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Type: Community Stories

Building sustainable career pathways with the Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP)

Briefly tell us about H-CAP. What does your organization do?  The Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP) is a national leader in workforce development, dedicated to strengthening healthcare careers through high-quality training and career advancement opportunities. By partnering with employers, unions, and workers, H-CAP helps build sustainable career pathways that support economic mobility while addressing the … Continue reading Building sustainable career pathways with the Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP)

Rooted in community, rising against harm: how TODEC is supporting immigrant workers in the Inland Empire right now

“We don’t have a political agenda. Our agenda is community.” That’s how Luz Gallegos describes the work of TODEC, the organization her parents created four decades ago to support immigrant workers and their families in California’s Inland Empire. As recent executive actions bring new harms and trauma on her community located just 100 miles from … Continue reading Rooted in community, rising against harm: how TODEC is supporting immigrant workers in the Inland Empire right now

Strengthening women’s economic security with the Equal Rights Advocates and the Stronger California Advocates Network

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting Equal Rights Advocates (ERA) and their work through the Stronger California Advocates Network, which is supported by Irvine’s Just Prosperity initiative. Jessica Ramey Stender, ERA Policy Director and Deputy Legal Director, shared how ERA and the Network is addressing barriers to economic security that women face, … Continue reading Strengthening women’s economic security with the Equal Rights Advocates and the Stronger California Advocates Network

Building the Pipeline: Investing in Next-Generation Leadership for the Worker Rights Movement

Maria Noel Fernandez has deep roots in organizing for a fairer, more just economy. She has led and worked on campaigns that won a $15 minimum wage in eight Silicon Valley cities and a first-in-the nation local ballot initiative providing part-time workers with the opportunity for more hours on the job and bigger paychecks. Today, … Continue reading Building the Pipeline: Investing in Next-Generation Leadership for the Worker Rights Movement

Expanding public sector apprenticeships with Institute for Local Government

Briefly tell us about the Institute for Local Government. What does your organization do?  The Institute for Local Government (ILG) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping local governments and their leaders tackle complex issues and strengthen trust in their communities. We’re also non-partisan, which helps us meet local governments where they are and guide … Continue reading Expanding public sector apprenticeships with Institute for Local Government

Providing opportunities for property service workers: A Q&A with Building Skills Partnership’s Luis Sandoval

California is home to approximately 5.6 million workers paid low wages, more than half of whom are Hispanic. A subset are property service workers — the janitors, security officers, maintenance and custodial workers, stadium, arena, and airport employees, and others providing important services to the buildings of California. Most property service workers are immigrants from Latin … Continue reading Providing opportunities for property service workers: A Q&A with Building Skills Partnership’s Luis Sandoval

Supporting Business Owners: A Conversation with AmPac Business Capital’s Brian Kennedy, Jr.

The Priority Communities initiative held a learning summit in Los Angeles for leaders from Fresno, Salinas, Stockton, Riverside, and San Bernardino. We spoke to select leaders in attendance to hear their perspectives on their communities and their insights on what it takes to build inclusive economies. This blog post features Inland Empire-based Brian Kennedy, Jr., Entrepreneur … Continue reading Supporting Business Owners: A Conversation with AmPac Business Capital’s Brian Kennedy, Jr.

Celebrating leaders advancing equity and worker rights

“For many, Labor Day means a day off work and one last summer BBQ. But without a strong labor movement, our country wouldn’t have weekends at all, let alone long ones...Over time, the labor movement secured many benefits we take for granted: the five-day workweek, paid overtime, employer-based healthcare coverage, a minimum wage, and more.”  … Continue reading Celebrating leaders advancing equity and worker rights

California Coalition for Worker Power: Weaving Together A Movement

In May, more than 300 workers, union and worker rights leaders from across California gathered on the UC Davis campus for a first-of-its kind “Worker Power Assembly.” The two-day event provided participants with an opportunity to come together to discuss common challenges and strategize about how to build worker power in the state.   “What a … Continue reading California Coalition for Worker Power: Weaving Together A Movement