photo of SPI alum Clarissa Doutherd from the documentary Clarissa’s Battle from CB Smith-Dahl
Solstice comes from the Latin for “sun stand still,” because the sun will reach its highest point at noon on that day and appear not to move for a period of time. Our community of Solís Policy Institute alums never stand still.
To mark the longest day of the year, we’ve pulled together an incomplete list of the success, life changes, and big moments across this remarkable network of dedicated advocates from just the last six months.
CELEBRATIONS
- Clarissa Doutherd’s documentary premiered at the Human Rights Watch Festival. Clarissa’s Battle chronicles her efforts over the last 7 years, highlighting her work at Parent Voices Oakland with Measures A and C, and countless other policy campaigns that led to an electoral victory that will mean $3 BILLION in child care wages and services for families (and which has paved the way for PVO to continue winning $14M in Head Start funding). Watch the trailer here.
- Eunisses Hernandez was endorsed by the LA Times in her run for City Council District 1 and ultimately WON her race!
- Lauren Babb received the California Black Women’s Collective Trailblazer Hall of Fame GenNow Award 2022.
- Marlene Sanchez is the new Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
- Lupe Rodriguez (NLIRJ) and Flor Hunt (TEACH) were accepted to Rockwood for the Art of Leadership Training.
- Aria Sa’id was named a Leading Edge Fellow by the Rosenberg Foundation.
- Swati Sharma appointed as the Executive Officer for California’s Environmental Safety Board.
- Tracy Weitz is now a Professor of Sociology at American University in Washington, DC:
- Fabiola (Fabi) Lao was awarded the 2022 Sustainability Champion Award (Resident category) by the City of Chula Vista.
- Vanessa Teran is the new Director of Policy at Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project.
- Jessie Ryan received her first Gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Intersegmental Transfer Oversight Committee.
- Paulina Gonzalez-Brito threw her hat in the ring and is running for Oakland City Council District 6.
- Nomsa Khalfani was appointed to the Los Angeles City Health Commission representing CD 8 and selected to the County of Los Angeles Community Prevention and Population Health Task Force plus co-chair.
- Guadalupe Montano was appointed President of the Los Angeles Committee on Human Rights Relations.
PUBLICATIONS
- San Francisco Magazine June’s issue features The Power List with Aria Sa’id.
- Aria’s Story of Belong for Pride Month. And Aria is featured in this KQED article on San Francisco Transgender District’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator.
- Flor Hunt on what it means for California to become sanctuary state for sbortion access in Salon.
- Avalon Edwards had this opinion piece (highlighting Riverside County’s Sheriff’s Department activities) published in the Press-Enterprise.
- The Inland Empire Community Foundation monthly spotlight featured Starting Over, Inc., founded by Vonya Quarles.
- Zahar Pirzada was featured in the PBS NewsHour, Brief but Spectacular:
- Abbi Coursolle discusses the importance of affirming care and the difficulties LGBTQ+ youth face in accessing it in this article from Verywell Mind,
- Strela Cervas is featured in this piece on putting feminism into practice.
TRANSITIONS
- Laura Segura’s obituary – a tribute to a Local Justice Warrior.