The Haas, Jr. Fund was proud to partner with the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California to present a six-part legislative briefing series examining elections reform, voter access, voter participation, and equity in California elections. The educational series featured leading experts and focused on underrepresented communities. 

Despite a bachelor’s degree being the big equalizer in society, our recently commissioned research shows that significant disparities for Black, Latino, and Native American students persist when it comes to college access and degree completion in California.

As part of our work to support low-income, first-generation and under-represented students attain a bachelor’s degree, we partnered with Wonder For Good and Goodwin Simon Strategies to develop research-backed messaging that could build more support for college access and affordability in California.

Products of the research include a guide lifting up key messages and strategies to make a powerful case for college affordability, as well as a video catalog promoting the recommendations featuring students, parents, and a guidance counselor.

Together with the Levi Strauss Foundation, the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, and the Peter E. Haas, Jr. Fund, we proudly supported the Goldman School of Public Policy’s launch its new Democracy Policy Initiative, a new intellectual and organizing hub for developing the leadership, strategies, networks, and innovative solutions needed to inspire and realize a flourishing, responsive, and multi-racial democracy.