Author: Womens Foundation California
Making Change at the State Capitol
Last week we announced that 20 community based and nonprofit leaders have been selected as Class of 2015 Women’s Policy Institute fellows. Our CEO Surina Khan talks about the impact this program has had over the years and why it’s so crucial for women to become involved in the legislative process.
Women’s Foundation of California Names 20 Community Based Leaders as 2014-2015 Women’s Policy Institute Fellows
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 15, 2014 (PRNewswire-USNewswire)—The Women's Foundation of California announced today that 20 leading social justice advocates working within […]
Women Disproportionately Incarcerated for Petty Offenses
SAN FRANCISCO – A new analysis of California prison data underscores an emerging body of research nationally: Today in California […]
Prop 47 Supports Women and Families
Surina Khan, Huffington Post, October 3, 2014—If we can improve the lives of thousands of California's women and children, shouldn't […]
The Power of Diverse Leadership
Surina Khan, Stanford Social Innovation Review, September 24, 2014—Despite the fact that in the United States women are earning more […]
Diaper Shortages Leave Low-Income Kids Behind
Alysia Cox, our 2014 Women’s Policy Institute fellow, writes about the diaper shortage facing agencies throughout California and the legislation—AB 1516 (Gonzalez)—her team is working on this year to address the unmet diaper needs.
Marriage Is No Safe Haven from Abuse
Mariya Taher, our 2013-14 Women’s Policy Institute fellow, wrote an article for the SF Examiner about domestic violence and the bill her team is working on, AB 1579. In it, she debunks the myth that marriage protects women from abuse. Update: AB 1579 was signed into law on September 26, 2014.
Women’s Foundation of California Selects Surina Khan as Next CEO
SAN FRANCISCO, July 15, 2014 (PRNewswire-USNewswire)—Today, the Women's Foundation of California announced that Surina Khan, who has worked for the […]
2013-2014 Annual Report
We foster social change by listening to the women experts and by connecting them to each other, to other nonprofit […]
California’s Minimum Wage Increase Still Pays Poverty Wages
SAN FRANCISCO, July 1, 2014 (PRNewswire-USNewswire)—Today, California's minimum wage increases from $8/hour to $9/hour. But it's too soon to celebrate. […]
Time for California to Set a Fair Standard for Minimum Wage Pay
Judy Patrick, Huffington Post, June 24, 2014—I'm heartened to see national attention on the challenges facing working women and men. […]
$13 Minimum Wage: Good for California
In 2013-14 legislative year, the Women’s Foundation of California co-sponsored a bill to raise the minimum wage to $13 an hour—SB 935 (Mark Leno). Jane Pak writes about the importance of this bill. Update: Soon after this post was published, the bill died in Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment.
Act Now to Pull Families Out of Poverty
Sign our letter in support of SB 935 (Leno), a trailblazing bill that aims to gradually raise the minimum wage until it’s $13 per hour. Update: This bill died in the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment on June 26, 2014.
Women’s Policy Institute: We’re recruiting!
This is an exciting time for the Women’s Policy Institute. We’re both recruiting our 2014–15 class of fellows and looking to fill an important new leadership position, Senior Program Manager, Women’s Policy Institute.
A Wish for a Powerful Return
Karen Shain speaks to the graduates of the Solano County Women’s Re-Entry Achievement Program (WRAP). This program provides services for mothers and mothers-to-be who are recently released from jail or prison.
Viewpoints: Unfair welfare rule hurts California’s kids
Judy Patrick and Ted Lempert, The Sacramento Bee, June 3, 2014—California’s ability to thrive as the world’s ninth-largest economy depends […]
Bill passes to push California’s minimum wage to $13 an hour
Melodie Gutierrez, The San Francisco Chronicle, May 30, 2014—Calling last year's minimum wage hike a good first step, the California […]
Single Moms Take Note: California Considers Raising the Minimum Wage to $13
Dani McClain, The Nation, May 23, 2014—Significantly raising California’s minimum wage could save lives and and improve the health of […]
The Sad, the Bittersweet and the Good News from Sacramento
This week, our policymakers made important decisions about three key bills, pushing two along and stopping one groundbreaking bill in its tracks.
Report: A District-by-District Look at Poverty in California
On Tuesday, May 20, we held a legislative briefing at the state Capitol in Sacramento and unveiled an important set of data related to women’s poverty.
CA Legislative Women’s Caucus Sees Us!
Mary Ignatius from Parent Voices writes about the bold and fearless $625 million budget ask to reinvest in child care, which was put forth by the Democratic members of the Legislative Women’s Caucus (LWC).
Female Nonprofit Activists Learn to Influence Legislation First-Hand
Michelle Gienow, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 8, 2014—Since the Women’s Policy Institute was started 11 years ago, its nearly […]
Learn about AB 1579 (WPI Domestic Violence Team)
(left to right, top to bottom) Nicole Marquez, Worksafe; Mariya Taher, W.O.M.A.N., Inc.; Maria-Elena Caprio, Shanti Project; Julia Parish, Legal Aid […]
Learn about SB 899: Repealing the Maximum Family Grant Rule
(left to right) Mari Lopez, Visión y Compromiso; Sierra Harris, ACCESS Women’s Health Justice; Suely Ngouy (last year’s fellow with […]
Learn about our 2013-14 WPI Criminal Justice Team
(left to right) Vanessa Perez, Time for Change Foundation; Deborah Small, Break the Chains; Diana Zuniga, Californians United for a […]
Learn about AB 2102 (WPI Workforce Team)
(from left to right) Naomi Soto, Regional Access Project Foundation; Nicole Vick, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; Lindsay […]
Learn about AB 1516 (WPI Safety Net Policy Team)
(from left to right, top to bottom) Samantha Hodges, Sacramento Housing Alliance; Alysia Cox, LIFETIME; Gemma Donofrio, California Association of […]
Learn about SB 1425 (WPI College and Career Access Team)
(left to right) Diane Ortiz, Youth Alliance; Christine Trowbridge, Step to College; Alison De Lucca, Southern California College Access Network; Catalina […]
Report: Raising State’s Minimum Wage to $13 an Hour Saves Lives, Improves Public Health
San Francisco, May 15 (PR Newswire)—On Tuesday, May 20, The Women’s Foundation of California and Human Impact Partners will hold […]
Why Isn’t LA County Considering Alternatives to Jail Expansion ?
As LA County considers jail expansion, we wanted to call your attention to a couple recent articles.
Manuel Pastor and Gael Sylvia Pullen to Keynote Women’s Foundation of California Giving Circle Conference
LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2014 (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — The Women's Foundation of California announced today that Manuel Pastor, professor and founder […]
Paycheck to Paycheck: The American Dream Gone Awry
by Agnes Uboma, Executive Assistant As a womanist I try my best to support film, research, music and all […]
You Can Help Ensure Safety for Pregnant Survivors of Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Advocate: “W.O.M.A.N., Inc., how can I help you?” Caller: “I’m looking for low-income affordable housing programs,” she […]
Pass SB 1029: Stop punishing people who have completed their sentences
We have an opportunity to make two historic changes to the way we fund CalWORKs (welfare to work) recipients in California, and thereby begin to right some serious wrongs.
Nation article calls attention to the ineffectiveness of the Maximum Family Grant
We’re pleased to see Dani McClain’s article in the Nation about SB 899 (Mitchell), a bill that one of our […]
Top 5 quotes from the California Budget Project’s conference on public policy
In the photo: Sylvia Allegretto On March 6, 2014, we attended a thought-provoking conference put on by our friends at […]
Investing in shared prosperity for Californians: Our 2014 public policy agenda
“We need to raise the bar in the state of California. We need to invest in the future prosperity of […]
Podcast: Judy and Theresa explain our unique leadership transition
After six years of leading the Foundation, Judy Patrick is stepping out of her role as President and CEO and […]
Giving Circles: A Recipe for Collective Learning, Strategic Philanthropy and Fun!
With our upcoming Giving Circle Network Conference on the horizon, we sat down with Gretchen Sandler, incoming chair of the […]
New Report Calls For Full Compliance With Law That Protects Pregnant Prisoners
On January 1, 2013, a new law went into effect protecting California’s pregnant prisoners. As a result of that law, […]
February 2014 Update on Our Women’s Policy Institute Fellows
Our eleventh class of fellows finds themselves at a midpoint in their fellowship. They’ve already attended two four-day retreats and […]
Memorial Service for Jing Lyman on Monday, February 10, 2014
We invite you to attend the memorial service for Jing Lyman, which will be held in Stanford Memorial Church located […]
When Will Gov. Brown Wage a War on Poverty?
Judy Patrick, Huffington Post, January 17, 2014—California Gov. Jerry Brown announced his new budget last week, almost 50 years to […]
Exciting News About Our Strategic Direction and CEO Recruitment
We’re entering 2014 more confident than ever and that is in great part due to the news I’m excited to […]
Women’s Foundation of California Announces Search for Chief Executive Officer to Advance Women’s Economic Security in California
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 16, 2014 (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — The Women's Foundation of California announced today that it is launching a national […]
Learning, Leveraging and Giving for Higher Impact
This paper, “Learning, Leveraging and Giving for High Impact,” presents the first round of results from the Partnership for Women’s […]
Needed: More women in political and civic leadership
Judy Patrick, San Jose Mercury News, December 5, 2013—By unleashing women's political leadership at all levels, we can transform not […]
What Is Economic Security?
For some women, economic security means being able to buy a home, for others having enough money to send their […]
Economic Insecurity for All
The shocking truth about economic insecurity is that it will, at one point or another, affect most Americans. According to […]
Our Strategy in a Nutshell
We have a three-pronged approach to making economic security a reality for women and children in our state. To achieve […]
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