Every Voice Shines New Light

The value of an idea increases exponentially when it’s shared. From our staff, partners and grantees to the people impacted by their efforts, each perspective offers new insight into the critical issues at the heart of our work.

Perspectives by Cathy Cha

Cathy Cha President & CEO

Cathy leads the Fund’s work to advance rights and create opportunities for all people.

Perspectives That Match Filter Criteria

Woman with a child in court Letter from the President

From Crisis Response to Lasting Change

| 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…

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Photo of an interfaith vigil in Los Angeles Letter from the President

Freedom, Courage and Caring

| by Cathy Cha in Fund News

Finding Inspiration in Our Grantee Partners

We are inspired by the courage and care we’re seeing as people in California and nationwide exercise their constitutional right to organize and peacefully protest.

The economic, cultural, and community fabric of California depends on immigrants—their safety and well-being are essential to all of us. We are inspired by the courage and care we’re seeing as people in California a…

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Young athletes huddling on the basketball court with their coach Letter from the President

Lessons From A Successful Nonprofit Merger

| by Cathy Cha in College Success

Connecting with the Leaders of Positive Coaching Alliance

Mergers can be a strategic way for nonprofits to grow even stronger and have greater community impact.

Our President Cathy Cha currently serves on the board of the Positive Coaching Alliance.Compared to the for-profit sector, the nonprofit world tends to view organizational mergers through a more skeptical lens. A no…

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A line of voters seen waiting to cast their ballots Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Looking Ahead to November 2024

| by Cathy Cha in Democracy

Ramping up Our Organizing Support to Increase Voter Turnout and Power

Civic engagement tables are emerging as one of the best tools to empower regional communities in decision-making and long-term reforms.

In this pivotal election year, the Haas Jr. team is focused on how to ramp up efforts to increase voter turnout, participation, and leadership among communities that are traditionally cast aside every election cycle…

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Photo of a demonstrator holding a sign that reads "Love Over Hate" Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Inclusion and Belonging: No Time To Step Back

| by Cathy Cha in Fund News

Choosing to Remain Hopeful

The current moment calls on us to take a harder look at what we do and how we do it, and to explore new ways to find—and advance—our common humanity.

When I stepped into leadership five years ago at the Haas, Jr. Fund, I knew one thing for sure—we needed to keep pushing for a country and a society where we all belong.  The pandemic and the racial uprising of…

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