Perspectives | Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

Jesse Salinas conversing with young people during the 2023 Youth Empowerment Summit

“Changing the Culture” on Voting and Civic Engagement

July 18, 2024 | by

How Yolo County is Showing the Way to Higher Turnout

A conversation with Jesse Salinas, Chief Elections Official of Yolo County and newly elected President of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials.

As the elected assessor, clerk recorder, and registrar of voters for Yolo County, California, Jesse Salinas has a full plate of responsibilities. This year, his office—and 57 others across the state—will play a crit…

A line of voters seen waiting to cast their ballots

Looking Ahead to November 2024

June 12, 2024 | by

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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…

Getting Out the Vote on the Road to November

June 12, 2024 | by

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How Our Grantee Partners Are Gearing Up for the 2024 Election

We asked four leaders what they’re doing to realize the promise of democracy ahead of this year’s pivotal election.

Across California, Haas, Jr. Fund grantee partners and their allies have been gearing up for the 2024 election. From get-out-the-vote (GOTV) campaigns and community organizing to nonpartisan efforts to educate commu…

Photo of a San Bernardino County voter heading into a polling place

Redefining Civic Engagement in California's Inland Empire

June 12, 2024 | by

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A Conversation with Sky Allen of the Inland Empire United Education Fund

Created in 2012, the organization is partnering with community-based groups across the region to build the power and voice of historically disenfranchised communities.

The Inland Empire region in Southern California is a diverse, rapidly growing area with 4.7 million residents, including more than one million immigrants. The geographic region (Riverside and San Bernardino counties…

Photo of a demonstrator whose shirt reads "Every Student, Every Worker, Every Person Deserves an Equal Opportunity to Succeed"

A Pathway to Opportunity Beyond DACA

June 12, 2024 | by

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Students Across California Mobilize for Jobs, Work Authorization

The Opportunity for All campaign is breaking new legal ground so undocumented students can get hired for campus jobs with or without DACA status.

Jenny Kim graduated from UC Irvine in 2020 and will enroll in the fall in UCLA’s Master of Public Policy program. But Kim’s path through college and her journey to a secure and stable life and career have been compl…

A photo of voters standing in line at a polling place

A Pivotal Year for Our Communities

March 25, 2024 | by

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Our grantmaking is focused on some of the key issues up for debate this election year

Philanthropy and our nonprofit partners cannot achieve our goals if we don't have strong, healthy, and functioning democratic systems.

The March elections in California recorded historically low voter turnout for a primary election. As we look ahead to November, it’s one more piece of evidence that the time is now for funders in California and beyo…

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