LOS ANGELES – September 6, 2019 – In preparation of the landmark Get out the Count census effort in Los Angeles County, the California Community Foundation (CCF) awarded $7 million in grants to local nonprofits for education and outreach efforts across the region. Earlier this year, CCF was named the region’s Administrative Community Based Organization (ACBO) by the State of California. This designates CCF as responsible for leading and coordinating education and outreach in Los Angeles County – which is ranked the hardest to count region in the nation. In addition to resources from the state for this role, philanthropic leaders have stepped in to contribute to a pooled fund supporting community-based outreach efforts for the 2020 Census. Key funding partners of the pooled fund include the Weingart Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Ballmer Group, the California Endowment, Smidt Foundation, Mindy and Gene Stein, Libra Foundation and the City of Los Angeles. Grantees will receive funding ranging from grants of $35,000 to $500,000 to support community education, digital media outreach, direct outreach, coalition building, assistance centers and technical assistance. “Census data drives federal funding in Los Angeles County for services and programs that are critical to the health and well-being of our communities, particularly our most vulnerable populations. Accurate data also impacts our political representation in Congress,” said Antonia Hernández, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation. “There is simply too much to gain – too much at stake – to not do all we can to ensure everyone is counted.” Nearly half of L.A. County residents meet the hard-to-count criteria, including racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, mixed-status families, young children and the homeless. For the first time, the census will be principally administered online, creating major concerns around privacy and digital literacy. Controversy around the citizenship question, though no longer on the census questionnaire, leaves many immigrant communities suspicious of how their information will be used. Compounding these issues is anticipation that bad actors will emerge to suppress participation. The cohort of community groups awarded reflect the county’s incredible diversity and breadth of engagement required to Get Out the Count. Their work, understanding and credibility among diverse populations will be crucial to count all of Los Angeles. CCF will continue to work with community and government partners to ensure that no Angeleno goes uncounted. A second request for proposals will open on September 9th, which will fund additional community-based outreach and education activities across the region. CONTACT Roshin Mathew [cryptx]rmathew@www.calfund.org[/cryptx] (213) 452-6229 ### See below for full list of grantees. We Count L.A Grantees: A New Way of Life Reentry Project (ANWOL) Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice Community Partners fbo California Native Vote Project Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas en Norte America Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA) Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates of Southern California NALEO Educational Fund Pars Equality Center, Los Angeles Pomona Economic Opportunity Center Salvadoran American Leadership & Educational Fund (SALEF) Social Justice Learning Institute Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative Families In Schools Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles Black Women for Wellness Central City Neighborhood Partners Centro CHA Inc. Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC) Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition Los Angeles Black Worker Center (LABWC) Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California Proyecto Pastoral South Asian Network (SAN) Special Service for Groups, Inc. / API Forward Movement Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) International Rescue Committee Filipino Migrant Center Long Beach Forward, A project of Community Partners Asian Youth Center Building Skills Partnership Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) Equality California Institute Pukuu Cultural Community Services InnerCity Struggle California Black Women’s Health Project AltaMed Health Services Corp Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization (ICO) Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Children’s Institute, Inc. Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE) LA Voice YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Community Development Technologies Center (CDTech) ACCE LA Human Services Association California Calls LA Partnership
By Cora Jackson-Fossett, Los Angeles Sentinel
In Los Angeles and around the world, CCF and our donors are making an impact. Discover how we’re partnering to transform lives and futures in South L.A., protect vital services by ensuring an accurate census count and much more in our Fall 2019 newsletter.
Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
Hispanos Press
LOS ANGELES – May 17, 2019 – For years the federal government has allowed “mixed-status” families that include members who are eligible and others who are ineligible for housing assistance based on their immigration status to live together in subsidized housing. The subsidy for such households is prorated to exclude the ineligible family members from the assistance. In Los Angeles approximately one third of the city’s 21,000 public housing residents would be affected by this, including 7,500 children, most of whom are citizens. Last week HUD issued proposed regulations that would require mixed status families to leave assisted housing or ask the ineligible family member to leave. The proposal presents a serious threat to families participating in the County’s subsidized housing programs. The implementation of this rule will absolutely lead to the homelessness of individuals and families who are currently members of mixed-status households. Antonia Hernández, President and CEO of the California Community Foundation issued the following statement: “This proposed rule is cruel and does nothing to alleviate the affordable housing crisis. The administration’s proposal would tear apart vulnerable families and force thousands of citizens and eligible immigrants to consider a heart-wrenching choice: keep their home or separate their family. What is a home without a family? Where is our moral compass? Our region is already struggling to combat our housing crisis and the unrelenting attacks on our immigrant families – be it housing, healthcare or education. We know how critical a stable home is to a young person’s future. And it should go without saying that these children and their families will drive the future of Los Angeles County. We stand united to continue supporting immigrant efforts during these challenging times. While this proposed rule would be a setback, we will continue to support our community partners and leaders in their committed efforts to achieve a just and practical immigration system that upholds the dignity of all communities and families.” Learn more about HUD’s proposed rule and what you can do to at keep-families-together.org
By Jacqueline García, La Opinión
Cal State Los Angeles newsroom
By Mildred Europa Taylor, Face 2 Face Africa
The latest funding cycle heavily prioritizes educational retention, helping low-income college students navigate the unexpected non-tuition emergencies that threaten graduation.
Council on Foundation’s newsroom