As we celebrate 40 years and 40 bills, we’re highlighting Women’s Policy Institute alums and policy experts leading our communities and championing justice. #Alums4Alums
Serving twice, Kim Carter’s policy work focuses on formerly incarcerated and restorative justice. Check out her organization Time for Change Foundation.
Eunisses Hernandez is a two-time WPI alum & emcee for our LA 40th anniversary celebration! She’s a criminal justice advocate, a campaign coordinator for JustLeadershipUSA and a leader in JusticeLANow, the coalition that stopped LA County’s $3.5 billion jail plan.
Clarissa Doutherd is a mama on a mission! She’s served in the childcare group of the ‘16 cohort advocating for mothers impacted by ineffective public policy and worked to decrease the number of Oakland mothers sitting on wait lists for subsidies. Currently, Clarissa serves as the Executive Director of Parent Voices Oakland.
As ‘16 alum, Erin Garner-Ford served on the reproductive justice team. Using her experience changing local and state policies for abortion access in the Central Valley, she worked on policy change to expand abortion access across California. Erin is the Executive Director of ACT for Women and Girls.
Esperanza Fonseca is proving that advocating for worker’s rights goes way beyond wage. The ‘18 alum served on the economic justice team and has worked on advancing statewide campaigns to raise wages for restaurant workers and address sexual harassment in the restaurant industry. Esperanza is the Deputy Organizing Director @forrespect.
Alum of ‘16 cohort and #GenderJusticeChampion, Aria Sa’id served on the criminal justice team, working on policy changes that empower marginalized and disenfranchised communities in Oakland. Aria is the Executive Director of Compton’s Transgender Cultural District in San Francisco.
‘05 WPI alum Susan Burton’s work to support formerly incarcerated women has been recognized by governors and nationally in the media. Her organization, A New Way of Life Reentry Project, has helped thousands of women rebuild their lives after incarceration.
Advocating for social justice is a calling for WPI class of ‘04 alum Camila Chavez. As Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, she trains community members to become involved in the electoral process so they can advocate for change.
Class of ‘11 alum Katie Joaquin turned her experience of being raised in a family of domestic workers into a career supporting others. She was involved in the passing of the CA Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, extending overtime protections to thousands.
‘07 WPI alum Maria Lemus is committed to a healthy CA for all! Maria helps Promotoras and Community Health Workers build their capacity so they can advocate for healthy, dignified lives for Latinos who experience disproportionate rates of health issues. Maria is the Executive Director of Visión y Compromiso.
This #GivingTuesday your donations to the WPI Alum4Alum Advocacy Fund will support activists from all over the state to educate and lobby legislators on important bills that were ultimately signed by the Governor into law, like SB 464, the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act and AB 647, the Ensuring Right-to-Know and Better Safety for Women Workers Act.
This work doesn’t happen in a vacuum – your gift will support #Alums4Alums advocacy into the new decade.