$30,000 /2012 and 2013
Oakland, California
Jeremy Lahoud, Executive Director
Website: www.caljustice.org
One year renewal grants of $30,000 in 2012 and 2013 will enable Californians For Justice to promote adequate and equitable school funding for all students in California to ensure that high school graduates are 100% prepared for college and career and all high school students attend green and healthy schools. Last year CFJ had 229 members in 13 schools across the state. As a statewide organization with chapters in multiple sites, CFJ develops local campaigns that connect to state level policy work. In San Jose, CFJ led the implementation committee for the East Side Union High School District’s “College and Career Readiness for All” resolution and won a two-year effort to play a key role in a District sponsored steering committee to create a blue print for implementation of the district’s commitments to college readiness. In Long Beach, CFJ worked with the City Council on the implementation of specific aspects of the “Healthy School Zones” resolution and with administration at different schools on planning for the launch of community gardens on the school premises. In Fresno, CFJ played a leadership role in the ‘Building Healthy Communities’ initiative that is pushing for the adoption of restorative justice and served on the district taskforce to work on increasing the graduation rate. In Oakland, CFJ student leaders campaigned for greater counselor access with the “No Knowledge, No College” campaign. Over the next two years, CFJ will continue to ensure that A-G courses are offered by the district and students have support around new academic requirements in San Jose. CFJ Oakland will also work on implementation of the victories of “No Knowledge, No College” campaign and launch their next campaign. In Long Beach and Fresno, CFJ will escalate efforts to win victories on their “Food for Thought” and “Education without Barriers” campaigns. CFJ continues to play important roles in the statewide CQE alliance, the national Alliance for Educational Justice (AEJ) and other regional collaboratives.