“The long-term goal is for us to create a comprehensive public safety ecosystem that really allows the folks on the ground to identify, engage, and support those folks who are most at risk so that we can get Memphis to a place where we’re almost at zero homicides,” said Anthony Smith, Executive Director of Cities United during the organization’s three-day gathering in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of its nationwide Leading the Way Tour. In addition to hosting the conference, Cities United is investing $100,000 into local violence prevention organizations. Learn more about the Leading the Way tour in the Citizens Tribune, Fox 13, ABC 24, and Action News 5.

“California is big, so there’s lots of different kinds of natural disasters, but Trump’s infliction of pain from the federal government has become another kind of emergency,” said Ludovic Blain, Executive Director of California Donor Table (CDT) in the San Francisco Chronicle. Blain views California’s Proposition 50 as a necessary defense against federal policies that have harmed communities of color, especially Trump-era cuts to healthcare, immigration raids, and economic inequality. CDT is investing in voter outreach to ensure communities of color recognize Prop 50 as a crucial tool to protect their interests and secure more equitable representation in Congress. Read more here. 

Tinisch Hollins, Executive Director of Californians for Safety and Justice continues to push for a broader, more balanced approach to public safety in California. Hollins believes the state should place greater focus on prevention, such as job support, healthcare, and reentry programs. “My biggest critique right now is, we are maybe in a budget crisis in California, but if California’s public response to public safety is law enforcement, then it’s not different than what we’re seeing at the federal level. We need to continue to address the root causes of the problem.” Read more in the San Francisco Chronicle and check out this op-ed by Hollins in Davis Vanguard where she dives deeper into the need for an approach that values both accountability and community-based support. 

CHANGE NEWS: 

We’re excited to share that we’ve been named finalists for the 2025 PR Daily Awards in three prestigious categories: 

• Executive of the Year – our Founder and CEO, Bilen Mesfin Packwood; 
• PR Pro of the Year – our VP of Media Relations, Alexis Meisels; 
• Social Justice and Advocacy Campaign – for our work with We Are California. 

These recognitions highlight our team’s dedication to excellence and impactful storytelling in the public relations industry. The winners will be announced live on Tuesday, December 2. Stay tuned for updates as we celebrate this incredible honor!

Change Consulting was proud to join California Donor Table for their 20th Anniversary Celebration and Convening. With the powerful theme Anchoring a New Progressive Era, the event brought together progressive donors, movement leaders, and community advocates to reflect on two decades of impact and to boldly chart the course ahead. Change Consulting led media relations, strategic planning, and multi-media content development to ensure an impactful, engaging, and action-oriented event. Kudos to our team for their hard work and dedication in helping make this unforgettable gathering possible.

ICYMI: 

• Take a dive into what we’re reading at Change Consulting: Updated: Crisis Comms Tools for White House Attacks on Nonprofits from Lightbox Collaborative – a resource offering messaging guidance for those in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors who are considering whether or not to speak out against these abuses of power. 
• New resource: Change Consulting is thrilled to share our first-ever e-publication. This deep dive into how storytelling can drive lasting social impact is based on a 5-part blog series released by Change Consulting’s Strategy Team to help changemakers harness their own powerful stories as a force for justice. The book is available to download here.
• Explore our case study on Building Multilingual Educator Pipelines in California’s Central Valley: which outlines our partnership goals with the English Learners Workforce Investment Initiative (EL-WIN) and highlights key earned media achievements.