Letter from the President Helping Our Neighbors in a Season of Record Need December 8, 2025 | by Cathy Cha in Season of Sharing Nonprofits are doing vital work and need additional support to help people Season of Sharing has distributed nearly $220 million to Bay Area residents and families staring down unexpected financial crises. The 2025 holiday season is feeling different to me—and I’m guessing I am not alone. It’s been an incredibly challenging year for our communities. The recent government shutdown, the high costs of housing and food, a… Continue Reading
Letter from the President From Crisis Response to Lasting Change September 29, 2025 | by Cathy Cha How can we build a future where people are not just surviving, but also thriving? At Haas Jr., we are seeking to find a balance between responding to the many emergencies our communities are facing and the work that needs to be done to seed change The heartbreaking stories are piling up. Immigrant neighbors living in fear of what’s next for them and their families. Lifelong public servants cast aside, their livelihoods gone. College students dealing with disa… Continue Reading
Building “Narrative Power” To Shift Policy and Opinion on Immigrants September 29, 2025 | by Elica Vafaie in Immigrant Rights We need to put forward a clear, bold vision of belonging The national narrative around immigrants is being shaped by misinformation and fear over facts—with real-world consequences. Why This MattersImmigrants are core to the fabric of California and integral to every aspect of life in our state—powering innovation and economic growth, sustaining our food and health systems, and enriching our ne… Continue Reading
Lack of Language Services Keeps Too Many Eligible Immigrants From Voting September 29, 2025 | by Raúl Macías in Democracy We’re working with partners to make sure everyone can have a voice Making voting easier and more accessible for all eligible voters is essential to a strong and thriving democracy Why This MattersCalifornia has the nation’s highest proportion of households (43%) who speak a language other than English at home. Approximately 3.2 million eligible California voters—one in eight voters—are limite… Continue Reading
Transferring From Community College Is Too Hard September 29, 2025 | by Monica Martinez in College Success Students face too many inequitable barriers on the path to a four-year institution We’re working with partners to tackle a big part of the problem: lost credits Why This MattersCommunity college is an affordable, accessible on-ramp to a bachelor’s degree—especially for students who are low-income, first-generation, or from communities of color. With 2.1 million students at… Continue Reading
Strengthening Democracy with Data September 29, 2025 | by Raúl Macías in Democracy How a New Initiative at UC Berkeley Is Using Research to Help Drive Engagement, Equity A Q&A with Jake Grumbach, Associate Professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy In 2024, UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy launched a new initiative focused on strengthening democracy policy in California and nationwide through research, teaching, and collaboration with practitioner… Continue Reading
Lack of Language Services Keeps Too Many Eligible Immigrants From Voting Photo courtesy of Common Cause of California
