“Even more surprising than the legal attacks is the dissipation of public will and support and the reluctance of funders and the public sector to double down on their racial justice commitments,” said Marc Philpart, Executive Director of the California Black Freedom Fund, in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. His reaction came after the settlement in the Fearless Fund case, which discontinued a grant program that gave money exclusively to Black woman entrepreneurs. California Black Freedom Fund launched the Legal Education for Advocacy and Defense (LEAD) for Racial Justice Initiative earlier this year as a response to these legal attacks like the Fearless Fund case, which strips hard fought rights away from Black communities. Read more here.  

Residents of California like Itzel Maganda Chavez are advocating for the California New Motor Voter Program (SB 299), a bill that will improve voter turnout for Black, AAPI, Latino/a, young and systems impacted communities by eliminating the extra step of voter registration. The bill currently sits on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk awaiting his signature. [Watch the full clip here]. For more information on SB 299 and those who support it, check out the California Grassroots Democracy Coalition.

ICYMI: Check out our client Kristen Powell, Principal of Black to the Future Action Fund and Black Futures Lab, breaking down how policy issues in this upcoming election will directly affect you on the Paint the Polls Black Town Hall with Essence. Last month, Black to the Future Action Fund launched the Black Economic Agenda based on findings from the 211K+ responses to the Black Census Project: Black people want an economy where Black people can thrive. Learn more here.

“I make it my goal to prioritize my daughter.” Change Consulting CEO Bilen Mesfin Packwood was featured in this Motherly x Dreamers & Doers article where she speaks on her commitment to balance business and  family. “This enables me to have clear boundaries around work and make the choices I need to make so I can be present as a mom.” Read the full article here.