“Before our eyes, we are witnessing attempts to reverse the progress we’ve made in achieving safer workplaces, fairer wages, and strengthened benefits for working people,” said Tanya Wallace-Gobern of National Black Worker Center (NBWC). In her latest blog, “Weaving Intersectional Movements Rooted in Power and Dignity”, she highlights growing political, economic, and social attacks on workers, especially marginalized communities. She calls for intersectional solidarity uniting across race, gender, and issues – as modeled by NBCW. Read the full blog here.  

“I am one of the 8 million Californians — that’s 1 in 5 people — living with a conviction record. Having an old criminal record creates all kinds of barriers. It hinders our ability to find jobs, housing and an education, and often keeps us stuck in a cycle of post-conviction poverty,” said Joanna Hernandez in this op-ed for CalMatters. She shares her journey from being incarcerated as a teen mother to becoming a nonprofit worker and mentor, helping others transition out of the justice system. Despite her transformation, her old conviction record continues to block her access to housing, education, and even volunteering at her grandchildren’s school. Her experience is why organizations like our partners at Californians for Safety and Justice are fighting to end post-conviction poverty and advocating for clean slate policies. Read the full piece here.  

Ludovic Blain, Executive Director of California Donor Table, returned to Break Fake Rules for a special live recording during CDT’s 20th anniversary. Speaking with Glen Galaich, CEO of the Stupski Foundation, Ludovic shares how donors can fund initiatives to defend democracy and build stronger government, using local wins to drive national progress. Tune in here or watch above. 

CHANGE NEWS: 

Exciting news! Our Founder and CEO, Bilen Mesfin Packwood, has been selected as a finalist for the Anthem Awards in the Business Leader – Team & Internal Initiatives category for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.

As a finalist, she’s also in the running for the Anthem Community Voice Award, which is selected by public vote. Help us amplify her impact even further by casting your vote here. Also, find more details in this Hollywood Reporter article. 

We’re celebrating the recent launch of our e-book, Storytelling for Social Change – How to Use Stories to Seed Narratives, Shape Worldviews, and Win Justice, with a FREE webinar you won’t want to miss. In this free webinar, we’ll dig into:

• Why Stories Matter – including the brain science associated with stories.
• How Stories Shape Our Values and Worldview – and reinforce or dismantle narratives.
• Storytelling Structure – exploring how stories unfold through plot structures, character arcs, and thematic threads.
• The Types of Stories Organizations Can Tell – highlighting different narrative approaches for mission-driven work.
• How Organizations Can Build a Storytelling Culture – gathering and disseminating stories.

You’ll walk away with new ideas, concrete tools, and a deeper understanding of how to use stories to advance your work and connect more deeply with the people you serve. Plus, everyone who registers will get a copy of our new e-book. Register here. 

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. 
• 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.