The 2024-25 state budget agreement prioritizes proven safety net programs that provide cash, child care, food, health care, and other supportive services, even in the face of a budget shortfall. Our support for the state budget is bolstered by the hard work and advocacy of our End Child Poverty California Coalition. Our IMAGINE Forward Together Rally and SEIU’s Rally for A Secure California Safety Net allowed our communities to come together and push back against cuts that will hurt families and children in California. Our budget success comes down to our collaboration and joint efforts! When families are under attack, what do we do? Stand up! Fight back!

On May 15th, End Child Poverty California and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California co-hosted the 2024 IMAGINE Rally at the State Capitol. Coalition members, community members, advocates, and families gathered to stop the CalWORKs double cut, fulfill promised child care slots and rate reform, ensure foster youth are stable and secure, and protect the workers who provide vital public services.

“We can’t balance our budget on the backs of struggling families and then criminalize the new poverty we have created.

We have to push back and center the people & communities who need us most.”

Assemblymember Issac G Bryan

Community came together and brought the power. Jasmine Chantell from California Youth Connection shared the life-changing effect of the Supervised Independent Living Program (SILP) for foster youth who age out of foster care and need a bridge to independent, safe living. Assemblymember Corey Jackson stressed the need for a budget that considers the implications of cuts among our most marginalized populations. Senator Susan Rubio urged that we should be expanding, not cutting, the safety net programs and support families need.

This budget must be rooted in justice.

Assemblymember Corey Jackson

Thank you to our wonderful community leaders in action, from the Dolores Huerta Foundation, Project SPARC, California Youth Connection, Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), Hayward Promise, Lideres Campesinas, and SEIU CA along with Assemblymembers Corey Jackson & Issac Bryan.

Thank you to our wonderful speakers!

• Pricila Cenobio, Dolores Huerta Foundation
• Assemblymember Corey Jackson
• Lina Cano Flores, SPARC
• Jasmine Chantell, California Youth Connection
• Nancy Respaldiza, Hayward Promise Neighborhoods
• Mirian Rivera, MEDA
• Assemblymember Issac Bryan
• Ziria Lomeli, Lideras Campesinas
• Simboa Wright, SEIU
• Lisa Garcia-Duque, SEIU

Our advocacy continued into June as we joined SEIU for their Rally for a Fair Budget. Advocates gathered to fight for a fair and balanced budget for our children, families, and workers, ensure that big corporations pay their fair share, and that budget cuts do not gut essential programs that serve our communities, especially children. We were proud to come together and show that we can balance the budget without disastrous cuts to the programs that support our children and families. Both rallies served as a call to action for our coalition to defend our vision of a secure California where every family can afford to thrive.

Following the rally, a hearing of the California Assembly’s Select Committee on Poverty and Economic Inclusion was being held in the State Capitol. Shoutouts and thank yous to all of the panelists:

1. Devon Gray from EPIC, who provided an overview on the state of poverty in California and weaved in stories heard directly from community during a statewide listening tour.
2. Kayla Kitson from the California Budget & Policy Center focused on the inequity of our current tax system and the opportunity California has to equitably raise revenues that will support ending poverty and wealth inequality.
3. Keely O’Brien from the Western Center on Law and Poverty highlighted anti-poverty interventions including SSI/SSP, cash assistance including guaranteed income, full pass through of child support.
4. Pricila Cenobio from the Dolores Huerta Foundation shared the impact of CalWORKs and WIC on farmworker families like her own and emphasized the conditions that farmworkers face each day.
5. Andree Petron, Santa Clara County Social Worker Supervisor and SEIU 521 member, spoke about the impact that the safety net has on alleviating poverty and mitigating abuse, neglect, and other emergencies for our children.
6. Kellie Longo Flores from the California Association of Food Banks talked about hunger and the proven stabilizing and stimulating impact of CalFresh on families, business, and the economy.

And our own Yesenia Jimenez emphasized the significance of human dignity as the foundation to liberation and highlighted two key opportunities California has to undertake economic inclusion and dignity in establishing unemployment benefits for undocumented workers (Safety Net for All) and ensuring that undocumented students have equal access to jobs and opportunities on campus.

The Select Committee hearing was a powerful testimonial on the value of the social safety net and the ways California can better support its communities. Thank yous also go out to Select Committee Chair Isaac Bryan and his team for their preparation of the event as well as to Assemblymembers Gomez Reyes, Juan Carrillo, Kalra, and Jones-Sawyer for their participation during the day.

On Wednesday, May 15th, End Child Poverty California and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California will be co-hosting the 2024 IMAGINE Rally at the State Capitol. We are gathering to stop the CalWORKs double cut, fulfill child care rate reform and slots, ensure foster youth are stable and secure, protect the workers who provide vital public services!

The day will start with hearing from our community leaders in action, from the Dolores Huerta Foundation, Project SPARC, California Youth Connection, Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), Hayward Promise, Lideres Campesinas, and SEIU CA along with Assemblymembers Corey Jackson & Issac Bryan. Attendees will also have the opportunity to have advocacy visits with legislative leaders and their staff!

California needs a fair budget now, and the best way to get there is to protect those who need it most. Latine and Black families disproportionally experience poverty in California. Thirteen percent of California children are experiencing poverty and 76 % of California families are experiencing poverty with at least one working adult. We can IMAGINE a future where all our children are nourished, respected, secure, valued and free.

Please register here to attend and we will see you soon!

On April 16th, the California Budget & Policy Center hosted their annual “Policy Insights” conference. From philanthropy to grassroots community-based organizations, stakeholders from across the state came together to brainstorm pathways towards inclusive policies that ensure access to food, shelter, and a stronger safety net to fall back on. California is the fourth largest economy in the world — instead balancing the budget on the backs of Black, Brown, Indigenous, AAPI, and immigrant communities, the state has the wealth and opportunity to lift millions of children and families out of poverty.

GRACE/End Child Poverty in California’s own Yesenia Jimenez spoke on the Baby Bonds panel about the state’s devastating racial wealth gap and stressed the need to invest in HOPE Accounts and the HOPE Act. “The program is designed for future expansion to ensure all infants born into poverty in California can access and participate in the state’s economy. The HOPE Act intends to create opportunity, economic autonomy, and inspire hope to reverse our state’s record level of inequality.” Amanda Feinstein, Director of the California Child Savings Account Coalition, also spoke on the panel and identified early wealth building investments such as Child Savings Accounts, Child Development Accounts, child trust funds as well as Baby Bonds and HOPE Accounts. The success of such investments, Feinstein shared, is based on targeted, funded and meaningful sums and long-term educational and economic success.

Powerful discussion on reparations from California Black Power Network Executive Director and co-founder James Woodson, (bio) Felicia Jones, and (bio) Don Tamaki, moderated by John Kim acknowledged the wealth stripped away from Black, Indigenous and other communities of color. Woodson states, “we still have slavery in the California Constitution. From a moral and practical standpoint, reparations requires a multiracial alliance to support Black led power building and liberation.” Additionally, Assemblymember Issac Bryan stressed that the California Budget can create a pathway to reparations by reinvesting money previous used to harm communities of color.

The California Budget Center’s Policy Insights Conference fostered collaboration, action and multiracial solidarity building to generating state revenues and provided valuable insight on how we can create systemic policy pathways and further empower our communities. We are encouraged that when faced with challenging budget decisions ahead, equitable policies that empower and support all Californians are possible.

The End Child Poverty CA Coalition urges the Legislature to reject cuts that harm California’s most vulnerable communities. Instead, we urge leaders to support revenues and investments that will lift all children and families out of poverty.

Our 170+ End Child Poverty CA partners and allies are stronger than ever in 2024! We IMAGINE a future where all our children are nourished, respected, secure, valued & FREE. 

California is blessed with abundance. We can use our wealth to back up our values and end child poverty. We reject cuts to programs that support our families. We’re here to move #ForwardTogether #NoGoingBack.

Download the ECPCA IMAGINE 2024 Policy Priorities One-Pager for Legislative Visits.

Safety Net – We are secure

• ReImagine CalWORKs to be family-centered, anti-racist, and provide real pathways out of poverty (Budget)
• End poverty in CalWORKs & SSI/SSP (Budget)
• Child support: full pass-through for current CalWORKs families, and end collection of child support debt (Budget)
• Foster youth: maintain robust investments that support the critical needs of foster youth (Budget)

Child Care – We are respected

• Remove the “pause” and meet the Governor’s promise of 200,000 child care slots by 2026-27
• Fully implement a single-rate structure to pay providers the true cost of child care (AB 596 Asm. Reyes; AB 596, Sen. Limon; AB 380, Budget)
• CA Budget: Support Equitable Access to All ECE options that meet families’ needs

Hunger – We are nourished

• Provide Food 4 All Californians (SB 245 Sen. Hurtado; AB 311, Asm. Santiago)
• End summer hunger for children and families (Budget)
• CalFresh: Statewide minimum $50 benefit (Sen. Menjivar, Budget)

Strong Communities & Tax Credits – We are valued

• Create a Safety Net For All: wage replacement for undocumented workers (Asm. Durazo; SB 227, Budget)
• Ensure and strengthen continuous coverage for children and families enrolled in Medi-Cal (Asm. Boerner; Budget)
• Period equity now (Sen. Menjivar; SB 953)
• Diaper need: fulfill unmet need (Asm. Ortega)

Keeping Families Whole – We are free

• Bolster It Takes A Village place-based anti-poverty networks (Asm. Bonta & Asm. Jackson; Budget)
• Maintain $20M in VITA free tax preparation assistance (Budget)
• Plan for permanent statewide Guaranteed Income (Asm. Friedman)

To me wealth means being able to take care of your family and culture for generations.

Kola, Oakland Community Member & Small Business Owner

February 22, 2024 – Oakland was filled with energy, community and all things Baby Bonds during our forum “Baby Bonds in Action: From California to the Nation’s Capital” in partnership with End Poverty in California (EPIC) on February 22, 2024. Check out our livestream!

Baby Bonds are a financial investment made when a child is born. They are available for that child to use for wealth-building tools as an adult. We know that Baby Bonds are a policy solution that helps level the playing field and bridge the racial wealth gap.

In California, we are creating the nation’s largest Baby Bonds program through a racial equity framework, allowing funds to be used for any wealth-building activity someone chooses for themselves.

As community member Jala Abner stated, “we continuously emphasize the need for financial literacy amongst the recipients of Baby Bonds…but what can we do to reduce the statistical or institutional discrimination that takes place within financial institutions?” We must name systemic racism & the gaping racial wealth gap to end poverty.

Panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and spoken word (check out Gia McLean’s poem below!) filled the day with joy, collaboration, and inspiration. Thank you to our wonderful lineup from John Burton Advocates for Youth, Liberation in a Generation, Parent Voices CA, the University of Michigan, The New School, The JPMorgan Chase Policy Center, the offices of the California, Washington, and Connecticut State Treasurer, End Poverty in California (EPIC), and GRACE/End Child Poverty California (ECPCA). Thank you to Senator Nancy Skinner, Mayor Michael Tubbs  and Governor Newsom’s office for the words of support.

We had the great fortune and pleasure of hearing from youth leaders during our “Investing in Our Future: Youth Voices on Baby Bonds” panel. Youth leader Amaris Gilbert said, “It’s exhausting trying to talk over people who are trying to speak for you.” Gilbert and her peers deserve the chance to build their financial future, regardless of their family’s economic security.

The data are clear about the power of Baby Bonds to close the racial wealth gap. We will continue to reach out to impacted families for enrollment  in California’s program, and advocate for implementation of Baby Bonds. Thank you to all who joined us for a powerful day of action and community.

Big thanks to all of our wonderful speakers and moderators!

• Jenessa Smith, Youth Leader
• Marta Rivas, Youth Leader
• Alysia Olivo, Youth Leader
• Amaris Gilbert, Youth Leader
• Cory Van Felden, John Burton Advocates for Youth
• Senator Nancy Skinner
• Gia Mclean, Parent Voices CA
• Jose Cordon, Poet Laureate of Antioch
• Dr. Darrick Hamilton, The New School
• Dr. William Elliot, University of Michigan
• David Radcliffe, The New School
• Solana Rice, Liberation in a Generation
• Devon Gray, End Poverty in California
• Alexandra Cawthorne Gaines, JPMorgan Chase Policy Center
• Jesse Johnson, Office of Washington State Treasurer 
• Andréa Comer, Office of Connecticut State Treasurer
• Kasey O’Connor, Office of California State Treasurer
• Elena Chavez Quezada, Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom
• Mayor Michael Tubbs, End Poverty in California
• Shimica Gaskins, GRACE & End Child Poverty California

Poem by Gia McLean, Parent Voices CA

The coldness of winter leaves, ideas of warmth, well-being, family, and public policies
The balance of grappling emotions
The stillness of our homes
The laundry basket with 15 pair of jeansBonds of our families, health, and well-being abuelitaI
Stretched the love in my bones to modern jazz
February 2024
The coldness of winter leaves opportunities to end poverty in California
Nurturance of bonds, community connections, and diversity within families

The kids quickly run inside
No daunting task of chores, the liberty to create, love, learn
The balance of well-being, plenty, health to our bodies, and alleviating droughts of meditation
Legislative account of prosperity
Public policies that unfold stories of inclusivity, fades
The sunrise of our children brings warmth
The clarity of Beautiful bonesBlack hair, and hazel eyes
Art, education, laughter, diversityMy kids, and families post pandemic.

GRACE & End Child Poverty California Applaud Governor Newsom’s May Revise Budget that Protects and Makes Critical Anti-Poverty Investments

Statement attributable to Shimica Gaskins, President & CEO, GRACE & End Child Poverty California

Today, Governor Newsom released his revised 2023-24 Proposed Budget Summary.

GRACE dares to dream of a future in which every child is valued and free, and the Governor’s May Revision makes important investments and protects critical progress to ensure we continue to make that vision a reality.

We applaud Governor Newsom and his Administration for establishing those priorities while closing a substantially larger budget problem than anticipated in January, given the ongoing uncertainty regarding the final budget condition.

In particular, the May Revise adopts many community-informed End Child Poverty CA IMAGINE priorities, including: 

• $300 million to reinforce and prioritize California’s historic Universal School Meals program.
• $23.5 million to ensure timely implementation of the federal Summer EBT program in summer 2024. This is vital to make use of hundreds of millions available in federal food assistance dollars, and ensure eligible children receive this powerful, nourishing benefit.
• Acceleration of Food 4 All to October 2025 for any Californian aged 55 or older, regardless of immigration status. This is a life-saving change that speeds up implementation by over a year, from the original January 2027.
• $42.9 million to keep California at the forefront of restoring stolen CalFresh benefits and protecting EBT cardholders from devastating theft targeted at them by sophisticated criminal networks.
• $200 million to continue waiving outdated, racist child care family fees through September 30, 2023, and stipends to support child care providers.
• A larger CalWORKs grant increase and sustained support to restore SSI grants.
• Prevention of delays to student housing investments. 
• Protection of progress made in a significant number of anti-poverty safety net refundable tax credits and other programs, with–importantly–no new trigger cuts.
• Leverage of some new revenues, such as $2.5 billion from accelerating the federal MCO tax.

The May Revise proposes a withdrawal of $450 million from the Safety Net Reserve. CalWORks and Medi-Cal investments should instead come from other funds: the purpose of the Safety Net Reserve is for spikes in enrollment, which we do not currently have but may still occur, especially given the projection for a potential recession. 

California also still has the highest poverty rate of any state in the nation. Policymakers must continue to take decisive action.

The good news is that the state and federal government have unequivocally shown that poverty is a policy choice, and the budget is the premier opportunity to advance a poverty-free future. 

We urge the Governor, Administration, and Legislature to embrace a comprehensive approach to the budget, as proposed in the Senate Budget Plan. This plan would move California forward together toward a more equitable future. We especially uplift this plan’s smart and effective combination of both revenues to ensure that wealthy corporations pay their fair share, and new investments in programs proven to lift children and families out of poverty and reverse long-standing racial inequities.

We again thank Governor Newsom for his continued leadership to put wealth to work and ensure that the values of California’s budget, both revenues and investments, prioritize a future free from poverty we know is possible.

Our coalition of over 170 groups of partners and allies looks forward to engaging with all stakeholders as the budget process continues.

click here to view our IMAGINE priorities.