Courage — It Looks Good On You!

Latinas Have the Power to Shape California’s Electoral and Legislative Future

For our Season 2 finale of Courage — It Looks Good on You!, we’re looking ahead to 2024! Specifically the 2024 primary election, taking place in California in March, and how one of California’s most important voting-blocks, Latinas, can shape the future. According to a UCLA study [https://latino.ucla.edu/research/voter-turnout-gaps-2020/], “turnout gaps between Latinos—one of the fastest-growing demographic groups— will lead to election results that are increasingly unrepresentative of the wishes of many voters… [however] research has shown that having sustained and direct face-to-face voter engagement with Latino voters is imperative to get them to the polls.”  Senior Policy Adviser for Communities for a New California Action Fund (CNC Action Fund), Melissa Vargas, joins Angela Chavez, communications director at Courage California, to discuss the different ways CNC is engaging Latino communities in the Central Valley and why tapping into the power of Latina leadership is, and will continue to be, critical in our state’s elections and progress.  * CNC Publication, EARN THE LATINA VOTE: https://issuu.com/news_review/docs/cncfund-092922-rgb-hires [https://issuu.com/news_review/docs/cncfund-092922-rgb-hires]  * https://latino.ucla.edu/research/voter-turnout-gaps-2020/ [https://latino.ucla.edu/research/voter-turnout-gaps-2020/]  With You, fashioned in Courage, We Can create a California that represents and serves us all. Connect with us: @CourageCA [https://www.instagram.com/courageca/] #CourageLooksGoodOnYou Support: couragecalifornia.org/donate [https://couragecalifornia.org/donate/]

2023 California Legislative Recap: the Winners, Losers, and Opportunities

The 2022-23 California legislative session may have come to an end, and in our guest’s opinion, was an “epic fail” – but the people still have opportunities to impact change in our communities, by urging Gov. Newsom to sign key legislation and voting for transformative ballot measures in the upcoming 2024 election.  Jay Hockley Sr., a community organizer at Initiate Justice, joins Irene Kao, Executive Director of Courage California, to discuss the fate of important 2023 public safety bills he advocated for, the opportunities Californians still have to push some key policies forward, and his thoughts on the future of criminal justice and public safety in our state, and at the local level. View Courage California's updated 2023 Priority Bill list here: https://couragecalifornia.org/2023-priority-legislation/ [https://couragecalifornia.org/2023-priority-legislation/]  With You, fashioned in Courage, We Can create a California that represents and serves us all. Connect with us: @CourageCA [https://www.instagram.com/courageca/] #CourageLooksGoodOnYou Support: couragecalifornia.org/donate [https://couragecalifornia.org/donate/]

The Laws on the Books are not the Laws on the Fields: A Case for National Heat Regulations

The UFW has been instrumental in passing laws, securing protections for farm workers, and advocating  for immigration reform, but there is still much work to be done, and fast, due to the severity of the climate crisis. Year after year, increased temperatures and natural disasters have proven fatal for farm workers – even in California, where we have some of the strictest labor laws. So why are advocates pushing for a national response, especially if California’s laws would remain stronger? The Director of Strategic Campaigns for United Farm Workers, Elizabeth Strater, joins Angela Chavez, communications director at Courage California, to discuss their campaign urging Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly known as OSHA, to implement National Emergency Heat Regulations.  With You, fashioned in Courage, We Can create a California that represents and serves us all. Connect with us: @CourageCA [https://www.instagram.com/courageca/] #CourageLooksGoodOnYou Support: couragecalifornia.org/donate [https://couragecalifornia.org/donate/]

School District Fights Back Against the Right’s Attacks on the LGBTQ+ Community

School districts nationwide, including here in California, have been up against right-wing activists who have been pushing back against the LGBTQ+ community in education. While this is nothing new, in recent years there has been an uptick in activists pushing misinformation, strategically electing right-wing leaders to school boards, and passing discriminatory policies in our schools.   San Bernardino City Unified School District board member, Abigail Medina, joins Angela Chavez, communications director at Courage California, to discuss how the growing right-wing attacks against LGBTQ+ have taken shape in her community and the work being done in San Bernardino to counter the attacks, protect their students, and provide safe spaces for all.  With You, fashioned in Courage, We Can create a California that represents and serves us all. Connect with us: @CourageCA [https://www.instagram.com/courageca/] #CourageLooksGoodOnYou Support: couragecalifornia.org/donate [https://couragecalifornia.org/donate/]

The Multi-Issue Report Card Californians Can Use to Hold Their Representatives Accountable – Year Round

As the 2022-23 California Legislative calendar year comes to an end, voters will soon be bombarded with campaign ads and candidates making impressive claims and promises about themselves, and damning claims about their opponents, all in an attempt to win your 2024 vote.   But thanks to Courage Score [https://couragescore.org/], Californians can tune-out the campaign noise (and misinformation) and see the receipts firsthand.   Irene Kao, executive director of Courage California joins Angela Chavez, to discuss all things Courage Score: what it is, how voters can use it, and the impact it has made in Sacramento since 2014, by simply laying out the facts – voting records and campaign contributions – and helping California voters hold their representatives accountable, year round.   Find your representative, here: https://couragescore.org/  With You, fashioned in Courage, We Can create a California that represents and serves us all. Connect with us: @CourageCA [https://www.instagram.com/courageca/] #CourageLooksGoodOnYou Support: couragecalifornia.org/donate [https://couragecalifornia.org/donate/]