mAY newsletter
In This Issue:
- Education Equity: Community Schools Update
- Budget Advocacy at the City and County of San Diego
- In Case You Missed It
EDUCATION EQUITY
Community Schools
On March 22, 2022, the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Board of Education voted to unanimously designate 5 schools as the first cohort of community schools in the district. The school board also passed additional recommendations committing to the growth and maintenance of the community schools initiative in the district. We look forward to continuing our work with our partners in the San Diego Community Schools Coalition as advocates for educational equity and racial justice.
Join us on Tuesday, May 31st from 4:30-6:30pm at Millennial Tech Middle School to celebrate the first cohort of community schools at SDUSD!
Refresher: What are community schools?
CPI and our partners in the Community Schools Coalition have been fighting for community schools in San Diego since 2018 and the community schools resolution was passed in 2020. Successful community schools ensure underserved communities receive equitable resources, create community partnerships, and foster the self-empowerment necessary to support student learning, strong families and thriving communities. Watch the video below to learn more about what makes community schools unique and visit our website to learn more about how we’re implementing community schools in San Diego.
BUDGET ADVOCACY
City of San Diego
San Diego Mayor Gloria released his May revision of the F23 proposed budget on May 17. The Mayor’s proposed budget leaves San Diego families in harm’s way because it fails to adequately fund programs to prevent lost wages, address housing insecurity and prevent our youth from being further criminalized. These are issues that affect all San Diegans, but disproportionately impact poor people and people of color.
City councilmembers have until the end of the month to submit their budget modifications before the final budget vote on June 13th. CPI and our partners in the Community Budget Alliance (CBA) are pushing for budget priorities from our People’s Budget demands, including:
– A $20 million Housing Stability Fund
– A Youth Care and Development Pilot Program
– Staffing and funding for worker-centered outreach in the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement
– Increasing the Climate Equity Fund to $15M
– Expanding the Youth Environmental Recreation Corps Program to $1M
To get regular CBA updates, sign up for our email list and follow the CBA on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on upcoming actions.
County of San Diego
The County’s Chief Administrative Officer released the County of San Diego’s proposed budget on May 5th. Public hearings on the budget for the County of San Diego are scheduled for June 13 (daytime departmental budget hearings) and June 16 (evening).
Click here to take action, get support, and let us know what you’ll be fighting for!
To get regular updates about our county budget advocacy and the Invest in San Diego Families (ISDF) Coalition, sign up for our email list and follow ISDF on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on upcoming actions.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Youth Opportunity Pass
YOPs are now available in San Diego County! YOPs provide free transit fares for youth 18 and under. YOPs help form a transit-culture, create life-long transit-riders, and give youth the opportunity to access after school programs, get to jobs, volunteer in their communities, and so much more. Learn more about YOP.
From the Archives: San Diego communities have been advocating for YOPs for over 10 years, making this a major historic win for transit-dependent communities, especially youth. Check out this podcast we did with our Community Budget Alliance partner, Mid-City CAN, back in 2015 about YOP.
Did you listen to Coffee and C.R.E.AM. back in the day? Should we bring it back?? Let us know!
San Diego Black Worker Center
The San Diego Black Worker Center was recently featured by the James Irvine Foundation and PowerSwitch Action. Check out the articles below:
Spotlight On: CPI & the San Diego Black Worker Center!
(PowerSwitch Action, April 2022)
Advancing Equity and Justice for Black Workers – a Q&A
(The James Irvine Foundation, April 2022)
Transit Equity
CPI has been supporting the countywide ballot initiative to fund transportation improvements that will make life better for San Diego County residents. The ballot initiative received enough signatures to be included on the ballot! Thank you to everyone who signed on in support. Learn more about the ballot initiative and the coalition behind the work.
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As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CPI relies on the generous support of our community to operate. If you would like to support our fight for economic and social justice, please consider becoming a monthly donor or making a one-time donation. Thank you so much!
