilities (SPDs) during implementation of CalAIM. Currently, the organization and delivery of health care and social services for SPDs varies significantly across California counties and while CalAIM works to reduce this complexity in the long term, in the short term it will move or transition SPDs into new or consolidated delivery systems and programs.

Economic Security and Dignity

People leaving California have lower incomes and education levels than those moving to the state. Census data suggests that housing costs drive migration out of and within the state. The pattern between states and within California suggests that a geographic polarization of income may be occurring, and the effects might be significant for policy, resource planning, and politics.

Leading for Power and Change

Starting January 1, 2024, California will require its agencies to provide additional demographic categories for descendants of enslaved people. Employees will not be required to disclose this information, but advocates argue that the new legislation will provide critical information to the state’s reparations task force.
A prominent election law commentator is launching the Safeguarding Democracy Project to promote free and fair elections in the U.S. The project will “work to ensure that all eligible voters can freely cast their vote, that those votes will be fairly and accurately counted, and that the election winners will undergo a peaceful transfer of power.”

Aug. 10, 2022

Community Well-Being

A report by the Office of Public Safety Accountability shows that the oversight agency failed to review about one-third of Sacramento police misconduct complaints from 2021. The director of the accountability office said the office needs more staff to be able to review all complaints. The police department has no obligation to implement recommendations from the accountability office or the review commission and dozens of recommendations made in the past five years haven’t even reached the council for discussion.

Equity in Access

This November, California could become one of the first states to create explicit constitutional rights to both abortion and contraception. The proposed constitutional amendment in Proposition 1 doesn’t go into detail about what enshrining the right to contraception in the state constitution would mean but it could provide a new legal pathway for people to sue when they’re denied contraceptives.

Economic Security and Dignity

California has launched CalKIDS, a taxpayer-funded scholarship program aimed at helping kids start saving for college from the day they’re born. The program grants up to $100 automatically to every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022, and up to $1,500 automatically to every eligible low-income student.
Newly unionized child-care providers in California signed their first-ever contract with the state last year and now the 40,000-member organization is making a push to help providers “retire with dignity.” One in 5 home-based family child-care providers in the state are 60 or older and just 21% of California workers operating home-based day cares reported having some form of retirement savings. The 2022-23 state budget includes funding for a study regarding potential retirement benefits for child-care providers who offer home-based state-subsidized care.

Leading for Power and Change

A bipartisan group of senators has introduced the Electoral Count Reform Act that would clarify that the vice president has a "solely ministerial" role in counting Electoral College votes as president of the Senate and make it harder for lawmakers to challenge a state's electoral votes.

Aug. 5, 2022

Community Well-Being

The federal government is prohibited from leasing land it owns for the purpose of drilling until it completes an environmental impact report on fracking in the Central Valley. The settlement puts a moratorium on any sales of oil and gas leases on federal land around Bakersfield until the appropriate environmental reviews are completed. Governor Newsom has called for a ban on new fracking permits on state-permitted land starting in 2024.
Family members of some of the people killed or wounded in the 2019 Gilroy shooting are suing the companies that distributed the rifle used by the shooter. The suits are seeking a jury trial, but they did not specify the damages they are seeking.

Equity in Access

The Office of Health Equity contracted with Public Health Alliance to produce a report with policy, program, and resource recommendations to ensure that local public health departments are adequately prepared to protect communities from the impacts of public health emergencies. Key findings include that 87% of local health department respondents said knowledge of community engagement and partnerships was the most critical staff skill in the COVID response and 85% of CBOs indicated that they would most benefit from general operating support in order to respond to public health emergencies.

Economic Security and Dignity

The 2022-23 California State Budget includes a $50 million one-time investment for a Statewide Reentry Employment Grant Program. The funding will provide new support for transitional jobs, pre-apprenticeships, and union training pathways coupled with direct cash assistance and wrap-around support. The effort was bolstered by the advocacy of more than 20 reentry and workforce development organizations throughout the state.

Leading for Power and Change

An article from GIH summarizes the key themes that emerged from interviews with health funders who actively support civic engagement efforts. The strategic importance of civic engagement and the level of resources invested in related grants have been increasing and foundations generally expect levels of support to remain stable or increase in the future. Civic engagement activities most commonly cited by health funders include community organizing, leadership development, voter engagement, census support, and redistricting advocacy.

July 27, 2022

Equity in Access

A new study found that greater investment in primary care is associated with better quality of care, patient experience, and plan rating. The study, which evaluated primary care spending data from 13 Medi-Cal managed care plans, found wide variation in the level of primary care investment by plan and population. When individual measures of quality were studied, plans with a higher percentage of spending on primary care performed better on 9 of 11 measures.

Economic Security and Dignity

The U.S. government spent about $665 billion on procurement contracts in 2020, with only 9% going to minority-owned small businesses. The Equity in Infrastructure Project is a pledge to increase the number, size and percentage of historically underutilized businesses that become prime contractors, participate in joint ventures or are equity participants by December 2025. The EIP can help ensure that small and disadvantaged businesses are awarded federal contracts in infrastructure spending.

Leading for Power and Change

California’s Citizen Redistricting Commission and Top Two impacted primary elections in June and will continue to have an enduring legacy. Due to Top Two, twenty-eight races this Fall will feature two candidates of the same party, the highest number since 2012. By carving up political strongholds, redistricting discouraged many incumbents from running because they’d be competing against another incumbent.

July 21, 2022

Community Well-Being

A study from the University of Michigan found that the 40% of children that are exposed to the criminal justice system through a caregiver face multiple adverse childhood outcomes. The study also found racial disparities in the likelihood of exposure; 62% of Black children are exposed to the criminal justice system before the age of 18 compared to 60% of Native American children, 45% of Latino children, 32% of white children, and 17% of Asian children.

Equity in Access

The American Rescue Plan Act provided $130 billion in flexible resources to counties and cities over five years to address the pandemic. The U.S. Treasury prioritized equity in the spending guidelines for ARPA funds and PolicyLink analyzed the extent to which cities prioritized equity in their ARPA investments thus far. Initial observations show that 90% of cities have exhibited “equity awareness” but only 11% of cities set specific equity targets.
Covered California premiums will increase by an average of 6% next year, the largest rate hike since 2019. Since financial aid is based on household income, subsidies may offset some of the rate increases. The rate increases are attributed to inflation, a potential loss of enhanced subsidies from the federal government, and people resuming medical visits and procedures they postponed during the pandemic.

Economic Security and Dignity

Childcare costs have gotten more expensive during the pandemic, with 51% of parents reporting that they spend more than 20% of their household income on childcare. Families are having more difficulty finding childcare with nearly 16,000 providers closing their doors since the start of the pandemic.

Leading for Power and Change

An analysis of Latino voting patterns in six Senate races from 2020 shows the complexity of this growing segment of the electorate. Data do not confirm a massive or uniform defection of Latino voters away from the Democratic Party, however, findings show that despite the overwhelming support for Democrats among Latino voters, a not insignificant number are persuadable swing voters.

July 13, 2022

Community Well-Being

Governor Newsom signed a bill allowing individuals to sue gun manufacturers who fail to adhere to a newly created firearm industry standard of conduct aimed at reducing gun violence. The bill also allows state and local governments to sue gun makers. The new law will go into effect on July 1, 2023, but is expected to face legal challenges.
Police killings in Vallejo outpace those of all but two California cities, San Bernardino and South Gate. An investigation by Open Vallejo and ProPublica found a pattern of delayed and incomplete investigations after police killings occur in the city. Six of the department’s 17 fatal shootings between 2011 and 2020, involved an officer using deadly force while still under investigation for a prior killing. The Vallejo police department has taken an average of 20 months to review fatal shootings.

Equity in Access

A new lawsuit settlement prohibits Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from using private contractors to arrest immigrants at county jails and prisons. The lawsuit alleged that ICE collaborated with private contractors to detain and arrest people since federal law limits immigration officers to make arrests related only to immigration. California lawmakers are considering a new policy which would ensure that people who have served a sentence are not processed for deportation.

Economic Security and Dignity

Growing evidence indicates that diversifying the health care workforce is crucial to improving access to and the quality of care in communities of color. Research conducted by the Urban Institute shows that career pathway programs are essential for achieving health care workforce diversity. Some of the more critical components of pipeline programs include providing social supports, exposing students to supportive networks, and addressing financial constraints.

Leading for Power and Change

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court banned the use of ballot drop boxes in the state’s elections. Many are celebrating the ruling, arguing that it validates their belief that the 2020 election was “rigged” against the sitting president. In fact, ballot drop boxes may help to “unrig” elections that have long favored one party.

July 7, 2022

Community Well-Being

The Returning Citizen Stimulus initiative offers cash payments to people released from prison to support their reentry. Formerly incarcerated individuals, particularly Blacks and Latinos, face post-conviction poverty and the cash assistance during the transitional period can be a stabilizing force. The cash payments are paid over three months and are contingent on meeting certain benchmarks.

Equity in Access

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that between 2019 and 2021, the life expectancy for Latino Californians fell from 82.5 to 76.8 years and fell from 74.8 to 71 years for Black Californians. The decreases in life expectancy were less pronounced among white and Asian Californians and the life expectancy gap widened based on income, demonstrating that the pandemic’s impact was not felt evenly among all communities.

Economic Security and Dignity

The pervasiveness of “beating the odds” stories illuminate how we think about economic inequity and wealth. Structural barriers become hidden when narratives focus on individuals and allow long standing, inequitable practices to flourish. Countless efforts are underway to create new narratives and build economic power.

Leading for Power and Change

The 2022 midterm cycle will be the first time Generation Z candidates can run for office. Generation Z defines people who are born between the years 1997 and 2012 and have come of age during a volatile period in history. These younger candidates are deviating from a “compromise mindset” to that of disrupting institutions and systems. Some Gen Z candidates running for Congress have already obtained endorsements from well-known political leaders.

June 30, 2022

Community Well-Being

In response to the Supreme Court ruling, California lawmakers on Tuesday moved to limit where firearms may be carried and who can have them. Lawmakers aim to restrict concealed carry to those 21 and older and bar concealed weapons from certain locations including schools, government buildings, medical facilities, and public parks. Lawmakers will work to advance the legislation in August so that it can take effect in January.

Equity in Access

According to a UCLA study, between 8,000 and 16,100 more people from out of state will travel to California annually for abortion care. It’s estimated that most people traveling to California to seek care will be uninsured people of color. Minors are also expected to seek abortion care in California because the state does not require parental consent. Governor Newsom announced that his administration won’t spend public funds to help out-of-state patients travel to California for abortion care.

Economic Security and Dignity

As policymakers consider whether to make the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit permanent, findings from a study suggest that the EITC can be a useful tool for addressing income inequality for workers without dependent children. Pilot programs in two cities indicate that increased EITC benefits for childless workers increased after-bonus earnings, led to a small increase in employment rates, and did not reduce work effort among higher earners.
Economists predict that Black families will suffer the worst effects of rising inflation and may be forced to go without some basic necessities. The wealth gap has made it difficult for Black families to maintain savings and build generational wealth.

Leading for Power and Change

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to return Bruce’s Beach to a Black family after it had been improperly taken from them. The decision opens a new path forward for the government to rectify racially motivated injustices. Advocates are calling on county officials to specify in their records that Bruce’s Beach is in the ancestral homelands of the Tongva people to avoid inadvertently perpetuating the erasure of a community that has also suffered injustices.
The 2020 presidential election set a record for youth voter turnout and the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has the potential to spur turnout in the midterms. Young activists are using social media platforms such as TikTok to lay the groundwork for their advocacy. Organizations are hiring content creators as coordinating staff and independent contractors to build an online organizing base.

June 23, 2022

Community Well-Being

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down a New York law requiring people to have “proper cause” to obtain a concealed-carry license for carrying a firearm in public. California is among the number of states that are impacted by the expansion of gun rights. This is the Supreme Court's first major gun ruling in over a decade.

Equity in Access

The $178 billion in federal funding for the healthcare system at the start of the pandemic had unexpected consequences and in many cases, exacerbated the gap between under-resourced hospitals and wealthy hospitals. The formula used to determine funding levels put safety-net hospitals at a disadvantage. Hospitals were required to use federal funds for COVID-related costs, but many hospitals saw strong profits and increased their reserves during this period.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Sacramento City Council is expected to approve a $750,000 contract with a local United Way affiliate to expand an existing guaranteed basic income program. The expanded program is limited to low- and moderate-income households living in the city of Sacramento; a single adult must earn below $28,205, and a two-adult household must earn below $43,201 to be eligible. The pilot will be financed with federal COVID-19 relief funds.
CalWORKs, California’s public assistance program, requires a child’s primary caretaker to open a child support case so that the government can recover costs from the noncustodial parent. Governor Newsom’s budget proposes waiving the state’s share of “recoupment” from child support payments to redirect more money directly to children and their primary caretakers.

June 15, 2022

Community Well-Being

Several members of the entertainment industry have signed a letter committing to incorporating gun safety best practices into their storytelling. The letter acknowledges that cultural attitudes are impacted by the media and stories have the power to effect change. The letter campaign was coordinated by Brady.
There has been a national increase of Latino activism in environmentalism in recent years. A Pew Research Center study released last Fall showed that about 70% of Latinos say climate change affects their communities at least some, compared to 54% of non-Latinos. Latinos are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions aggravated by extreme heat, like diabetes and heart and kidney disease.

Equity in Access

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the federal government improperly lowered drug reimbursement payments to clinics and hospitals that serve low-income communities. Under Medicare, health care providers get reimbursed by the government for drugs used in hospital outpatient departments and until 2018, hospitals had been getting reimbursed at a rate based on the average price of the drugs.

Economic Security and Dignity

3.7 million more children are living in poverty since Congress allowed the monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) to expire at the end of 2021. New analysis shows that monthly payments provide more anti-poverty benefits than annual lump sums and monthly checks reduce income volatility. The monthly CTC did not negatively impact employment and helped parents reduce credit card debt.

Leading for Power and Change

Youth organizers are seeing wins in several campaigns, often despite minimal philanthropic funding. The Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing launched the Youth Power Pledge, a campaign to raise $35 million to build the power of youth organizers. Of those funds, $15 million will go directly to grassroots youth-organizing groups and $20 million will support grantmaking, leadership development programs, and a range of resources to strengthen youth-organizing groups.

June 8, 2022

Community Well-Being

In California, a proposed bill would make the marketing of firearms to children a civil liability and would allow lawsuits against gun manufacturers based on their marketing. A similar bill was passed in New York and has held up to legal challenges.

Equity in Access

Medi-Cal has a payment structure that works like a monthly deductible; people are allowed to keep $600 of their income for personal use and must spend the rest on health care expenses before their Medi-Cal coverage kicks in. The $600 threshold has not changed in over three decades and has not kept up with the current cost of living. Under a proposed bill, the monthly limit would increase to $1,562, or 138% of the federal poverty level.
Roughly 4 million Californians have been diagnosed with diabetes and one in four people who have diabetes and rely on insulin cannot afford it. The state is working on an initiative to launch its own generic drug label, CalRx, to bring to market affordable drugs such as insulin. The initiative faces an uphill battle and there is no guarantee that the administration’s predictions of dramatic savings or wide distribution of insulin will materialize.

Leading for Power and Change

In a Nonprofit Quarterly piece, community organizers reflect on lessons learned from a 2020 campaign that centered narrative change. Key lessons include understanding that narrative change is a long-term process, investing in the next generation of leaders, challenging dominant counter-narratives, and building infrastructure for the long haul.

June 2, 2022

Community Well-Being

The Judicial Council of California has been sued for relying on massive late fees, known as “civil assessment fees,” to fund California courts. Civil assessments disproportionately impact people of color who are subject to traffic stops and citations at much higher rates than their white peers and are less likely to be able to pay fees by their deadline. The Judicial Court will not fight the lawsuit pending action from the Governor and the Legislature to end civil assessments permanently.

Equity in Access

Farmers are scrambling to recruit foreign workers on temporary guest-worker visas to harvest California’s crops. Mexican immigrants constitute most of the farmworkers in the state but are not coming to the U.S. at previous rates due to relative economic stability in Mexico, stricter border enforcement, and growing housing costs in the U.S. This shift has decreased the total population of undocumented immigrants, particularly in California.

Economic Security and Dignity

Women in the workforce were hit hard by the pandemic and women’s employment is not projected to recover to pre-pandemic levels until 2024. Women’s funds have been at the forefront of funding organizations addressing women’s underemployment and preliminary data suggests that these funds are seeing double-digit growth in their operating and grantmaking budgets in 2022 when compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Leading for Power and Change

California’s reparations task force released its first report with recommendations for state lawmakers which include free tuition and raising the minimum wage. The task force will release by July 2023 another report with recommendations on exact monetary compensation and the number of Black Californians eligible for payments.
An influx of new voters has historically reshaped the American political landscape and the two fastest growing racial and ethnic groups have the power to do just that in upcoming elections. Asian American and Latino populations are growing rapidly but represent the lowest rates of voter turnout at 59.9% and 54.7%, respectively. Political consultants are beginning to understand that these groups are not monoliths and require unique messaging to mobilize.

May 25, 2022

Community Well-Being

Though research shows that gun buyback programs don’t necessarily reduce gun violence in communities, Sacramento officials got hundreds of firearms off the streets this past weekend by offering gift card incentives. Participants shared that gift cards were not the only motivating factor – many cited a lack of knowledge with firearms and inability to safely store the weapons.
A new research study shows that the widespread and well documented practice of redlining is indelibly linked to air pollution. Redlining has led to zoning decisions that expose people of color to pollution and has created disparities in cities across the country.

Equity in Access

Governor Newsom is proposing to extend health care coverage to the roughly 700,000 undocumented adults between the ages of 26 to 49. If the budget proposal is approved, this group would obtain coverage starting 2024. Advocates are pushing for quicker access to medical care as well as additional supports including the expansion of nutrition assistance and unemployment insurance for undocumented workers.

Economic Security and Dignity

If approved, the Hope for Children Act of 2022 would establish a work group to advise the Legislature on establishing trust fund accounts for foster children and children whose parent or guardian died from COVID-19. If the bill passes, the state will make an initial deposit of $4,000 for eligible children under 10 years old and annual deposits of a still undetermined amount.

Leading for Power and Change

Latino advocacy groups are warning that there is insufficient campaign outreach targeting Latino voters. Most Latinos report not knowing much about the American Rescue Plan or Build Back Better. Latinos surveyed cited the rising cost of living, the economy and housing as the top three issues they want elected officials to address.

May 18, 2022

Community Well-Being

A KCET series highlights the human and environmental impacts of the flow of goods in the Inland Empire. While some celebrate the economic benefits of the inland ports in Riverside and San Bernardino County, local communities of color are experiencing environmental injustices. Articles in the series chronicle issues such as air pollution and land use policies.

Equity in Access

Between 5.3 million and 14.2 million people could lose Medicaid when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. During the public health order, states were required to keep people on Medicaid in exchange for extra funding. The public health emergency is currently set to expire on July 15, but the Biden administration has been extending the order every 90 days.

Economic Security and Dignity

California lawmakers are at odds about how to allocate funds in the budget to lift the state’s poorest communities out of poverty. While the state’s poverty rate dropped between 2019 and 2020, inflation and the loss of federal programs could stall further progress. Federal stimulus provided a boost and some lawmakers are advocating for the state to extend expiring federal stimulus programs. Other proposed measures include rental assistance, child care waivers, and a refund to each car owner to ease the burden of high has prices.

Leading for Power and Change

Ballots have been mailed to registered voters in California for the first ever all-mailed ballot election. The use of mail-in ballots has shifted recent election trends; Republicans have traditionally overperformed significantly in the early vote but in 2020, it was Democrats who were outpacing their rate of registration in the early vote. Current polling suggests that Republicans continue to carry an anti-mail-ballot sentiment, and this could be a very challenging election for their candidates.

May 5, 2022

Community Well-Being

Several states are debating the minimum age for a juvenile’s arrest while 25 states don’t have any age limits at all for prosecuting juveniles. Youth justice advocates argue that arresting young children can lead to trauma or create adverse effects that lead to more criminal activity.

Equity in Access

If the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe v. Wade holds, women of color will bear the brunt of the impact of restricting or banning abortions. In a number of states in the South and Midwest, women of color receive abortions at a disproportionate rate, signaling an overall lack of access to health care, birth control, and reproductive health education in these states.

Economic Security and Dignity

Lawmakers in over a dozen states are following California’s lead in proposing legislation to offer a legal refuge to displaced transgender youth. Some states, including Texas, are directing state agencies to consider placing transgender children in foster care. Under California’s proposed bill, the state would reject any out-of-state rulings removing transgender children from their parent’s custody because they allowed gender-affirming health care.

Leading for Power and Change

Racial justice advocates are calling on President Biden to establish a commission to study reparations for slavery. The advocates acknowledge that an executive order may be the only plausible path forward for reparations considering that GOP lawmakers are strongly opposed to legislation to create a commission.

April 27, 2022

Community Well-Being

The Biden administration has announced new comprehensive strategy to support people re-entering society after incarceration. The plans to bolster reentry and empower formerly incarcerated persons include investments in job training, expanding federal job opportunities, promoting best practices for hiring across the federal government, expanding access to health care and housing, and developing educational opportunities.

Equity in Access

A Kaiser Family Foundation brief provides an overview of how adults are faring during the pandemic across a range of social determinants of health. Data shows that Black and Latino adults have fared worse than White adults across nearly all measures and patterns of hardship reflect both the effects of the pandemic and related policies and longstanding disparities in social determinants of health.

Economic Security and Dignity

A new study shows that colleges and universities across the country are seeing significant declines in enrollment. Enrollment is declining the most in community colleges and California community colleges lost nearly 15% of enrollment during the 2020 – 2021 academic year. Cost appears to be the most significant barrier, particularly for students who have dropped out of college or have never attended. Emotional stress is inflicting 71% of students who are enrolled but considering withdrawing.

Leading for Power and Change

A coalition of legislators and organizations are asking the state for $100 million for the Health Equity and Racial Justice Fund in the upcoming budget. The fund would be used as a source for grants to tribes and community-based organizations addressing public health. Advocates were unsuccessful in getting the fund to be included in the 2021-2022 budget.

April 20, 2022

Community Well-Being

SB 1000, a planning and zoning law implemented in 2018, mandates that cities and counties incorporate environmental justice into land use planning to reduce health risks for vulnerable residents. The law has been key in helping community advocates in Santa Ana to lobby city officials to update the city’s General Plan to address the hazardous level of lead in the local soil.

Equity in Access

A new report shows that nearly half of U.S. healthcare workers plan to leave their current positions by 2025. Healthcare workers are calling for more skills training, preservation of the patient-doctor relationship in a changing digital world, and recruitment of more professionals into the field. Clinicians are concerned about a global healthcare workforce shortage, with 74% predicting there will be a shortage of nurses and 68% predicting a shortage of doctors in 10 years’ time.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Imperial Valley may become a global beacon for lithium production, but locals are wary that lithium can bring prosperity to all. A key question for locals is whether the region will benefit economically from lithium production, and residents worry that their concerns will be overlooked in the excitement of a lithium goldmine. A commission is examining the potential impacts of lithium production, but it is not required to collect community input and it’s unknown if the commission’s recommendations will carry weight during decision-making.

Leading for Power and Change

The Biden administration announced the launch of the Rural Partners Network, an effort led by the USDA to create economic opportunities in rural communities. New federal field staff will be placed in more than 25 rural communities and Tribal Nations to help local leaders identify and leverage federal resources available to improve local economies.

April 14, 2022

Community Well-Being

President Biden announced a new rule with a goal to better regulate ghost guns by requiring dealers to stamp serial numbers on the firearms. Under the new rule, the definition of a firearm would now include unfinished parts and would require dealers to run background checks before the sale of a gun kit. The rule is supposed to go into effect in a few months but the rule will likely be met with heavy opposition from gun advocate groups.

Economic Security and Dignity

The disparity between the Latinx population and physicians in the state threatens the quality of care provided to Latinx patients and poses critical language and trust barriers between doctors and patients. With a disparate Latinx physician gap, at loss is what experts call physician concordance —which occurs when a physician and patient share a similar identity or race, often leading to better health outcomes. The share of Latinx and “of Spanish origin” medical school matriculants has increased by 3.6% since 2014.
California lawmakers are considering a guaranteed income program for students who have experienced homelessness. Through SB 1341, the state would give graduating high school seniors at least four monthly cash payments. The bill’s author says the goal of the payments would be to encourage students to enroll in college or seek career training opportunities.

Leading for Power and Change

The largest qualitative research study on philanthropic giving by high to ultra-high net worth people of color in the United States shows some important patterns. A majority of survey respondents regularly make sizeable gifts to friends and family but do not perceive this as “philanthropy,” but rather as familial obligation. 44.4% of BIPOC donors named social justice as a factor in their charitable giving decisions.

April 6, 2022

Community Well-Being

A California study shows that living in a household with a gun increases the risk by at least 50% of being shot to death by someone else. The research also shows that those who live with handgun owners have a much higher chance of being fatally shot by a spouse or intimate partner. The risks uncovered in the study are likely much higher in states with less stringent gun laws than California.

Equity in Access

California lawmakers are considering the Excluded Workers Pilot Program that would provide $300 a week for 20 weeks to undocumented workers who lose their jobs. The program would provide income assistance to workers not eligible for state or federal unemployment insurance benefits. States such as New York and Colorado have similar programs for undocumented workers.

Economic Security and Dignity

California college students across the state face housing insecurity but the crisis is hitting community college campuses the hardest. The most recent statewide study found that 60% of community college students experience housing insecurity and 19% experience homelessness. Community college campuses now have programs to help students meet basic needs, including food pantries and mental health support.

Leading for Power and Change

A windfall of philanthropic support can increase the impact potential of community-based organizations, but fast growth also presents challenges to talent management. Investing in “people systems” can help organizations to maintain employee satisfaction and protect culture and performance. Some of the systems include algorithmic hiring rubrics, rubric-driven performance management, pulse checks, and compensation and benefits reviews.

March 30, 2022

Community Well-Being

A new research center will focus on investigating effective and equitable policies to address gun violence. The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions is a merger of two reputable entities that have collaborated previously. In addition to research, the Center will provide resources to stakeholders, train gun violence prevention researchers, and engage with decisionmakers at the local, state, and federal levels.
San Jose unveiled a new program that will offer cash rewards for information that leads to the seizure of a ghost gun or assault rifle. Larger payouts will be awarded for information about dealers and manufacturers.

Equity in Access

While the Biden administration is attempting to end the Migrant Protection Protocols, it continues to defend Title 42. Advocates find the policy decisions to be contradictory because the administration is working to end MPP in part due to its “unjustifiable human costs,” yet it is asking in separate litigation to continue expelling all asylum seekers under Title 42 in the name of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Palm Springs City Council voted unanimously to fund a local community-based organization to design a guaranteed income program and apply for state funding. The proposed guaranteed income pilot would support transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming residents. The CBO will seek input from local transgender and nonbinary leaders and conduct outreach.

Leading for Power and Change

State law directs the California Reparations Task Force to prioritize for reparations those who can trace their lineage to African Americans enslaved in the US. Some genealogists and historians warn that reparations eligibility based on lineage may be difficult and costly to prove so they recommend that the task force considers covering costs associated with proving lineage.

March 23, 2022

Community Well-Being

Youth prison facilities will close by July 2023 and direct care employees for the Division of Juvenile Justice could receive up to $50,000 in bonuses to stay on the job until then. Non-direct care employees, who mostly work for headquarters in Sacramento, could receive up to $25,000 in bonuses. The effort to retain youth corrections employees could cost the state more than $38 million.

Equity in Access

Community clinics in California may be owed as much as $408 million for administering over 6 million COVID-19 vaccinations. Community clinics have been integral to vaccine rollout but were instructed to not submit reimbursement claims until the state and federal government determined how to pay for vaccinations. The payment delay has forced some clinics to cut back on services including shuttering vaccination sites.

Economic Security and Dignity

CalWORKs supports about 400,000 children throughout the state by providing their families with monthly cash grants while helping parents find work. A new report shows that the program prioritizes pushing parents into paid employment over addressing longer-term barriers to work or providing resources needed to lead thriving lives.

Leading for Power and Change

A company is proposing building a network of floating turbines that are tethered to the seafloor and connected to one another and the mainland with electric cables off the Gaviota Coast. The wind turbines would be within the boundaries of a proposed Chumash marine sanctuary which is intended to preserve Chumash tribal history and protect the area’s biodiversity.
Leading California nonprofit organizations are calling on Governor Newsom to provide tax relief to nonprofit organizations in the upcoming budget. A recently enacted bill requires employers with more than 25 employees to provide five additional paid sick days for employees who contract COVID but does not provide relief to offset costs imposed on small businesses and nonprofits.

March 16, 2022

Community Well-Being

The Biden administration has reinstated California’s authority to set its own motor vehicle pollution standards. The state is now free to pursue its plan to require that all new cars sold in the state after 2035 be electric-powered. California has the nation’s largest car market and has the power and influence to set pollution and fuel economy standards; 16 states currently follow California’s standards.
Democratic candidates have been ratcheting up their law-and-order rhetoric as crime rates have climbed. Recent polls show a 9-point jump since 2020 in the share of California voters who see violence and street crime as a problem and a 16-point rise in the share who say Newsom is doing a poor job addressing crime.

Equity in Access

California is proposing to establish the Office of Health Care Affordability to rein in the increasing costs of health care. Under the proposal, an eight-member board of experts appointed by the governor would set health care cost targets for each geographic region and would fine companies that charge too much. The California Medical Association worries that the proposal could unintentionally drive up prices by causing more health care providers to merge.

Leading for Power and Change

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the undercount rate for Latinos tripled in the 2020 census compared to 2010. While Latinos were undercounted by nearly 5% in the 2020 census, Whites were overcounted by 1.64%, and Asians were overcounted by 2.62%. Advocacy groups and census experts had accurately warned that the inclusion of a citizenship question on the census would reduce Latino participation.

March 9, 2022

Community Well-Being

Last month, California became the first state to adopt a strategy to address microplastics, fragments of broken-down plastic found in the ocean and floating through the air. California’s strategy primarily aims to prevent plastics from entering the environment in the first place and monitoring those that already exist. Last week, representatives from 175 nations agreed to begin working on a global treaty to address plastic pollution.

Equity in Access

Federal policy lowered health insurance premiums and boosted enrollment in Covered California but now millions are at risk of having their care dramatically reduced if the federal government fails to extend coverage before the end of 2022. Medi-Cal recipients, particularly Black and Latino Californians, are also at risk of losing coverage if the state does not extend the emergency order that required them to offer continuous coverage during the pandemic.

Economic Security and Dignity

The 2021 State of Latino Entrepreneurship report provides insights about the business outcomes of Latino-owned businesses to inform data-driven policy and programs. The report features survey data and analysis that provides an understanding of existing gaps but also explores the special characteristics of Latino-owned employer businesses.

Leading for Power and Change

Right-wing militia groups in Shasta County are using special elections and intimidation tactics to assert power in local politics. The growing movement has successfully secured the board majority and is backing candidates for sheriff, school superintendent, and district attorney. Movement leaders are offering their recall campaign approach as a blueprint for neighboring conservative counties.

March 2, 2022

Community Well-Being

A historic amount of government funding has been made available to local gun violence prevention (GVP) programs, but the windfall of support has also created confusion for many small organizations. Groups are calling on the government to remove barriers to entry so small GVP groups are able to access the new funding to sustain long-term programming.

Equity in Access

Medi-Cal will expand to cover undocumented immigrants 50 and older in 2023, but 1.16 million undocumented immigrants will remain uninsured. Low-income immigrants have few viable options for health coverage; while most Californians who earn over the Medi-Cal limit can get subsidized coverage through Covered California, undocumented people are ineligible under the federal Affordable Care Act. To address affordability, the chairs of the Legislature’s health committees recently introduced bills that aim to reduce deductibles and copays for people enrolled through Covered California.

Economic Security and Dignity

The first large-scale study of Black workers in Southern California shows that economic restructuring triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is compounding the Black jobs crisis in Southern California. Key recommendations from the researchers include making investments to create long-term quality jobs and targeted programming to provide wellness support to Black workers.
Recent data shows that low-income families continue to face disruptions with child-care. While 30% of the U.S. households with children under 11 had disruptions with child-care in the past month, 36% of households with incomes under $25,000 experienced disruptions. When child-care disruptions happen, low-income families are more likely to resort to unpaid leave or to quit jobs.

Leading for Power and Change

California’s new political districts will give Latinos more voting power in the state than ever before; the share of Latino-majority districts is now 30%. The redrawn districts have shifted hundreds of thousands of voters into new districts and the changes appear to have prompted several state legislators to retire or pursue other careers as they are now in districts they are less likely to win, or they would have to run against an opponent from the same party.

Feb. 24, 2022

Community Well-Being

Sea levels along the California coastline could rise 7 to 21 inches by 2050 and San Mateo County is most at risk. Climate activists from Marin City, the only predominantly Black community in Marin County, are asking the state to help address existing flooding issues. Mitigating sea level rise will require an equity-focused approach, yet the Biden administration plans to use race-neutral criteria when determining where to focus environmental justice efforts.

Equity in Access

A report from the Department of Health and Human Services shows historic gains in health insurance coverage for Black Americans since the adoption of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Between 2011 to 2019, 2.7 million Black Americans younger than 65 obtained health insurance. Still, the cost of health insurance remains a barrier and some states have refused to participate in key provisions of the ACA.

Economic Security and Dignity

A RAND study has found that 6% of men at age 35 are unemployed, and 64% of them have been arrested as adults. Black men are more likely than other racial or ethnic groups to have a criminal record and 35-year-old Black men are almost twice as likely as white men to be unemployed. Research suggests that a criminal record reduces access to job opportunities, even with minor, nonviolent felonies.

Leading for Power and Change

Alliance for Justice has released a guide to address the challenges nonprofit organizations face when conducting digital advocacy. The resource offers guidance to 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and tax-exempt political organizations. The guide offers an overview of nonprofit tax and election rules and guidance on linking to third-party websites, sharing candidate materials, and volunteer activity.

Feb. 16, 2022

Community Well-Being

Gun manufacturer Remington Arms settled liability claims with families from the Sandy Hook massacre. The families argued that Remington wrongfully marketed and sold firearms to civilians that were only suitable for the military and law enforcement. This marks the first time a gun manufacturer has been held accountable for a mass shooting in the U.S.

Equity in Access

State Senator Hertzberg has introduced a bill that would create a checkbox on state tax returns that taxpayers can use to express interest in health care coverage through Covered California. Covered California would conduct outreach to all taxpayers who checked the box on their tax returns.
Encore Physicians is matching retired doctors with health clinics in need of providers. This program is helping to increase access to care to the millions of Californians who reside in areas with health professional shortages. The program has primarily focused on placing physicians in Bay Area clinics but community health centers in Los Angeles have also expressed interest in the program.

Economic Security and Dignity

Children’s savings accounts (CSAs) aim to increase access to postsecondary education and a report by Asset Funders Network shows that philanthropic funding is essential for the CSA field. Over half of CSA programs across the country rely exclusively on philanthropic support and over 80% of programs receive philanthropic funding. CSAs help to address the systemic barriers to widening the postsecondary education pipeline that other college access programs can’t resolve alone.

Leading for Power and Change

California’s redistricting commission unanimously approved the maps for the Legislature, Congress, and the Board of Equalization and there doesn’t appear to be any upcoming litigation challenging the maps. Avoiding lawsuits is not the only measure of success for the new maps; the true test will be the results of the upcoming elections this year and in years to come.

Feb. 2, 2022

Community Well-Being

State Senator Portantino will introduce legislation that would require school administrators to collect information from parents about guns stored at home and would allow searches of personal belongings when there are credible threats to school safety. The bill would also require public and charter schools to provide annual educational materials on safe firearm storage.

Equity in Access

The Department of Homeland Security will be increasing oversight of Border Patrol teams that have been characterized as “shadow police units” by immigration advocates. These teams have been operating without explicit federal authority and have been accused of misconduct and tampering with evidence to conceal culpability in wrongdoing.

Economic Security and Dignity

Qualifying homeless and foster youth are eligible for a $1,500 refund through the Earned Income Tax Credit for tax year 2021. The refund is provided through the American Rescue Plan. Cal Wellness grantees, SchoolHouse Connection and John Burton Advocates for Youth, are leading partners in helping to spread the word about the tax benefit.

Leading for Power and Change

The California Assembly is seeing an unusually high number of vacancies, most recently a resignation from an Assemblymember representing Inglewood. Vacancies are due to term limits, early exits, and redistricting and are a sign of what may be to come in 2024 when large scale turnover is expected. The current exits make it more difficult for the leading party to reach the two-thirds majority required to pass legislation.
Capital B has debuted its national site and will bring original reporting to Black audiences across the U.S. Capital B is a nonprofit organization supported by philanthropic funding, individual donations, corporate gifts, as well as ads and sponsorships.

Jan. 26, 2022

Community Well-Being

The San Jose City Council approved a measure to require gun owners to carry liability insurance and pay an annual fee. According to the ordinance, liability insurance would cover damages resulting from accidental use of the firearm, including death, injury, or property damage. The annual fees collected would be used for firearm safety education, mental health services, and suicide and domestic violence prevention.

Equity in Access

The California Department of Health Care Services released its Comprehensive Quality Strategy and laid out the department’s health equity strategy to improve care for Medi-Cal enrollees. DHCS proposes a collaborative process and plans to engage several stakeholders to develop a health equity road map. The report acknowledges that data collection will be key to reducing racial and ethnic disparities.

Economic Security and Dignity

In a study, one year of cash stipends resulted in modest but potentially meaningful improvements in babies’ brain activity. The study will continue to offer payments to families until children are four years old and will conduct additional cognitive testing. The finding that cash subsidies can impact brain development could help make the case for an expanded child tax benefit or other benefits that provide an income floor to families in poverty.

Jan. 20, 2022

Community Well-Being

A study shows that there is a correlation between weak gun laws and high rates of gun deaths. The researchers found that California has the strongest gun laws and has one of the lowest rates of gun deaths. Some of the most effective gun laws include background checks, permit to carry concealed firearms, secure firearm storage, omission of “Stand Your Ground” laws, and laws that remove firearms from people who pose a serious threat to themselves or others.

Equity in Access

The California Health Care Foundation has released the first results of a study to understand the health care experiences of Black Californians. Results show that interview participants experience racism in the health care system and some avoid care due to distrust in the system. When asked to describe high-quality care, many respondents described a patient-centered approach to care provided by a proficient and compassionate provider.

Leading for Power and Change

While voting rights at the federal level continue to be challenged, California’s voting rights laws offer a model for expanding representation at the city level. The California Voting Rights Act of 2001 is credited with helping to diversify the state’s local city councils. By requiring candidates to run in single-member districts rather than citywide, the CVRA has expanded the representation of people of color at the city council level.
On February 3^rd, PolicyLink will host a webinar on the role of government in advancing racial equity. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley will be a special guest and will address ongoing work throughout federal agencies.

Jan. 12, 2022

Community Well-Being

New data released by the CDC shows that firearm injury is the 13^th leading cause of death in the United States. A record number of gun deaths were recorded in 2020, up by 14% from 2019. The increase in gun deaths is due to a spike in homicides, which were up 35% from 2019. Young, Black males accounted for 42% of firearm homicide victims though they are only 2% of the population.

Equity in Access

A committee of Assemblymembers has introduced a bill that would create single payer health care where all residents are covered by the same health plan. The bill would create a tax for large companies and wealthy individuals with an estimated revenue of $160 billion annually. If passed by the Health committee, the bill would move to the full Assembly.

Economic Security and Dignity

The U.S. Census Bureau reported 5.4 million new business applications were filed last year, a third of which are for businesses deemed likely to hire employees. The rise in entrepreneurship can be attributed to job loss during the pandemic, but many people willingly left stable jobs to pursue their dreams.
The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is accepting applications for its $5 million Women’s Recovery Response fund. The Commission has a preference for organizations serving women who have been affected economically by the pandemic including low-income, BIPOC, rural, disabled, and unhoused populations.

Leading for Power and Change

The For the Love of Our People campaign is calling on family and generational pride to encourage vaccinations among Native people. Vaccination rates remain low in Native communities and surveys show that this group has a general distrust of the federal government. Campaign leaders are using social media and on-the-ground efforts to encourage young people and other vaccine-hesitant groups to get vaccinated.

Jan. 6 , 2022

Community Well-Being

State Assemblymember Ting unveiled AB 1594, a bill that would allow individuals to sue gun manufacturers for liability in shooting deaths or injuries. The bill is modeled after a recent bill from New York that opens gun makers to lawsuits when they break state or local laws regarding the sale and marketing of their products.

Equity in Access

Starting July 1, Medi-Cal asset limits for non-exempt property will increase from $2,000 to $130,000 for individuals and will make Medi-Cal available to thousands of Californians. By January 2024 the asset limit will be eliminated completely and will improve access to benefits for millions of residents.

Economic Security and Dignity

A report from the Urban Institute examines key barriers facing young people seeking safety net benefits and offers actionable steps that can be taken to address challenges. Some of the recommendations include supporting young people in navigating safety net processes and replacing punitive approaches with support and minimized burden.

Dec. 15, 2021

Community Well-Being

Governor Newsom released a statement pledging to allow private citizens to enforce a ban on the manufacture and sale of assault weapons. Governor Newsom drew inspiration from a Texas law upheld by a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows private citizens to enforce the ban on abortions after the earliest fetal cardiac activity is detected.

Equity in Access

Health Access has released their 2021 California Legislative Scorecard which details how each state Assemblymember and Senator voted on legislation Health Access sponsored or prioritized to build a universal, quality, affordable, and equitable health system. Bills on the scorecard include the expansion of Medi-Cal to all Californians over 60 and the Momnibus bill.

Economic Security and Dignity

Pending federal approval, CalAIM would add new programs and make important reforms to many existing programs to transform Medi-Cal. CalAIM centers people with the most complex needs including foster youth and the reentry population. California has allocated $782 million for CalAIM from the general fund in the 2021–22 budget and the initiative will also receive substantial federal funding.

Leading for Power and Change

The Latino Community Foundation launched the Latino Power Fund, a five-year initiative with a goal to grant $50 million to Latino grassroot organizations. Some of the fund goals include increasing civic leadership and political participation of Latinos by 40% in key regions of the state and increasing the pipeline of Latino political leaders with a progressive agenda for equity and justice.

Dec. 8, 2021

Equity in Access

The Biden administration has reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy which has affected about 70,000 asylum-seekers since the policy was introduced in 2019. A lawsuit by Texas and Missouri forced the administration to reinstate the policy President Biden ended on his first day in the White House. Unaccompanied children, pregnant people, and other vulnerable groups are exempt from the policy.

Economic Security and Dignity

Roughly 250,000 children are moved into a shadow foster care system every year which fails to offer children or their caretakers adequate resources. “Shadow foster care” offers a cheap solution for underfunded agencies that need to lower caseloads and states have increasingly institutionalized hidden foster care through departmental policies. The government isn’t required to complete home visits that federal law requires with foster care and caretakers that take in children do not receive a boarding fee to raise them. Under shadow foster care the legal protections of the formal system disappear.
California is home to 1.6 million small businesses, many of which are poorly equipped to navigate supply chain issues, labor shortages, and rising inflation. A survey shows that nearly 70% of small business owners raised prices and over half expect conditions to worsen in the next six months but many are attempting new tactics to keep customers coming back.

Leading for Power and Change

IllumiNative and Netflix have partnered to launch the IllumiNative Producers Program which will give seven early to mid-career Indigenous fellows the opportunity to develop a film or television project. The program aims to support the next generation of Native producers and uplift authentic Native storytelling.

Dec. 1, 2021

Community Well-Being

A federal appeals court backed the constitutionality of two California laws banning high-capacity ammo magazines. The defendants argued that high-capacity magazines threaten public safety; every mass shooting with over 20 deaths in the last five decades involved large-capacity magazines. Gunowners’ rights groups plan to appeal the ruling and the case could potentially reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Equity in Access

Several Black entrepreneurs are using tech to close the cultural gap in health care with health companies focusing on underserved markets. Some tech platforms pair patients with culturally competent therapists and doctors while others secure low-cost transportation for patients. These tech health startups with Black founders are creating profitable businesses by prioritizing culturally competent care that centers patient’s heritage, beliefs, and values during treatment.

Economic Security and Dignity

South San Francisco launched a guaranteed income pilot program last week and sent the first $500 monthly checks to 150 low-income families. The pilot prioritizes foster youth and families with young children. A local YMCA will manage the program in partnership with an Oakland-based nonprofit organization.

Leading for Power and Change

In California, Democrats have a supermajority in the Legislature and drafts drawn by the state’s independent citizen’s commission shows that is unlikely to change. While Republicans have little hope of securing a majority in the Legislature, a loss of the supermajority would require Democrats to garner Republican support to pass tax increases or put constitutional amendments on the ballot.

Nov. 17, 2021

Community Well-Being

Though California has strict gun control laws, a number of loopholes put domestic violence victims at risk of firearm violence or even death at the hands of their abusers. Restraining orders call on the restrained person to relinquish firearms within 24 hours of being served but the onus is on gun owners to comply. Fewer than half of superior courts have access to Justice Department data which allows them to check if an alleged abuser owns a legally purchased weapon.

Equity in Access

About 5,500 children were separated from their parents under the former administration’s zero-tolerance immigrant policy and the U.S. government has not yet reached a settlement on compensation or legal status for the families. Reports of a potential $450,000 payment to each person affected have been met by criticism but attorneys representing the families maintain that separated families were not entering the country illegally because they were seeking asylum.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to support legislation to amend the California Retail Food. The motion directs legislative advocates to enact changes to the food code that specifically consider sidewalk food vending to enhance economic development outcomes for sidewalk vendors.

Leading for Power and Change

The White House released a memorandum that commits to elevating Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) in federal policy processes. ITEK promotes environmental sustainability, and the memorandum will support efforts to consider and elevate Tribal and Native voices in finding solutions to address the climate crisis.
Last week’s elections offer some valuable lessons for the upcoming midterm elections in 2022. Misinformation about fraud has lowered confidence in voting by mail and voters in New York rejected proposals that would have allowed same-day voting registration and no-excuse absentee balloting which are commonplace in various states.

Nov. 10, 2021

Community Well-Being

The Justice Teams Network (JTN) launched the California Healers Network, a statewide network of Healing Justice practitioners creating an infrastructure for community care. JTN also launched a Healing Justice Train the Trainer manual which can help people to facilitate their own healing justice trainings to transform systems of violence statewide.

Equity in Access

If legislation passes, Medicare enrollees may see significant savings in prescription drug prices over the next decade. The proposed social spending bill would concentrate savings for patients with serious chronic illnesses. Since Medicare prescription drug plans for 2022 are already set, if the bill passes patients will have to wait until 2023 to see tangible benefits.

Economic Security and Dignity

Momentum for Guaranteed Income (GI) pilot programs is growing and the California Budget & Policy Center offers an explainer on GI programs and what they mean for existing safety net programs as advocates and policymakers consider GI as a permanent poverty alleviation program. California recently became the first state to provide funds to support local GI pilots.

Leading for Power and Change

Northern California Grantmakers is kicking off an action plan to support philanthropy in making five transformative shifts to yield significant and lasting change at a regional level. Some of the recommendations include shifting from individual action to collective action and organizing and leveraging diverse capital sources to support problems at scale.

Nov. 3, 2021

Community Well-Being

ProPublica mapped the spread of cancer-causing chemicals from thousands of sources of hazardous air pollution across the country between 2014 and 2018. In predominantly Black census tracts, the estimated cancer risk from toxic air pollution is more than double that of majority-white tracts. The EPA is rarely required to monitor for air toxics, leaving residents uninformed about what they’re breathing in.

Equity in Access

Public health departments across California are losing experienced staff to retirement, exhaustion, politics, and better jobs. Though there have been temporary funding boosts, departments such as public health labs are experiencing a major brain drain and are struggling to recruit and retain new staff. Top health officials that the collective expertise lost since the start of the pandemic will be exacerbated by a swell of retirements this year.

Economic Security and Dignity

California’s new $600 million Community Economic Resilience Fund sets priorities starting at the grassroots level for regional economies. The goal of the fund is to ensure that all Californians benefit from the recovering economy. County leaders are invited to gather with other regional stakeholders and grassroots leaders and develop cross-sector consensus to chart the course for a better economy at the regional level.

Leading for Power and Change

According to research from UCLA’s Latino Policy & Politics Initiative, California’s electorate has changed significantly since the last recall election in 2003; Asian-American voters increased by 122% while Latino voters increased by 150%. LPPI’s report provides an analysis of Latino voting patterns in 18 California counties, including how voting patterns varied by geography.

Oct. 27, 2021

Community Well-Being

In an attempt to curb the opioid epidemic, the Biden administration is proposing to potentially stiffen prison sentences for crimes involving certain synthetic opioids. Recently, 70% of defendants charged with fentanyl related crimes have been people of color and a coalition of advocacy groups is warning that the proposal would exacerbate racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Equity in Access

Cal Wellness grantee, the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, conducted an analysis of California’s COVID-19 response strategies which relied on area-based social indices to better understand the strengths and limitations of these targeted interventions. The analysis lifts up four key findings including that area-based indices are most effective when paired with targeted community engagement and long-term structural reforms.
The California Health Care Foundation has released the 2021 edition of the Health Disparities by Race and Ethnicity in California report which shows that people of color are more likely to experience poor health outcomes in the health care system and face barriers in accessing health care. The thorough report offers disaggregated data on life expectancy, health insurance enrollment, death rates for diseases, and COVID-19 vaccine rates.

Economic Security and Dignity

A medical education program will launch at UC Merced to tackle the critical shortage of physicians in the Central Valley. Leaders expect the program to diversify the physician workforce so that it better reflects the region’s Latino community and are working on incentives to keep primary care providers in the Central Valley after graduation.

Leading for Power and Change

The Creative Arts Agency Foundation has launched a program to support movement leaders, artists, and activists in advancing a pop culture narrative shift project such as books, podcasts, and television shows. The first cohort includes leaders from IllumiNative, Black Voters Matter, and United We Dream.

Oct. 21, 2021

Community Well-Being

Our built environment has an impact on our health and trauma-informed design uses a framework that understands how housing affects our physical and mental health. More affordable housing projects are incorporating trauma-informed design principles to support the health and healing of marginalized communities.

Equity in Access

The Biden administration will overturn the decision to end the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and will reinstate the policy in November. The MPP forces asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico while their cases are processed.

Economic Security and Dignity

Governor Newsom signed into law a bill that expands the eligibility criteria for foster youth to qualify for the campus-based support program for foster youth, NextUp. The bill was sponsored by two Cal Wellness grantees, John Burton Advocates for Youth and California Youth Connection.

Oct. 14, 2021

Community Well-Being

The California Attorney General has joined a lawsuit against a gun manufacturer and retailers for allegedly employing deceptive advertising practices leading buyers to believe that gun kits are legal and for failing to explain the legal obligations they will face if they assemble firearms at home. Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the San Francisco District Attorney.

Equity in Access

California may be in for a transformative health care battle next year as Governor Newsom plans to limit health care spending. And move forward legislation that failed Bills to create a single-payer system and to regulate health care prices have been heavily opposed by health care industry leaders who will play a significant role in shaping the debate on health care affordability.

Economic Security and Dignity

The California Domestic Workers Coalition, a Cal Wellness grantee, co-sponsored legislation recently signed by Governor Newsom which creates guidelines for the health and safety of the 300,000 domestic workers in California.

Leading for Power and Change

On the heels of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, an issue brief offers timeless recommendations on what philanthropy can do to address the invizibilization of Indigenous migrants. Some of the recommendations include funding interpretation language justice initiatives for and by Indigenous people and funding the capacity of Indigenous-led groups.

Oct. 8, 2021

Community Well-Being

Officer-initiated traffic stops are the most common proactive policing activity preceding a fatality and cities across the U.S. are implementing policies to disincentivize stops. In San Francisco, the District Attorney’s office is directing prosecutors to decline possession charges for contraband obtained during a minor traffic stop.

Equity in Access

The California Telehealth Policy Coalition is hosting an upcoming webinar which will provide an overview of the state and national telehealth policy landscape. Speakers will discuss the future of telehealth policy in California including cost, quality, and payment issues related to telehealth.

Economic Security and Dignity

The long-term recovery of the U.S. economy is inextricable from the recovery of Latino businesses. Latino entrepreneurs have started small businesses at a higher rate than any other demographic and according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Latinos will make up a projected 78% of net new workers through 2030.

Leading for Power and Change

The salmon from the Klamath River the Yurok tribe have long depended on as a dietary staple and cultural cornerstone are scarce. Food sovereignty is linked to Yurok Tribe members’ rights and cultural identity as well as their health and activists are fighting for a healthier river and dam removal to help salmon populations recover.

Sept. 29, 2021

Community Well-Being

Homicides in the Bay Area increased by 25% in 2020, over 100 more deaths from the previous year. In the twelve-county region, the homicide surge was most pronounced in the cities of Vallejo, Oakland, and Stockton while more affluent, suburban areas saw little increase. The overwhelming majority of homicide victims were Black and Latino and most were male.

Equity in Access

More than 7 in 10 adults report being at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 and the largest vaccine uptake since July was among Latinos in the 18-29 age group. Data shows that vaccine uptake disparities are wider among party lines, education level, age, and health insurance status than among race and ethnicity. Uninsured adults under the age of 65 have the lowest reported vaccination rate at 54%, trailing behind rural residents and registered Republicans.

Economic Security and Dignity

Governor Newsom signed a bill making California the first state to require hourly wages for garment workersrather than the standard “piece-rate” payment practice. Garment workers are predominantly women of color and immigrants and the legislation aims to hold corporations accountable for exploitative practices.

Leading for Power and Change

With roots in disability activism, the “curb-cut effect” refers to “targeted solutions with broad benefits.” The curb-but effect is being reframed to describe the widespread benefits of equity-based solutions but champion Angela Glover Blackwell explains that while curb-cut thinking will amount to outsized benefits, the goal is to achieve equity for those being denied equity.

Sept. 22, 2021

Community Well-Being

A report from the Council of State Governments shows that 42% of admissions intro prisons are the result of technical supervision violations such as missing a check-in with a supervision officer. Probation and parole appear to be driving mass incarceration rather than helping people transition out of the criminal justice system. Many states are working to reform supervision and some organizations have developed advocacy tools to address the supervision crisis.

Equity in Access

Findings from the California Health Interview Survey show a range of results on how the pandemic, along with other factors, may have affected residents’ health and health care access. While COVID-19 was a rising concern, the high cost of medical care or lack of insurance remained pivotal reasons for going without care in 2020.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Urban Institute offers a dashboard which can help foundations and policymakers to understand rural communities so they can better target recovery and infrastructure investments. The mapping tool invites practitioners to make investments beyond physical infrastructure, honor tribal sovereignty, and monitor widening rural inequities exacerbated by the pandemic.

Leading for Power and Change

Liberty Hill has made a $3.34 million investment in the community organizing ecosystem with grants to 65 grassroots organizations. Liberty Hills’ Fund for Change grantmaking program features a “Rising Activist” strategy which focuses on emerging organizations with limited organizational infrastructure.

The Root Institute offers a 30-minute Master Class in Grassroots Organizing featuring three changemakers building power in their respective communities. The short video offers actionable steps to build momentum and turn ideas into action.

Sept. 15, 2021

Community Well-Being

CNN has recently acquired the documentary THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, premiering Sept 19 at 6pm PT on CNN. The movie, directed by Judd Ehrlich, takes viewers through the history of the National Rifle Association, explaining competing factions in the 1970s and charting the increasing radicalization of the organization’s rhetoric.
This podcast by the Heinz Endowment interviews investigative reporter Kristina Marusic who earlier this year published “Fractured: The body burden of living near fracking,” a four-part series that illustrates the health impacts on families that live near shale hydraulic fracturing (fracking) sites.

Equity in Access

In this article, Rhonda M. Smith, Executive Director at CA Black Health Network applauds the expansion of Medi-Cal coverage to include continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) while calling for equitable qualifying criteria for all. Diabetes continues to disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities and with a large number of Medi-Cal enrollees being people of color, this expansion is a positive step forward in increasing access to diabetes care.

Economic Security and Dignity

A new Economic Policy Institute analysis looks at August jobs report which demonstrated an increase of 235,000 jobs, a notable decrease from the growth noted in June and July. EPI economists assert the decrease in jobs is likely related to the spreading Delta variant and a five-fold increase in cases in the month of August.
An August brief by UCLA Williams Institute School of Law finds investigates the impact of COVID-19 on housing among LGBTQ+ people. The brief found that 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ renters are behind on rent, subsequently at risk of eviction. Among the factors studied it was found that these disparities were experienced most by LGBTQ+ people of color.

Leading for Power and Change

A new report and dialogue guide by Nonprofit Quarterly investigates what it means to decenter whiteness in the work to address systemic barriers to racial justice. The report includes four narrative strategy recommendations that take into account underlying perceptions while generating an understanding of justice that is inclusive, not divisive.

Sept. 9, 2021

Community Well-Being

President Biden is being pushed by activists and gun violence survivors to create a White House office on gun control. Activists are pushing for this office to be headed by a Cabinet-level aid. Many believe the President’s actions to date have fallen short on the promises made while running for President.

Equity in Access

A health clinic in Colorado is utilizing a unique approach to the overall well-being of their patients by investigating the intersection between the need for accessible health care and legal services. Together, legal representatives, mental health providers, physicians, and social workers provide holistic care.

Economic Security and Dignity

In honor of Labor Day, check out Imaginal Cells of the Solidarity Economy which uses the story of the butterfly’s metamorphosis as a metaphor for the metamorphosis of the capitalist system to a postcapitalist system: the solidarity economy. The solidarity economy (SE) has multiple, co-existing visions of democratic, postcapitalist economic systems and emerged in Latin America and Europe in the 1990s, with a core commitment to participatory democracy and is explicitly feminist, antiracist, and ecological.

Leading for Power and Change

Since the 2020 election voting laws have changed across the country with some laws strengthening voting rights and many more curtailing those rights. Check out this article and map from the Voting Rights Lab to see what actions states have taken to address voting rights.

Sept. 1, 2021

Community Well-Being

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, called gun violence a “serious public health threat.” The last time a CDC director spoke so boldly about gun violence was in the 1990s, likely due to strong lobbying opposition by the National Rifle Association. The CDC plans to restart research to identify the root causes of gun violence.
The Biden administration announced the establishment of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity which will seek to understand how fossil fuel emissions impact health. The office will encourage health professionals to talk to patients about hazardous climate effects and will research how extreme health affects older adults and communities of color.

Equity in Access

Health industry lobbyists are pushing back against a push to expand dental, vision, and hearing coverage to Medicare in the proposed $3.5 trillion spending package. The expansion will have a hefty price tag and House and Senate committees are considering leaner coverage or means-testing that would limit expanded coverage to the lowest-income beneficiaries.

Economic Security and Dignity

In a new joint venture, Kaiser Permanente and a healthcare union aim to fill the healthcare worker gap by designing courses, offering scholarships, and recruiting allied health professionals. California will need approximately 500,000 new health care workers by 2024 and Futuro Health’s goal is to train 10,000 health professionals in the next four years.

Leading for Power and Change

California State University, Northridge will house a new equity innovation hub that aims to increase student success and equip Latino students and other historically underserved students with STEM skills. The Global Hispanic Serving Institution Equity Innovation Hub seeks to accelerate educational equity through a racial justice lens.

Aug. 25, 2021

Community Well-Being

A group of Native students from Northern California has been instrumental in protecting sacred land and water and in developing the Advocacy and Water Protection in Native California High School Curriculum that addresses youth anxiety around climate change. An estimated 600 educators from across the country have downloaded the curriculum since it was released in March of this year.

Equity in Access

The California Health Care Foundation released the latest facts and figures related to Medi-Cal which provides health coverage to over 13 million Californians. The Medi-Cal program faces many changes in the coming years including new strategies that will address disparities in access, quality, and outcomes of care for historically underinvested communities.

Economic Security and Dignity

A fact sheet by the Economic Policy Institute shows how unions help reduce income inequality and counteract disparate labor market outcomes by race and gender. As union strength has declined, income inequality has risen and inequality is now at its worst since the Great Depression.
A webinar on August 30^thwill explore the long-term impact of the pandemic on family economic well-being. Panelists will discuss housing, unemployment, child care and paid family leave and will outline relevant federal, state, and local policies.

Leading for Power and Change

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to adopt an antiracist framework which calls on the Civil and Human Rights + Equity Department to produce an audit of city programs, policies and practices through a racial equity lens. The department is also tasked with developing a plan that addresses barriers to economic stability, particularly among African Americans.

Aug. 18, 2021

Community Well-Being

The single biggest risk factor for adolescent firearm injuries is access to an unsecured firearm and a new national survey shows that 10% of all households with high school-age teens bought a firearm between March and July of 2020. Researchers found that 14% of households that purchased a gun during the beginning of the pandemic also had a teen who was experiencing depression symptoms.

Equity in Access

A 23-minute Health Affairs podcast explores the unique challenges immigrant populations face in obtaining health care services, some of which are caused by policies designed to explicitly limit or exclude immigrants. Researchers found that heath inequities between immigrants and US-born residents began to decline after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
The COVID-19 U.S. State Policy database was established last year and aims to inform policy decisions that promote health equity by tracking state policies implemented during the pandemic. Analysis shows that health and economic policies do not adequately or equitably protect our well-being as a nation. More research on which policies have been most effective for supporting people to inform federal and state actions is needed.

Economic Security and Dignity

Starting October, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (CalFresh in California) benefits will increase indefinitely by more than 25%. The per-person monthly benefits will rise from $121 to $157 for all 42 million SNAP beneficiaries. SNAP benefits had been increased by 15% during the pandemic and the temporary boost was set to expire in September.

Leading for Power and Change

The Oakland-based New Breath Foundation is launching the We Got Us Fund, a $10 million fund to support Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to build power, promote cross-racial solidarity, and cultivate healing. The We Got Us Fund is housed at the East Bay Community Foundation.

Aug. 11, 2021

Community Well-Being

An article makes the case for framing, naming and addressing school policing as a public health issue in order to abolish structural racism. School policing has often been discussed without explicit acknowledgement of its connection to racism though contemporary racial disparities in school policing are clear.

Equity in Access

The pandemic has put focus on the impact of structural and interpersonal racism on patient health. Results from interviews of Black adults show that over half of people interviewed personally experienced discrimination when seeking health care and perceived discrimination led to delayed treatment or misdiagnoses. Individuals who experienced perceived discrimination were more likely to be hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines.

Economic Security and Dignity

Advocates are hopeful that some aspects of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which have not changed since the 1980s, will be updated in an upcoming spending package aimed to help fight poverty. The proposed plan is to raise monthly benefits to 100% of the federal poverty level(currently $1,073 a month for a single person household) and indexing them to inflation. Democratic leaders are also working to update the asset threshold for eligibility to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for families.

Leading for Power and Change

In February 2021 the California Community Foundation launched the Black Empowerment Fund to support Black-led and Black-empowering organizations in Los Angeles County. The inaugural cohort of grant recipients includes 20 organizations leading transformational and community-centered solutions for the Black community.

Aug. 5, 2021

Community Well-Being

A consortium of physicians, scientists, and educators established new educational guidelines regarding firearm injury prevention training for health care professionals. Only 20% of health care professionals receive training on the role they play in firearm injury prevention and the new standards provide educators and clinicians a foundation for educational programming.

Equity in Access

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to conduct an assessment of the needs of Black immigrant communities and implement a culturally relevant plan to connect Black immigrants to County resources and services. Black immigrant communities face unique challenges including language barriers and heightened levels of criminalization and deportation.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Biden administration is considering extending the expanded child tax credit through 2025 and a report shows how a permanent expansion can reduce child poverty, particularly during years unmarred by high unemployment rates. Expanding the child tax credit would lift over 600,000 children out of poverty in California alone.
Safety net programs help families overcome economic inequality and new research shows that about 27.5% of adults in low-income immigrant families avoided noncash benefits in 2020 because of immigration concerns. While avoidance of safety net programs was occurring prior to the expansion of the public charge rule, the lingering chilling effect will make it more challenging for families to recover from the pandemic.

July 28, 2021

Community Well-Being

In Connecticut, community-based violence prevention services will be able to receive state and federal Medicaid funds to resource their work. Under the new legislation the Department of Social Services has until July 2022 to amend the state’s Medicaid plan to cover treatment for injuries sustained from acts of community violence. This makes Connecticut the first state leveraging health care dollars to cover the cost of community violence prevention services.

Equity in Access

About 30% of adults do not take prescribed medicines due to cost. A new company, Cost Plus, is working to cut out the middlemen in the pharmaceutical supply chain and pass savings to consumers. Congress may soon address high prescription drug costs by closing loopholes in the Affordable Care Act that currently allow insurance companies to block out-of-pocket prescription costs from counting towards deductibles.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to pilot a guaranteed income program for youth transitioning from foster care or probation. The program will provide participants with about $1,000 in income per month and an additional $200 in CalFresh.

Leading for Power and Change

The California Health Care Foundation released more details on its newest area of focus, Advancing Black Health Equity. The work plan for the new focus area includes the following activity types: listening to Black Californians, building transparency, and creating a more diverse health care workforce.
PolicyLink has released the first blueprint for federal agencies that provides resources and tools to advance racial equity. The guide also offers tools that are applicable for equity advocates working outside of government including a starter tool for conducting an initial equity assessment and a tool for agencies to develop strategic visions and action plans.

July 21, 2021

Community Well-Being

Domestic violence cases have surged across the country and the rise in gun ownership is alarming considering that a male abuser’s access to a gun increases the risk of a female victim being killed by 1,000%. Gun laws currently have a “boyfriend loophole” that allows abusers who aren’t married to or live with their partners to own a gun even after being convicted of domestic abuse charges.

Equity in Access

A new provision in this year’s state budget eliminates the asset test for Californians enrolled in both Medi-Cal and Medicare and will instead assess eligibility based solely on income. The removal of the asset test, which currently disqualifies those with more than $2,000 in savings, is expected to increase Medi-Cal enrollment and also ensure applicants don’t empty their accounts in an attempt to qualify for health care.
A CalMattersarticle summarizes the progress Governor Newsom has made on his bold health care promises including lowering prescription prices and instituting a state-funded single-payer health system. Prescription prices for some drugs have increased by 16% but last year the state took initial steps to create state-run generics. Progress on a single-payer system stalled during the pandemic but a bill that would establish a framework for state paid health care is expected to resurface next year.

Economic Security and Dignity

California lawmakers approved $35 million for a state-funded guaranteed income planfor qualifying pregnant people and former foster care youth. There have been several local guaranteed income pilot programs but this is the first statewide program funded by state revenue dollars.
A two-episode podcast series investigates the Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles anddelves into the systemic problems plaguing the child welfare system. The “Unsafe in Foster Care” series explores why Black children only account for 7.4% of the county’s population though they are almost 25% of all children removed from their homes.

Leading for Power and Change

Los Angeles was once one of the only major cities without a permit system for sidewalk vendors but in 2018 the city council legalized street vending. A blog by Rudy Espinoza of Inclusive Action for the City, a Cal Wellness grantee, shows how they advocated for the rights of vendors that obtained legalization at the city-level and statewide decriminalization. The blog outlines key lessons and challenges in organizing campaigns that build a lasting economic recovery.

July 14, 2021

Community Well-Being

As gun violence rates continue to soar some policymakers are calling for the return to a “tough on crime” approach with strong policing and punitive criminal justice policies. Community violence intervention (CVI) programs have a proven track record of addressing the cycle of intergenerational poverty, violence, and trauma that drives gun violence. New resources and funding from the American Rescue Plan may make it possible to scale CVI programs across the country, reducing the need for stronger policing tactics.

Equity in Access

A recent survey shows that Americans across the political spectrum want Congress to take action to make health care more affordable. Reducing health care costs was the overall top priority identified for Congress and the President and voters largely support government interventions to reduce health care prices.

Economic Security and Dignity

A California bill seeks to increase the wage replacement rate of paid family leave from 60% to 90%. The current wage replacement rate of 60% means that the state’s lowest earners receive wages under the poverty line while they are on family leave. The bill would result in a tax increase for California workers.
There is a nationwide shortage of foster caregivers yet several states allow government-run agencies to refuse services to children and LGBTQ caregivers on religious grounds. The Supreme Court recently upheld the right of a Philadelphia faith-based nonprofit to turn away same-sex couples interested in serving as foster caregivers. Federal legislation just introduced in Congress would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or marital status by government-funded child welfare providers.

Leading for Power and Change

The Fund for an Inclusive California and Neighborhood Funders Group are hosting a three-day virtual learning visit featuring organizations leading the fight for racial, economic, housing, and environmental justice in the Inland region.

July 7, 2021

Community Well-Being

As record-breaking heat waves sweep the country, policymakers and advocates are looking at urban tree canopy as critical infrastructure to address climate change. A nationwide analysis shows that communities of color have significantly less tree canopy and are more likely to suffer from the heat island effect which is caused by an absence of shade and prominence of asphalt.

Equity in Access

COVID-19 vaccination rates for Latinos continue to lag but the promotora community outreach model is closing the gap. Public health departments across the country have turned to promotoras to help connect communities of color to resources on COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites. Health officials are considering expanded government support for the model to continue beyond the pandemic to combat other health disparities.

Economic Security and Dignity

Latinos are twice as likely to live in areas prone to wildfires than the rest of the U.S. population. Though Latinos are less than a fifth of the total population, they comprise 37% of the population living in extreme wildfire risk areas. Lack of affordable housing may be a factor driving communities of color to relocate in more remote areas susceptible to wildfires.

June 30, 2021

Community Well-Being

California will close admissions to state-run youth prisons this week. The three remaining institutions will completely shutter in 2023 and oversight of juvenile offenders will shift to the California Health and Human Services Agency. Some counties may face challenges finding appropriate facilities and developing programs. Officials and advocates alike are looking to the Office of Youth and Community Restoration for guidance.

Equity in Access

A new data collection system aims to provide disaggregated health data on Filipino Americans that may explain why this group faces health disparities despite faring favorably on numerous socioeconomic indicators. One emerging theory for why Filipino Americans were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 is “a tendency to tolerate, accept or minimize experiences of injustice” as a result of colonialism.

Leading for Power and Change

Many health funders acknowledge that building community partnerships and funding organizations led by people of color are essential for achieving health equity. However, state and federal grants are complex and small organizations led by people of color often miss these funding opportunities. Public grants are often disbursed in partnership with private funders and a few changes can reverse the trend of excluding small organizations from these public dollars.

June 23, 2021

Community Well-Being

The U.S. Department of Treasury released guidance to states and localities on how to utilize American Rescue Plan funds to respond to and reduce violent crime including gun violence. Eligible funding uses include Community Violence Intervention programs, mental health services, and hiring law enforcement officers to advance community policing strategies.

Equity in Access

Data analysis shows that many regions in California with a higher density of low-income individuals have lower supplies of working dentists. A policy brief shows that these regions with high rates of low-income adults also have an underrepresentation of Black and Latino dentists and a low proportion of dentists in these areas provide care covered by Medi-Cal.

Leading for Power and Change

With most states introducing measures to restrict ballot access and reduce voter turnout, a blog post outlines how funders can protect voting rights. Some recommendations for funders include supporting power-building work outside of peak election season, partnering with other funders, and supporting legal and advocacy efforts.

June 16, 2021

Community Well-Being

San Jose recently experienced one of the deadliest mass shootings in Bay Area history and the San Jose city council approved an ordinance requiring all gun sales to be video-recorded. The ordinance aims to curb “straw purchasing” when someone buys a gun for another person. In the Fall the council will consider the mayor’s proposal requiring gun owners to carry liability insurance and pay a fee to cover taxpayer costs associated with firearm violence.
Heat waves are impacting cities across the country and there may be a rise in heat-related illnesses and deaths among people in correctional facilitieswith record-breaking heat predicted to continue. Most states do not require facilities to regulate temperature and as a result, few have air conditioning and only some offer preventive measures to combat dangerous temperature levels.

Equity in Access

COVID-19 led to a staggering rise in audio-only doctor visits and now the California legislature is fighting for Medi-Cal to continue to pay for phone visitsat the same rate as videoconference and in-person visits. Many Medi-Cal enrollees report that phone visits have been instrumental for their health during the pandemic and some safety-net hospitals report that no-show rates for some in-person visits are higher than virtual visits for adult primary care.

Economic Security and Dignity

In a 20-minute Pew Charitable Trust podcast, researchers examine the impact of race on economic mobilityand outline how undervaluing homes in Black neighborhoods has implications for wealth-building, funding community needs, and the success of minority-owned businesses.

Leading for Power and Change

PolicyLinkbegan publishing a weekly newsletter in April 2020 to provide updates on how COVID-19 impacted BIPOC communities and they recently announced a new newsletter, Equity Blueprint. The reimagined newsletter will share innovative ideas that have the potential to “redesign our nation” and lead to equity wins.

June 9, 2021

Community Well-Being

A U.S. District Judge from San Diego overturned California’s ban on assault weapons and in his ruling stated that modern weapons are overwhelmingly used for “legal reasons.” New Attorney General Rob Bonta will appeal the decision, arguing that these weapons are more dangerous than other firearms and most frequently used in mass shootings and other crimes.

Equity in Access

California policymakers seek to address rising costs of health care by establishing the Office of Health Care Affordability in the upcoming state budget. The office would create accountability by changing the way health care cost data is reported and would create industrywide cost targets across the state.

Economic Security and Dignity

State and federal safety net efforts such as stimulus payments, enhancing unemployment benefits, and food assistance programs helped low-income Californians stay afloat during the pandemic. Low-income communities may need longer-term support to fully recover and a report from the Public Policy Institute of California offers recommendations for how safety net resources can bolster an equitable recovery from the pandemic-induced recession.

Leading for Power and Change

Leaders in philanthropy are often referred to as “gatekeepers” controlling a flow of resources and Amoretta Morris from The Borealis Foundation shares how she works to be a liberated gatekeeper. Amoretta credits her involvement with the Neighborhood Funders Group in helping her use her positional privilege to disrupt power.
Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based coalition, tracks hate incidents involving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders nationwide and is now a leading source for tracking cases. Stop AAPI Hate launched in March 2020 as a volunteer-run organization and is now receiving state funding and grants from philanthropy for narrative change work and to conduct research and publish reports on anti-Asian racism.

June 3, 2021

Community Well-Being

Grantee PolicyLink released a report outlining the state of park equity in California. Historically, Californians have supported efforts to support parks but budgets have declined since the 2008 Great Recession and the pandemic has exacerbated inequities in park access. The report includes recommendations to achieve park equity including supporting workforce development in the park sector.
Though concern about the threats of mass shootings was higher in 2019 following the Gilroy shooting, a majority of Californians still fear mass shootings where they live, particularly Latinos and Asian Americans. At the regional level, Californians living in inland areas such as the Inland Empire and Central Valley report less concern of mass shootings than coastal residents.

Equity in Access

The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered disparities in the health care system and statewide health data exchange may help advance health equity among Californians. Widespread data exchange would allow health care systems and public health agencies to better respond to crises and the data exchange will be essential to the rollout of CalAIM, a whole-person care approach for MediCal enrollees.

Economic Security and Dignity

Many industries are facing challenges finding workers and some argue the labor shortage is due to high unemployment payments. In a 30-minute podcast a labor economist from the Economic Policy Institute explains why the shortage is more prevalent in leisure and hospitality and is likely due to low wages.

Leading for Power and Change

A report from grantee California Native Vote Project outlines factors that impact the health and wellness of American Indians and Alaska Natives in California. The report includes recommendations for philanthropy to support AIAN organizations including providing sustained funding, being mindful of capacity constraints, and adopting cultural humility.
In response to the outcome of the presidential election and other critical state-level victories, 47 states have introduced hundreds of bills with provisions to restrict voter access this year. A timeline dating back to 1863 outlines efforts to suppress the political power of Black voters and includes recent voter suppression efforts.

May 26, 2021

Community Well-Being

In California, the rate of homicide victims jumped 27% from 2019 to 2020, reflecting the largest single year increase in thirty years. Homicide victims between the ages of 15 and 34 increased by 31% and homicide rates among Black and Latino Californians rose 36% and 30%, respectively. Officials believe an absence of intervention services and sports and recreational programs may have been a factor in the rise in violence , particularly among young adults.

Equity in Access

Financial disparities between wealthy hospitals and safety-net hospitals widened during the pandemic as profits soared for private hospitals and safety-net hospitals treated communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The first $46 billion in federal relief funds for hospitals were disbursed based on how much revenue a hospital had in 2019, setting safety-net hospitals further back. Industry leaders predict many safety-net hospitals will close in coming years or convert to for-profit hospitals.

Economic Security and Dignity

California’s eviction moratorium is scheduled to expire on June 30^th but the state still faces an eviction crisis with more than 700,000 families behind on rent. A report shows key survey findings and recommendations to prevent an economic and public health disaster including extending tenant protections and removing barriers to rental assistance programs.

Leading for Power and Change

Annual budget cycles present opportunities to impact where public dollars are invested at the city, county, and state level. The Vera Institute offers some examples of how budget advocacy can drive justice reform including attending budget hearings and demanding a commitment to fund communities.

May 19, 2021

Community Well-Being

Farmworkers were deemed “essential” at the onset of the pandemic and health inequities in the industry were magnified when COVID-19 infection rates rose among workers due to dangerous working and living conditions. Though access to COVID-19 care and vaccinations has improved, farmworkers continue to face dangerous working conditions due to climate change. Policymakers are working on legislation that would address heat safety standards and restrict the use of pesticides.

Equity in Access

Rates of childhood chronic illnesses such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression are increasing in California. Children of color are more impacted by chronic illness and state legislation aims to address racial disparities. The EnRICHCA initiative would set targets, timelines, and metrics for state agencies to address racial disparities in childhood chronic illnesses.
A new federal rule requires health care providers to give patients immediate access to their health data and lab results. In some cases, patients may receive results before health care providers are able to provide counseling or notes which can lead to traumatizing events. Access to data is showing greater benefits for non-white, older, and/or less educated patients.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Federal Communications Commission launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit program that will provide broadband service to eligible households at a discounted rate. The program will run for six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares the end of the pandemic or the $3.2 billion allocation runs out. Eligible families can also receive a $100 discount on a computer, laptop, or tablet.

Leading for Power and Change

Community health centers primarily serving AAPI communities in the Bay Area stepped upafter they noticed that communities went “underground” as a result of both COVID-19 restrictions and fear of physical attacks. Clinics established COVID-19 community testing sites providing culturally appropriate and multilingual services and they are looking to expand their mental health workforce to meet the growing demand for services.

May 13, 2021

Community Well-Being

In California, over 200 policing bills have been introduced this session alone,including bills requiring officers to restrain colleagues who are using excessive force, a decertification proposal, and expanded misconduct disclosure requirements. Progressive leaders have been pushing for reform and though little progress has been made in the past year, law enforcement groups appear more willing to negotiate and discuss details on several proposals.

Equity in Access

The settlement of a seven-year lawsuit which was finalized on Monday will give applicants meeting eligibility criteria immediate access to MediCal while they wait for their application to be verified. Prior to the settlement applicants could not access MediCaluntil their declared incomes were verified, blocking desperately needed health care for months at a time.
An estimated 21,000 asylum-seeking children are in federal custodyin some 200 facilities, and advocates believe some facilities are endangering children’s health and safety. Some of the facilities do not require traditional legal oversight and some caregivers are not being vetted with background checks. Some facilities still holding unaccompanied children are run by contractors facing lawsuits for physically and sexually abusing children under the former administration. The rise in unaccompanied children is linked to the use of Title 42, which was instituted last year and blocks the entry of noncitizens “in the interest of public health.”

Economic Security and Dignity

The latest pandemic relief bill will provide $5 billion in new housing vouchers to support families at risk of homelessness. Even when families get vouchers, they face several hurdles to use the vouchers,including getting local housing authorities to pay the rent they are being charged. Housing authorities say they can’t find enough units they deem affordable, and many landlords are unwilling to participate in the program.

Leading for Power and Change

In Richmond, CA the rate of childhood asthma is twice the national average and respiratory illnesses are rampantdue to hundreds of refineries and fossil fuel companies in the area. The Asian Pacific Environmental Network advocated for a multilingual warning system following a 1999 refinery explosion and they’ve continued to organize the local Laotian community to advocate for bills that mitigate pollution and elect officials that don’t accept corporate funding.

May 6, 2021

Community Well-Being

In 2020 Los Angeles experienced the deadliest year of violence in a decade. Gun violence did not waver as the pandemic raged. As COVID-19 infection rates and deaths have decreased this year, gun violence and homicides continue to increase. Local law enforcement links the rise in gun violence to the pandemic, availability of firearms, and gang-related disputes.
As state leaders determine how to best use pandemic relief funding to support public schools, Californians for Justice is offering six student-centered solutions to rebuild racially just schools. Some of the solutions include a 6-week restorative restart as students return to in-person instruction and investments in wellness centers to support mental health.

Equity in Access

A brief by the Center for Health Care Strategiesexplores how community health workers, commonly known as “promotoras,” contribute to the health care system and outlines how California can scale and sustain their added value. Some of the significant value community health workers provide include improved patient engagement and increased promotion of health and economic equity.

Economic Security and Dignity

The pandemic uncovered existing inequalities in several frontline industries. Deaths in California increased 25% in 2020 among the 18 to 65 age group and workers accounted for 87% of those additional deaths. Warehouse workers, agricultural workers, and food service workers were most impacted, and Governor Newsom is working on legislation to better protect essential workers.

Leading for Power and Change

Michigan Liberation launched the Black Mamas Bailout Campaignto pay the bail, fines, and fees necessary to liberate incarcerated Black women and gender nonconforming people by Mother’s Day. Advancement Project partnered with Michigan Liberation on a storytelling contest centering Black women and advancing the movement to end cash bail.

April 29, 2021

Community Well-Being

New California Attorney General Rob Bonta will expand the gun violence data that is released to researchers and will work to make data more accessible to the public. New data to be released to the UC Firearm Violence Research Center includes Dealer Record of Sale and Automated Firearms System records. Such data can help strengthen the state’s common sense gun laws.
Response to addressing COVID-19 may offer important lessons to help curve the recent rise in firearm injuries. Some key lessons include focused prevention efforts in communities with an outbreak, solutions should center those most affected by everyday gun violence, and social and physical environments that allow gun violence to thrive must be changed.

Equity in Access

A California Budget & Policy Center fact sheet shows how eliminating the asset test for Medi-Cal coverage can help make health care more equitable for vulnerable communities. Currently, property assets are excluded from the asset test and seniors and people with disabilities qualify for Medi-Cal if they have assets under $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. Over half of seniors of color live in renter households and are discouraged from accumulating cash savings.
The heads of the Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement departments released guidelines on appropriate terms to use on internal and external communications. The guidelines instruct employees to use “migrant” or “noncitizen” instead of “alien” to promote more inclusive language.

Economic Security and Dignity

Public Health Institute developed a playbook offering a roadmap for cross-sector partnerships to create career pathways in historically marginalized communities. The playbook outlines how healthcare institutions can leverage the assets of community economic development organizations to improve community health and address racial disparities.

Leading for Power and Change

Leticia Peguero, Vice President of Programs at Nathan Cummings Foundation, discusses how she supports transformative leadership in philanthropy. In the interview, Peguero shares how DEI initiatives in philanthropy have been commodified, why she doesn’t believe the “hype” of the philanthropic sector, and how philanthropy can blur our relationship to power.

April 22, 2021

Community Well-Being

Though people who work and are imprisoned in correctional facilities face an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, across the country, less than 20% of state and federal prisoners have been vaccinated. Even when vaccines become more readily available, there is widespread vaccine hesitancy among prisoners and prison staff.

Equity in Access

President Biden will repeal a policy put in place by the former administration that set a historically low admission cap for refugees. In the upcoming weeks, the Biden administration will determine a new refugee cap which is currently set at 15,000 until May 15. The new cap is expected to be lower than the 62,500 cap initially vowed.
With more unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the southern border, some migrant children will be temporarily sheltered at the Long Beach Convention Center starting this week. The City of Long Beach has shared opportunities for residents to support the children including donations and volunteer opportunities.

Economic Security and Dignity

Fast food workers in California are rallying for legislation that would create a statewide council for the fast-food sector that can advocate on behalf of workers. Fast-food employees are familiar with harassment, retaliation, and wage theft and the pandemic exacerbated those problems with unsafe working conditions. The council would help workers organize to address industry-specific issues.

Leading for Power and Change

Though Payment Protection Program loans and philanthropic support helped the nonprofit sector weather the storm of the pandemic recession, about 12% of California nonprofit organizations had to close their doors in 2020. Over half of nonprofits surveyed saw more community demand for their services and are marching forward through financial insecurity. Nonprofit leaders are evaluating the lessons learned in 2020 and are preparing for the uncertain future.

April 15, 2021

Community Well-Being

In the wake of a police officer shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, the White House announced it would not pursue the development of a U.S. police oversight commission. Instead, the administration will focus on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which would ban officers from using chokeholds and entering suspects’ homes without knocking and would eliminate “qualified immunity.”
President Biden hopes to address racial inequities baked into our transportation system and infrastructure in his $2 trillion infrastructure plan, known as the American Jobs Plan. In a 7-minute interview, a researcher who studies how transportation policy has affected the development of Black communities outlines some challenges the Biden administration may face in attempting to rectify historical inequities in transportation and urban planning.

Equity in Access

President Biden proclaimed April 11 through April 17, 2021 as Black Maternal Health Week to raise awareness to the high mortality rates among Black mothers who die from pregnancy complications at rates two to three times higher than any other group. The administration is committed to systemic policies that provide maternal health care that is free from racial discrimination.
The project, “Lost on the Frontline” tracked U.S. health worker deaths during the height of the pandemic. Data reveals racial and economic inequality as two-thirds of deceased health workers identified as people of color and health care workers from the Philippines accounted for a disproportionate number of deaths. Investigative reporting found that many health worker deaths could have been prevented with more PPE, better mask guidance, and improved enforcement of workplace safety rules.

Economic Security and Dignity

Retailer giant Amazon won an initial battle against unionization on Friday following weeks of what labor activists call suppression tactics. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union claims Amazon’s tactics violated the National Labor Relations Act and plans to challenge the vote. California labor activists hoped a win in Alabama would herald a reinvigoration of the labor movement, including in Amazon’s Southern California center.

Leading for Power and Change

Funders for Justice (FFJ) members set out to identify who is doing healing justice work in the field and how the work relates to a public health frame. Following some deep dive exploration, FFJ members developed a Vision for Healing Justice in Philanthropy and are outlining how philanthropy can take action to support healing justice including funding grassroots organizations to purchase land and form land trusts. Cal Wellness is not a member of FFJ but Public Affairs will explore a membership partnership next year.

April 7, 2021

Community Well-Being

Assemblyman Marc Levine is advancing legislation to impose a new tax on guns and ammunition that would fund violence prevention programs. Opponents say the new tax will discourage people from purchasing guns but the tax will be imposed on retailers, and data indicates that gun sales may not waver following last year’s firearm purchase surge.
“Ghost guns” (unserializedfirearms) are not a new phenomenon, but new technology and a growing network of consumers is leading to a rise in the untraceable home manufacturing of firearms. Federal and state governments can take actions to create regulatory structures to address the threats ghost guns have on public health and safety.

Equity in Access

A number of states are working on legislation that will allow families on Medicaid to more easily access out-of-state care, which is especially critical for patients requiring specialized treatment. Currently, most state Medicaid providers pay out-of-state providers less than in-state care and laws are working to address the difference by requiring payment parity. Medi-Cal allows out-of-state care for emergency services when a recipient is temporarily in another state but Medi-Cal must first approve any out of-state in-patient medical services.

Economic Security and Dignity

An estimated 2.2 million eligible Californians are thought to be at risk of not receiving their federal stimulus payments totaling $5.7 billion lost. A brief by the California Policy Laboutlines how the IRS can help eliminate the stimulus gap nationwide, including the development of auto-payment infrastructure for all safety-net enrollees.
As the private and public sectors prioritize a transition to clean energy, vulnerable communities may be disproportionately impacted by a rise in energy costs. The Biden administration’s proposed infrastructure package includesprograms and subsidies that could shield low-income communities from the shift to clean energy.

Leading for Power and Change

In an interview with the Latino Community Foundation, the founder of a new Community Development Financial Institution in the Central Valley discusses how the institution will address inequities in access to capital for Latino entrepreneurs. The new CDFI will target young and immigrant entrepreneurs that are overlooked by traditional lenders.

April 1, 2021

Community Well-Being

Following the 9/11 attacks, the United States invested in infrastructure to combat terrorism and as a result, defenses against infectious diseases diminished. Funding for public health preparedness shrank from $940 million in 2002 to $67.5 million in 2019 and the majority of Americans live in counties where expenditures on policing are nearly double that of nonhospital health care. Preparing for the next public health emergency will require restoring investments and closing the gap on the deficit of 250,000 public health workers.

Equity in Access

Arkansas policymakers passed HB 1570, a bill that prohibits trans youth from accessing gender-affirming health care or insurance coverage. The bill will take effect this summer unless the Arkansas governor vetoes the bill this week. If passed, Arkansas will be the first state to ban health care for transgender youth.
One way to address racial equity in vaccine distribution is to inoculate dialysis patients while they seek treatment in dialysis centers which are frequently located in areas underserved by other forms of health care. Dialysis clinics are expected to receive vaccine doses to expand access among this high-risk group.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Longest Shift series includes photographs and motion portraits of essential workers in Los Angeles, which was once the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many Californians shifted to remote work, essential workers – many of whom work low-wage jobs – performed high-risk work that demonstrated their crucial importance. The battle continues to secure living wages for these essential workers.

Leading for Power and Change

The Ford Foundation announced seed funding of $15 million to launch the Black Feminist Fund that will center feminist organizing, advocacy, and philanthropy on a global scale. The Black Feminist Fund is the first global hub for Black feminist philanthropy and will focus on grantmaking to grassroots efforts, research, and growing a base of Black women donors.

March 24, 2021

Community Well-Being

Following the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado where 10 people were killed, President Biden is calling on the Senate to tighten gun laws; the House has already approved legislation that will expand background checks. Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that President Biden is considering executive actions to mitigate violence in communities.
California has stricter gun laws than any other state but is now revisiting some debates on how to best regulate firearmsincluding microstamping technology. Federal courts have found that state-run websites for registering firearms and completing ammunition background checks were so flawed last year that they put many gun owners at risk of being wrongfully charged with a misdemeanor or felony and prevented them from purchasing ammunition.

Equity in Access

Images of children and teenagers detained at the borderhave emerged after federal agencies barred media access and oversight by nonprofit lawyers. Policymakers are criticizing the White House for reportedly keeping children detained for a week at a time despite the three-day limit and for keeping in place a public health order to expel adult immigrants and families.
A reportby the Latino Policy & Politics Initiative explores the macroeconomic benefits of four immigration regularization scenarios: regularizing all unauthorized workers, regularizing unauthorized essential workers, regularizing unauthorized workers with DACA, and regularizing workers with Temporary Protected Status. Regularizing all unauthorized workers would generate the most 10-year national GDP gain.

Economic Security and Dignity

On Tuesday, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced the launch of Oakland Resilient Families, a guaranteed income pilot program where 600 Oakland families will receive $500 a month for 18 months. Families can apply and will be randomly selected to participate as early as this Spring.

Leading for Power and Change

Recent key wins have put a spotlight on the California Donor Table, a community of individual donors who make investments to make lasting policy change. The Table has donated to organizations working on the census, criminal justice reform, immigration rights, environmental justice, and COVID support, among others.
In a short interview, two long-time racial equity grantmakersfrom the W.K. Kellogg Foundation offer perspectives on the role individuals play in advancing racial equity in their organizations and communities.

March 18, 2021

Community Well-Being

Gun sales in California are continuing to surge this year following an alarming buying spree last year. Firearm data from 2020 and early reports from 2021 show that California is not immune to the national surge in gun and ammunition sales. Analysts predict gun sales will not slow down given that gun sales historically surge when there is a Democratic president in office.

Equity in Access

The U.S. is on track to see the highest number of migrants at the southern border in the last 20 years, many of which are unaccompanied minors. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas committed to ensuring we have an “immigration system that works and that migration to our country is safe, orderly, and humane.” The Department of Homeland Security plans to increase the number of facilities near the border to decrease the time young migrants spend in Border Patrol facilities.

Economic Security and Dignity

Changes in higher education may linger after we reach community immunity. California’s Council for Post-Secondary Education is developing a road map for higher education and some recommendations include a common application for admission and more support for students’ basic needs. Hybrid courses that mix online and in-person elements are likely to become more widespread in the post-pandemic future and a focus on mental health for students, staff, and faculty will also remain a priority.
Despite significant revenue losses, many small businesses were able to stay afloat during the pandemic thanks to lender forbearance, cost reductions, and government provided-aid. However, making payments on time and maintaining a good credit is not an indication that small businesses are doing well and equitable distribution of loans from the American Rescue Plan will be essential to support business ownership in the country.

Leading for Power and Change

Following the deadly shooting of eight people in Atlanta, including six Asian women, leaders from Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy updated their resource directory to combat increased anti-Asian violence in the wake of the pandemic. The resource guide will be updated periodically to connect philanthropy with established organizations engaged in efforts addressing anti-Asian violence.

March 10, 2021

Community Well-Being

This op-ed calls on the federal government to take a coordinated approach to examining the roots of gun violence in light of 2020 gun violence data which shows that while mass homicides declined, mass shootings increased nearly 50% compared to 2019. Advocates are calling on the White House to appoint a Cabinet-level gun violence policy director and to convene a task force that will explore how to best share data and policies across departments.
State and local governments are leveraging federal pass-through funds to improve the civil legal system and make it more equitable. The director of The Justice in Government Project published a series of case studies that offer examples on how policymakers leverage existing resources to support legal aid.

Equity in Access

In the latest effort to undo the former administration’s immigration policies, the Biden administration will not continue to defend challenges to the public charge rule which disincentivized immigrants from seeking essential public benefits and health care.
The California Health Care Foundation’s California Physicians: A Portrait of Practice details information about the supply, distribution, and demographic characteristics of California’s physicians. Some key findings include: over 33% of the state’s doctors are over 60, only four of nine regions in the state have the recommended amount of primary care physicians, and only 8% of the state’s physicians are Latino though they account for 39% of the total population.

Economic Security and Dignity

The Los Angeles Food Equity Roundtable will gather local government agencies, school districts, community-based organizations and foundations to address food insecurity during and following the pandemic. Meeting the needs of food insecure communities has already led to some innovations including a partnership with LA Metro to assist with distribution.

Leading for Power and Change

Tides’ new Chief People Officer shares how her lived experience informs her strategy for attracting and nurturing Black talent. In a brief interview, Gwen Tillman offers advice to human resources professionals and to Black professionals seeking to achieve their goals in the workplace.

March 3, 2021

Community Well-Being

The Background Check Expansion Act was reintroduced on Tuesday and if passed would expand federal background checks on all gun sales including unlicensed sellers, online, gun shows or home sales. A similar bill was introduced in 2019 but did not receive enough Senate votes.

Equity in Access

Vaccine distribution programs are exacerbating inequities in access to health care for those most at risk of dying from COVID-19. Some programs refuse vaccinations for undocumented workers and others require internet access to sign up for an appointment or a car for drive-up only sites. People with disabilities that affect mobility also face additional barriers in accessing vaccination sites.
Experts fear that COVID-19 deaths in the Native American community have been undercounted due to racial misclassification as Latino, white, or other. Native American leaders say reported infection rates and deaths do not reflect what they are experiencing. Community leaders fear that misclassification erases identities completely and makes it more difficult for vulnerable populations to access critical state and federal resources.

Economic Security and Dignity

A health policy brief shows links between the public charge rule and worsening food insecurity and access to health care. Even among lawful permanent residents, the public charge rule decreased immigrants’ use of vital safety net programs.

Feb. 24, 2021

Community Well-Being

A gun violence prevention group is calling on the Biden administration to appoint a director of gun violence prevention, to dedicate $1 billion to support community intervention programs, and to increase funding for federal firearm injury research.
As of Monday, nearly 38,000 incarcerated individuals in California have received a COVID-19 vaccine. With about 94,000 people in the custody of California’s corrections systems, that means about 40% of incarcerated individuals have been vaccinated.

Equity in Access

Complex jurisdictional issues are complicating vaccine administration for immigrants in California’s detention centers. State officials are unsure about who is responsible for vaccines since detainees are in federal custody and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is putting the burden on state and local health departments to find vaccine doses.

Economic Security and Dignity

Without government assistance, total personal income would have been lower in 2020 than 2019 in nearly every state. Total personal income grew most in the second quarter of 2020 due in large part to robust government assistance. California is among the seven states where government transfer payments increased by at least 50% compared to 2019.
One indicator that government aid during the pandemic may have mitigated some financial hardships from the COVID-19 recession is the steady improvement of credit health in 2020. However, communities of color continue to experience worse credit outcomes during the pandemic and credit measures do not capture the experiences of the approximately 10% of adults who have no credit file.

Leading for Power and Change

A longtime advocate for the rights of formerly incarcerated people is leading the way to remove the last vestiges of slavery from the California constitution. California now has proposed legislation to remove language in the state constitution stating that “involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime.”

Feb. 17, 2021

Community Well-Being

A report by the California Budget and Policy Center makes the case for a statewide declaration naming racism as a public health crisis. The report reveals that the pandemic has uncovered how the disproportionate impact on communities of color is a result of racist systems strategically designed to favor particular subsets of the population.

Equity in Access

Prior to COVID-19, Medi-Cal had an expansive telehealth policy that was expanded further on a temporary basis to ensure health care access during the pandemic. In his proposed budget Governor Newsom is proposing to make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities allowed during the pandemic.

Economic Security and Dignity

A Public Health Institute (PHI) study shows that efforts by the California Department of Social Services, coinciding with federal relief efforts, helped to mitigate food insecurity during the pandemic. Infrastructure and partnerships built by PHI to reach hard-hit communities can serve as a model for other counties and states looking to address inequitable food assistance systems.

Leading for Power and Change

The Nonprofit Quarterly has launched a new podcast series featuring women of color in positions of leadership. Amoretta Morris, the new President of Borealis Philanthropy, kicks off the series by sharing how her leadership style as a “liberated gatekeeper” is informed by her roots in community organizing.

Feb. 10, 2021

Community Well-Being

In an essay funded by Cal Wellness, a food bank director highlights the outsized importance of food banks in rural communities such as the San Joaquin Valley where farmworkers and others in the food industry are in need of food. Food distribution has evolved, and in some cases has taken employees out into the fields to distribute food where food is cultivated. In other cases, employees have distributed PPE and water in neighborhoods with poor water quality.

Equity in Access

The California Health Policy Survey provides insights on Californians’ top health care priorities for this second pandemic year. Survey respondents appear to be concerned about access to and cost of health insurance, controlling the spread of COVID-19, and ensuring there are enough health care providers in the state, among other concerns.

Economic Security and Dignity

The pandemic has resulted in alarming housing trends across the state, and some shifts such as remote employees moving out of dense urban areas and large companies offering “full remote” work to their employees, may be long-lasting. A 19-minute podcast explores how emerging trends may affect the housing crisis in California in the long term.

Leading for Power and Change

First 5 LA is spearheading a new long-term park development project, Link, to add open space to underserved communities and to promote civic engagement. First 5 LA received additional funds for the project from private foundations and plans to leverage revenue generated by a parcel tax approved by voters in 2016.

Feb. 3, 2021

Community Well-Being

Homicides, aggravated assaults and firearm assaults rose significantly in 2020 even though strict stay at home orders were in place for a significant part of the year. The Pandemic, Social Unrest, and Crime in U.S. Cities report shows that the pandemic suppressed homicide rates at first and that links between a crime spike following racial justice protests are uncertain.

Equity in Access

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a statement on Monday assuring the public that they “fully support equal access to the COVID-19 vaccines ... for undocumented immigrants” and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will not conduct enforcement operations near vaccine distribution sites.

Economic Security and Dignity

In the last year the question of reparations has reemerged as a topic of conversation among scholars, economists and policymakers. Reparations are one way to acknowledge the enormous cost of slavery to Black Americans. However, questions often emerge about how this would work in practical terms—to learn more check out the upcoming webinar: Remaking the Economy: Reparations and Closing the Racial Wealth Gap.

Leading for Power and Change

February is Black History Month and the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) has put a forward-looking spin with a focus on celebrating Blackness. Black Futures Month will celebrate and uplift Black artists, creators and organizers by telling stories. To kick it off, M4BL released an Afrofuturist short produced collaboratively with Root Story Films which imagines a future when all Black people will be free. Check it out here.

Jan. 27, 2021

Community Well-Being

A report by the Violence Policy Center shows How the Firearms Industry and NRA Market Guns to Communities of Color. Analysis of marketing efforts directed at Black and Latino communities reveals that the focus is to promote firearms as tools for self-defense though they are rarely used against criminals or to stop crimes.

Equity in Access

This 8-minute podcast tells the story of a community hospital serving a vulnerable population in South Los Angeles; the hospital has triple or quadruple the number of COVID-19 patients of nearby hospitals. The outsized impact is a result of inequities in the health care system that have been prevalent in the community for many years.

Economic Security and Dignity

An equity-centered framework for a national subsidized employment program has been released by the Heartland Alliance. The framework calls on the Biden/Harris administration to develop an inclusive recovery that works for people who have repeatedly been left out of the labor market.

Leading for Power and Change

A report from the Nonprofit Finance Fund outlines how outcomes-based funding can advance racial equity. Among the seven recommendations is the call to promote the nonprofit sector as a source of innovation and partnership and engaging with impact investors in innovation and capacity building.

Jan. 22, 2021

Community Well-Being

Conditions that contribute to violence—poverty, unemployment, lack of available resources, isolation, hopelessness, and loss—have intensified during the pandemic and are further compounded by the recent surge in firearm sales. Results from the 2020 California Safety and Wellbeing Survey show violence concern trends during the pandemic year.

Equity in Access

Promotoras, community health workers, are using a peer-to-peer approach to combat vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories among Spanish-speaking communities. This approach exemplifies the value of the promotora model to address health care access disparities.

Economic Security and Dignity

Building an equitable economy requires addressing the shortcomings in nonstandard workplace arrangements such as temporary and contract work. The Reimagining Workplace Protections report offers policy frameworks that will be essential to protect all untraditional workers.

Leading for Power and Change

Given the central role that racism, patriarchy, and other forms of oppression have continuously played in American history, this post from the Center on Effective Philanthropy outlines what it will take to vanquish these elements and build the muscles that a truly pluralistic, multi-racial democracy requires.

Jan. 13, 2021

Community Well-Being

Exclusionary zoning perpetuates racial residential segregation and a series of briefs has uncovered the most segregated and most integrated places in the Bay Area. Land-use policies, such as single-family zoning, impede the development of affordable housing which makes racial integration feasible.

Equity in Access

A reproductive health equity researcher has found that the mortality rate for Black babies is cut significantly when they are delivered by Black doctors. The research provides empirical evidence to describe the impact of a doctor’s race on health outcomes such as infant mortality.
Are you interested in learning more about the history and impact of racism on health care, medicine and science? Check out this virtual event on Thursday January 14^th presented by USCF Office of Alumni Relations and the UCSF Office of Diversity and Outreach.

Economic Security and Dignity

Social insurance is not a common concept among Americans but the impact of the pandemic has many rethinking the concept. Social insurance are the policies that are put in place to protect and support workers and their families, including unemployment insurance, rental assistance, paid leave and subsidized health insurance. Check out Rethinking social insurance: policies to protect workers and families to learn more about how increasing resources during the pandemic has been beneficial to families in need, and the economy.
While average personal income was higher in every state in 2020 compared to 2019 due to supplemental unemployment payments, poverty jumped at a higher rate than it has in forty years. The regions hit hardest by poverty are those with large immigrant populations or with ineffective unemployment systems. Over 45% of people in Riverside, California said they are unable to pay for routine expenses such as rent and food.

Leading for Power and Change

American democracy has been tested this year and shown all of us the cracks and fragility of our institutions and processes. How can philanthropy play a role in rebuilding democracy and our democratic institutions? Check out this article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review exploring this question at this important moment.

Jan. 7, 2021

Community Well-Being

The California Department of Aging released the Master Plan for Aging Playbook designed to assist in building environments that promote an age and disability-friendly state.

Equity in Access

Early findings from a California Health Care Foundation survey, which oversampled low-income respondents, provides insight on health care access both before and during the pandemic. A deterioration of mental health, an increase in substance abuse, and experiences with telehealth may provide valuable lessons for 2021 and beyond.
Nebraska officials have announced that though employees at meatpacking plants will be some of the first in the state to be vaccinated, citizens and legal residents will be prioritized while undocumented workers working at the same plants will have to “wait at the back of the line.” About two thirds of workers in Nebraska’s meatpacking industry are immigrants.

Economic Security and Dignity

A study by the Urban Institute examines an idea that is gaining traction among health care leaders across the country – investing in housing is investing in health. The study profiles interventions that integrate housing and health services for low-income people.
Millions of Americans continue to face a looming eviction cliff and the crisis underscores the widening racial inequality in housing. Governor Newsom has announced plans to extend the eviction moratorium, which is currently set to expire at the end of the month, though it is unclear for how long.

Leading for Power and Change

Aggressive organizing resulted in historic voter turnout for Georgia’s US senate runoff election on Tuesday. Get-out-the-vote efforts led to increased turnout from Black voters, in particular. The success of the grassroots organizing in “meeting people where they are” may have lessons and implications for elections in the Deep South and beyond.

Dec. 16, 2020

Community Well-Being

Reimagining Justice during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic highlights how Americans are thinking differently about incarceration as a result of the pandemic. The pandemic has underscored the importance of centering human needs at the heart of innovation.
As of December 14th, 119 incarcerated youth have tested positive for COVID-19, including nearly 50 new cases in just the last few weeks. With a population of less than 800, this means that about 15% of youth at the Division of Juvenile Justice are known to have tested positive. To learn more, check out: COVID-19 Cases Surging in CA Youth Prisons.

Equity in Access

An article by the Commonwealth Fund outlines How the Biden Administration Can Act to Strengthen Medicaid including rescinding the public charge policy, ending block-grants, ending Medicaid work requirement experiments, and encouraging innovation in response to the pandemic.

Economic Security and Dignity

A Brookings report shows that Closing the racial wealth gap requires heavy, progressive taxation of wealth. The 400 richest billionaires in America have more total wealth than all 10 million Black Americans combined. Since the wealthiest Americans are almost exclusively white, the racial wealth gap is also concentrated among the wealthiest families.
A statewide survey on Californians & Their Economic Well-Being provides a snapshot of the current financial wellbeing of Californians as well as their overall outlook of the economy.
A longitudinal assessment of California Proposition 209 shows that progress has been slow on recovering losses in Latino and Black medical school matriculants since Prop 209 was enacted. As the Latino population in the state has grown, the number of Latino medical students has fallen further behind to provide ethnically concordant care.

Leading for Power and Change

More eligible Californians voted in November’s election than any time in nearly 70 years. Final election results show almost 17.8 million Californians cast ballots in the election that ended on November 3, the highest percentage of eligible voters to participate in a statewide election since 1952 and the third-highest percentage since 1910.

Dec. 9, 2020

Community Well-Being

The federal government backs mortgages in communities facing grave dangers such as wildfire, hurricanes, and flooding due to climate change. With a congressional mandate to increase homeownership among people from underserved backgrounds, lenders such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac face the reality that Climate Change Could Spark the Next Home Mortgage Disaster.

Equity in Access

A report by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network outlines six strategies for achieving equitable care and health outcomes. Among the strategies are improving physical, behavioral, and oral health care and improving the social determinants of health.
Effective Monday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is once again accepting first-time and renewal DACA requests following a court order to overturn policy changes made to DACA by the acting secretary in June 2020.

Economic Security and Dignity

Consistent with Dr. Manuel Pastor’s remarks during last week’s learning session, PPIC’s report on Income Inequality and Economic Opportunity in California outlines how the pandemic-induced recession is hitting communities of color and women particularly hard. The report offers some policy interventions that can be used to promote a more equitable economic recovery.

Leading for Power and Change

Do you want to understand a bit more about the history of liberation efforts of indigenous Americans in the U.S.? Check out this “explainer” from National Geographic focused on the radical history of the Red Power movement’s efforts to fight for the sovereignty of Native Americans.

Dec. 2, 2020

Community Well-Being

There has been increased coverage on fracking, a controversial method to extract oil that would help the state begin to rely less on fossil fuels but that many experts believe is harming the health of communities. To learn more check out, Why is Fracking in the News So Much? The Short Answer: Climate change and People’s Health.

Equity in Access

As a result of the pandemic, the connection between race and health outcomes has become crystal clear this year. The country’s reckoning with racism as a result of the killing of George Floyd is now pushing the medical education system to reevaluate the use of race in the diagnosis of illness and disease to help doctors spot racism in health care.
Despite numerous attempts to eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) and some significant victories, including this summer’s Supreme Court ruling, a federal judge recently ruled that the new DACA rules are invalid as Chad Wolf was not legally serving as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security when he signed rules limiting applications and renewals.

Economic Security and Dignity

2020 has laid bare the vast inequities that exist in the United States with huge gaps in income, education and access to health care becoming increasingly evident. Check out Is Inequality Inevitable? from the podcast Bill Gates and Rashida Jones ask Big Questions, featuring economist Raj Chetty and Compton Mayor Aja Brown.
Top retailers have seen staggering profits during the pandemic as frontline workers face unprecedented risks on the job. A comprehensive report from the Brookings Institute shows how most large retailers are providing negligible compensation to workers despite a windfall of profits. Some frontline workers have been given a one-time bonus or received temporary hazard pay while others saw an increase in compensation; on average, workers had only a 10% increase in hourly wages that were already too low to meet basic needs.

Leading for Power and Change

There is much to still be learned about the recent elections and the efforts to engaged communities in the electoral process. A new report from the USC Equity Research Institute looks at our multiracial future from a Black-Latino lens with a focus on coalition building. Check out what was learned from four vastly different places based on their regional specificities in Bridges/Puentes: Building Black-Brown Solidarities Across the U.S.
Youth are increasingly being cited as essential to power building efforts in California and some regions are beginning to expand their efforts significantly. Check out 99 Rootz: Building a Youth Movement in the Central Valley a case study by Veronica Terriquez and Angelina Santiago.

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