Supporting Community Coalitions in California

As part of our Justice & Opportunity Initiative, which focuses on housing affordability, criminal justice reform, economic opportunity, and immigration, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is supporting to Schools and Communities First and The Million Voter Project. These grassroots coalitions of community-based organizations are working hard to create a more equitable future for Californians.

Schools and Communities First is gathering signatures to qualify the California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act this year for the 2020 general election, a measure that would restore funding to schools and local communities by closing a loophole that has resulted in certain commercial properties being undervalued.

The Million Voters Project is the engagement partner of Schools and Communities First, bringing together 9 statewide and regional community networks working to make the California electorate match the diversity of its population by registering and engaging new and infrequent voters. In the November 2018 elections, the Million Voters Project will organize to increase turnout to support reforms that advance  healthcare, criminal justice, immigration, and affordable housing.

We are proud to partner with these organizations to build on our ongoing support for advocacy efforts in our home state of California. These include our support for a coalition of community organizations and advocacy groups working together to develop regional solutions around housing affordability; TechEquity Collaborative, an organization that is working to mobilize tech workers to advocate for those most in need; and Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA), which advocates for policies that provide greater security and opportunity for vulnerable families, in addition to providing legal services and emergency rental assistance to help more people stay in their homes.

In 2016, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative also supported a number of successful local ballot initiatives across the San Francisco Bay Area aimed at providing increased funds for critical needs including education, affordable housing and transportation.  These included the education measures Prop A in San Francisco and Measure U in Redwood City, the affordable housing focused Measure A in Santa Clara, the BART modernization Measure RR in San Francisco, and Measure K in San Mateo, which provided support for both affordable housing and early childhood interventions.  

We look forward to continuing to support leaders, organizations, and local communities as they work to build a brighter future.