CLIENT NEWS: 

“We were here before. We will be here after.” In an op-ed for Nonprofit Quarterly’s #WeTheCivic, leaders of the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund reflect on a gathering at Heart Mountain, Wyoming, where organizers, artists, donors, and community leaders honored the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II. The gathering recognized the nearly 15,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned at Heart Mountain under Executive Order 9066 and the resilience of communities who endured exclusion and injustice. Participants explored the camp’s history, including stories of resistance, military service, and the difficult choices families faced during incarceration. Read the full piece in  Nonprofit Quarterly.

Earlier this week, advocates gathered at California’s Capitol for TimeDone Day to highlight the state’s progress in automatic criminal record clearance while calling attention to the barriers that remain for formerly incarcerated people. Speakers argued that completing a sentence should end punishment, but outdated records continue to limit access to housing, jobs, and economic opportunity for millions of Californians. Our partners at Californians for Safety and Justice used TimeDone Day to release an impact memo examining more than a decade of record-relief efforts in California. “The goal is to make sure that the promises of California that were made on paper become real in people’s lives,” said Tinisch Hollins, Executive Director of Californians for Safety and Justice in Davis Vanguard. “This work does not stand apart from or in competition with the work that we lead to improve the lives of survivors and victims of crime in California. It’s the same mission coming from two different directions—stabilize lives, heal communities, open doors to access and opportunity.” Read more here. 

The Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Barbara upholding birthright citizenship marks a significant victory for constitutional protections and the principle of inclusion that has shaped the nation for generations. However, the ruling comes during a broader period of challenges to immigrant rights and democratic values, highlighting the need for continued advocacy and action. Aarti Kohli, executive director of Asian Law Caucus, and Elica Vafaie, program director for Immigrant Rights with the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, explore how a broad coalition of legal advocates, community organizations, faith leaders, businesses, and others helped secure this victory by combining litigation with public engagement. Read more in this blog for The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

ICYMI: Our longtime partners at Power California recently released the results of their 8th youth poll. This survey engaged over 1,500 Californians between the ages of 18 and 30 to identify the most pressing issues they are currently facing. Learn more in The Desert Sun and State Affairs California.

CHANGE NEWS: 

We are excited to have sponsored and presented at the All Youth are Sacred Narrative Power Summit: The Messages From Our Movement. This two-day assembly offered a dedicated space for young leaders and advocates to foster connections while refining their strategy, storytelling, and collective narrative influence. Our CEO, Bilen Mesfin Packwood, and our VP of Strategy, Kay Cuajunco, facilitated a workshop on telling better stories with data. We applaud AYAS and our longtime partners at the California Alliance for Youth and Community Justice (CAYCJ) for continuing to build narrative power for young people and for our communities.