California Work & Family Coalition -November Newsletter 2023
Coalition Members Came to Oakland to Celebrate, Evaluate, and Plan
The Coalition held our Annual Statewide Meeting on November 2nd in Oakland. Members and partners joined from across the state to connect with each other, evaluate our 2023 work, celebrate our wins, and plan the year ahead. This year, we were thrilled to have Family Values at Work Executive Director Josephine Kalipeni and States Organizer Jaida Jenkins-Curtis join us to speak and learn more about California Coalition work. It was a very hands-on meeting with time on the agenda to complete our strategic plan and weigh in on policy priorities for 2024.
Long-time Coalition member Sarah Diaz, California WIC Association, said, “I always come away from attending CAWFC’s Annual Statewide Meeting feeling energized by all the inspirational partners who come together to generously share their unique notes of wisdom and experience. The meeting is a safe atmosphere that propels everyone toward collective progress, but also allows for rest and care.”
And newer member Jasmine Pettis Marquez, Executive Director of the California Breastfeeding Coalition, said “I had a great time at the California Work & Family Coalition Annual Statewide Meeting. It was really inspiring to be surrounded by so many representatives from coalitions and organizations from across California - all passionate about paid family leave expansion and access!”
We are so energized to continue our work together, stay tuned for our plans for 2024!
The California Work & Family Coalition joins CareFest!
Jenya Cassidy and Jarod Caceres attended day two of CareFest hosted by Caring Across Generations in early November along with many Coalition members including Donna Benton (pictured here). CareFest brought together caregivers, care recipients, and care advocates to discuss the future of care in the United States. We had an amazing time reuniting with our Paid Leave partners from across the country and connecting to new allies who value care.
Jenya highlighted the Coalition's work on Paid Leave at the “California Cares” workshop. The workshop featured speakers from UDW Homecare Providers Union, SEIU Local 2015, the Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California, and the Black Californians United for Early Care and Education.
Malcolm Harris (Caring Across Generations), Keisha Nzwei (BlackECE), Jenya Cassidy (CAWFC), Doug Moore (UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME Local 3930), Aquilina Soriano (Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California), Arnulfo De La Cruz (SEIU Local 2015)
New Webinar - Implementation Matters: How to Achieve Equity in Paid Leave
Natasha Castro, California Work & Family Coalition staff, will be joining Blue Shield Foundation of California for their webinar on equitable implementation of Paid Family Leave on Thursday, December 7th at 11 am (PST). Paid leave programs across the country are falling short on ensuring access for communities of color, immigrant communities, and workers with low incomes.
This webinar will lay out the value of robust implementation planning, and how state agencies, advocates, and researchers can work together to improve paid leave systems for workers and communities. Register here
Join Us for a Screening of Misty Copeland’s film, “Flower” in Oakland
Bay Area: Join Coalition partners Caring Across Generations and co-sponsors for a screening of the Misty Copeland film, “Flower,” on Wednesday, December 13th at 6:30 pm at 7200 Bancroft Ave Suite #209 in East Oakland. There will be a post-screening discussion with Misty Copeland and film producer, Lela Fayyaz and co-sponsors including Coalition Director, Jenya Cassidy.
The short film, Flower, highlights intergenerational issues of caregiving and the Bay Area housing crisis. Event co-sponsors include: Seniors Disability Action; Black Californians United for Early Care and Education, Urban Jazz Dance Company; Center for Artesteem and Brotherhood of Elders as well as the California Work & Family Coalition.
Coalition Members and Issues in the News
Dads Drive Growth in California’s Paid Family Leave Program
By Phillip Reese - Story in California Healthline on the impact of California dads taking bonding leave
Young People In California Are Working A Lot. But Many Are Struggling To Make Ends Meet
By Libby Rainey - A new report from the UCLA Labor Center highlights the working conditions of California’s young workers. We look forward to working with young workers in LA on paid leave trainings in 2024.
Organizations Working on Narrative Change Projects in the Care Economy*
By Asset Funders Network - With support from the Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund, Asset Funders Network, Disability & Philanthropy Forum, Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, Economic Opportunity Funders, Grantmakers In Aging, and Grantmakers In Health joined together to develop a national landscape analysis of narrative change and strategic communications efforts across the care economy.
Support the Coalition!
To support our on-going work on paid leave and workplace support for parents and caregivers, please donate today.
