Thanks to the work of a number of regional coalitions in California, counties including Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino secured fairer political maps that will help ensure all communities have fair representation in government and during elections.
Following the drastic increase in violence and hate against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in recent years, the Haas, Jr. Fund spearheaded the launch of the power-building Activate California initiative, which is dedicated to engaging AAPI communities - especially younger AAPI Californians - as more active participants in democracy and civic life.
This unprecedented three-year effort funded in part by the Haas, Jr. Fund provided public colleges and universities with the resources needed to set up and expand critical campus services that aid the educational success of undocumented students. The development of sustainability plans and advocacy training for student fellows was built into the effort from the start to ensure all participating campuses could maintain their services even after the fund’s sunsetting.
Funding from five California-based groups including the Haas, Jr. Fund supported the launch of the Community Learning Partnership’s California Youth Leadership Corps, a unique statewide initiative that provides historically marginalized youth with career pathways and resources to become local organizers and change agents in their communities.
Advancing visibility and inclusion of immigrant Indigenous communities is a growing commitment of our Immigrant Rights program. That’s why we’re partnering with groups like Comunidades Indígenas en liderazgo (CIELO), which works to increase indigenous language access rights and cultural preservation, among other priorities.
Voters in Oakland overwhelmingly approved Measure W, which will establish a Democracy Dollars program to revolutionize campaign financing for local elections. The program will provide vouchers to local residents who can in turn use them to support political candidates of their choice.
