We’re thrilled to announce our 2013-14 class of the Women’s Policy Institute. This groundbreaking program brings women’s expertise to the legislative process while increasing the number of policies that address the needs of women and families. Women leaders who go through the program learn how to work with legislators on promising solutions to our state’s most pressing problems.
Over the past 10 years, the Women’s Policy Institute has transformed nearly 300 women into effective policy advocates and resulted in 20 legislative victories that strengthen California’s communities. In 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law three bills that Women’s Policy Institute fellows worked on, including the California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, which provides overtime pay to housekeepers, childcare providers, and caregivers. More than 90 percent of domestic workers in California are women.
This year is especially exciting because we’re launching three new teams: workforce development, safety net programs, and college and career access.
This year’s class of 25 community and nonprofit leaders are:
Maria-Elena Caprio, Shanti Project, San Francisco
Martha Cornejo, Centro La Familia Advocacy Services Inc., Fresno
Alysia Cox, Volunteer, LIFETIME, Alameda
Alison De Lucca, Southern California College Access Network, Los Angeles
Jenny Dominguez, River City Food Bank, Sacramento
Gemma Donofrio, California Association of Food Banks, Oakland
Lindsay Gervacio, Families in Good Health, Long Beach
Samantha Hodges, Sacramento Housing Alliance, Sacramento
Tanya Koshy, East Bay Community Law Center, Berkeley
Melodie Kruspodin, Peace Over Violence, Los Angeles
Nicole Marquez, Worksafe, Oakland
Ana Muniz, Youth Justice Coalition, Inglewood
La Tausha Nedd, LIFETIME, Oakland
Diane Ortiz, Hollister Youth Alliance, Hollister
Julia Parish, Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, San Francisco
Vanessa Perez, Time for Change Foundation, San Bernardino
Catalina Ruiz-Healy, GradGuru, San Francisco
Ramla Sahid, SAY San Diego, San Diego
Deborah Peterson Small, Break the Chains, Oakland
Naomi Soto, RAP Foundation, Palm Desert
Krysti Specht, JCYC Education Programs, San Francisco
Mariya Taher, W.O.M.A.N. Inc., San Francisco
Christine Trowbridge, Step to College, San Francisco State University,
San Francisco
Nicole Vick, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles
Diana Zuñiga, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, Inglewood
Every year, fellows represent the diversity of California, working in communities across the state and ranging in age from mid 20s to over sixty. They bring strong leadership skills and deep issue knowledge about health care, domestic violence, reproductive justice, criminal justice, economic opportunity, education—all issues that have an impact on the well-being of women and their families. Selected fellows will go through an intensive experiential yearlong training, getting the information, access, hands-on experience and mentorship they need to understand, create and change public policy. With guidance from policy experts, fellows will apply their new skills and knowledge to advancing a policy and legislative project of their choosing.
With support from Atlantic Philanthropies, the Women’s Policy Institute now has been replicated in five states: Wisconsin, Georgia, New Jersey, Illinois and Rhode Island.