Lessons from the field about advancing racial equity inside foundations February 8, 2024 I’m excited and honored to kick off a series of blog posts about Irvine’s work to advance racial equity in our grantmaking and how we operate, particularly around the following organizational priorities: IMPACT – address structural racism and embed racial equity in our grantmaking PEOPLE – embody racial equity in our culture, talent recruitment, and … Continue reading Lessons from the field about advancing racial equity inside foundations
Honoring Black History and Futures Month with Senior Program Officer Kriztina Palone February 5, 2024 The Irvine Foundation is fortunate to have talented staff with diverse backgrounds and life experiences, and we want to introduce some of our colleagues to you. We spoke with Kriztina Palone, Irvine’s Senior Program Officer, about how her upbringing and lived experience fueled her passion to impact public systems, why Black History and Futures Month … Continue reading Honoring Black History and Futures Month with Senior Program Officer Kriztina Palone
Grateful for some good news for workers — and what’s possible January 17, 2024 “Aren’t there any good things happening?” That was a question one of my twins, age 10, asked before the holidays, in light of all the troubling stories in the news. (They’ve since forbidden me from having the news on during the drive to school.) It is easy to overlook the rays of hope and … Continue reading Grateful for some good news for workers — and what’s possible
Sheri Dunn Berry and Marc McMorris elected to Irvine’s Board of Directors January 11, 2024 I am excited to announce two impressive new members of The James Irvine Foundation board. Sheri Dunn Berry and Marc McMorris begin their terms in January 2024 and will bring invaluable personal and professional experience to our work and the Foundation’s singular goal: a California where all low-income workers have the power to advance economically. … Continue reading Sheri Dunn Berry and Marc McMorris elected to Irvine’s Board of Directors
Meet Teresa Matsui, Irvine board member January 9, 2024 I’m excited to share a short video of one of the Irvine Foundation’s impressive board members. Teresa Matsui joined our board in 2022 and is President and CEO of Matsui Nursery in Salinas (founded by her father in 1967). As you’ll hear in the video, Teresa’s stewardship of the company brings important insights from an … Continue reading Meet Teresa Matsui, Irvine board member
The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors approves $22.6 million in grants on December 13, 2023 December 18, 2023 The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors approved 12 grants totaling $22.6 million last week. The Foundation also provided $13.4 million in grants this quarter that did not require board approval. The grants primarily support the Foundation’s four initiatives focused on working Californians (Better Careers, Fair Work, Just Prosperity, and Priority Communities) and Irvine investments in … Continue reading The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors approves $22.6 million in grants on December 13, 2023
Advancing equity through apprenticeship opportunities for all Californians November 17, 2023 Another National Apprenticeship Week comes to a close this week after kicking off Monday with lots of excitement within the apprenticeship field. Since 2019, I have had the privilege to support registered apprenticeship efforts in California through Irvine's Better Careers initiative. I have watched the field continually grow and adapt, evident by all the National … Continue reading Advancing equity through apprenticeship opportunities for all Californians
Wage Theft Stories: Worker Perspectives November 16, 2023 Over the course of two years, journalist Sarah Jackson interviewed California workers, worker center staff, scholars, and policy leaders about wage theft — an issue that impacts thousands of working people in the state. In this article and the videos below, funded by The James Irvine Foundation, we hear directly from workers whose paychecks were … Continue reading Wage Theft Stories: Worker Perspectives
Supporting Economic Opportunity through Apprenticeships: A Q&A with SEMI Foundation November 14, 2023 Briefly tell use about SEMI Foundation. What does your organization do? The SEMI Foundation is the 501(c)(3) arm of SEMI, the global industry association representing the microelectronics manufacturing and design supply chain. We have more than 3,000 members worldwide. The Foundation operates more than a dozen workforce development initiatives as part of a holistic approach … Continue reading Supporting Economic Opportunity through Apprenticeships: A Q&A with SEMI Foundation
Standing Up for Retail Workers: A Conversation with LAANE November 7, 2023 In this post, leaders from the worker rights movement share insights from their efforts to advance rights and protections for California's workers. Read more conversations with leaders here. Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) has a 30-year history of advocacy and organizing focused on improving the lives of working families in Los Angeles … Continue reading Standing Up for Retail Workers: A Conversation with LAANE