Californians For Justice Education Fund Inc

Key Issues and Advocacy Focus CFJ remained dedicated to defending equitable, accessible, inclusive, and high-quality public education, particularly for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. Our work in 2024 actively addressed several critical issues affecting youth in California schools:- Disproportionate Harm to Youth of Color: Black and Brown youth continue to face a system that fails to meet their needs, creating barriers to academic and personal growth.- Lack of Diverse Teachers: Despite 78% of California students being students of color, only 35% of teachers identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), impacting education quality and student engagement.- Police Presence in Schools: The increasing presence of police is seen as contributing to a culture of criminalization rather than support, especially for students of color, exacerbating the school-to-prison pipeline.- Lack of Youth Voice: The voices of youth, especially from marginalized communities, are often excluded from crucial conversations impacting their education and future.- School Closures: Due to the pandemic, divestments, legal decisions, and economic shifts, there was an increase in public school closures, disproportionately affecting communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.- Youth Mental Health Crisis: Schools need to provide more support and resources to help youth navigate mental health challenges.- Need for Equitable Resources and Transformative Education: There is a call for an education that prepares youth for life, leadership, and change, alongside access to proper materials, resources, and staff support.

Youth Engagement and Impact Metrics CFJ's vision is centered on empowering youth voice and elevating youth power. In 2024, we demonstrated this commitment through various programs and achievements:- Youth Priorities Survey: After surveying 417 students across the state, CFJ youth members identified key priorities for their educational experience. The majority of youth agreed that youth voice is critical to: Budgets (77%), Curriculum (73%), School Policies (77%), School Climate (81%), and School Board Elections (72%).- Broad Youth Engagement: 300 studentscomprising active leaders, interns, and core memberswere engaged in CFJs organizing and advocacy efforts across its four regions: Oakland, San Jose, Fresno, and Long Beach.- Leadership Skill Growth: Over 90% of students reported that their leadership, organizing, and advocacy skills grew as a result of their participation in CFJs leadership programs.- Program Participation: 150 students participated in the Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA) and the statewide Student Leadership Retreat (SLR). - SYLA 2024: 40% of participants were first-time attendees, while 40% were returning participants. Feedback from SYLA 2024 participants was generally positive, with reported growth in leadership skills, political knowledge, and confidence. Topics like Palestine, anti-blackness, and capitalism were appreciated. Some areas for improvement included the application process, paperwork, and session organization. - SLR 2024: 34% of participants were new, and 66% were returning.- Oakland Youth Vote Win: In 2024, CFJ, in coalition with community partners, celebrated a historic victory where Oakland youth gained the ability to vote in their school board elections. This achievement was the result of years of coalition work following the passage of Measure QQ in 2020.- Legislative Advocacy in Capitol: CFJ began rebuilding its practice of youth power building at the State Capitol in 2024. - Six youth leaders represented CFJ at their first Youth Power Capitol Day, establishing 14 legislative connections. - These youth leaders presented and advocated for three bills, with two advancing to the next legislative stage and one being signed into law. - The signed bill, SB483, prohibits the use of "prone restraint," a harmful physical restraint, in school settings, contributing to the transformation of schools into places of healing and opportunity.- Working to Amplify the Voices of Youth (WAVY): The WAVY program in Fall 2024 aimed to introduce new members to CFJ's work, deepen leadership skills for returning members, and provide opportunities for interns to practice outreach and facilitation. Key sessions included Community Organizing 101, Youth-Led Democracy, Solidarity, Intersectionality, Racial Justice, and understanding CFJ's leadership pathway.

Continued Commitment Looking ahead, CFJ remains committed to advancing public education as a cornerstone of a just society, grounded in student voice, racial equity, and multiracial solidarity. We plan to continue listening to students and partners, empowering staff, and building solidarity across California. Our areas of attention for 2025 include curriculum design to balance knowledge and skill-building, streamlining logistics, prioritizing Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color (BIYOC), and fostering stronger cross-regional community building.