Solís Policy Institute – State
The Dr. Beatriz María Solís Policy Institute (SPI) State is a policy advocacy and leadership training fellowship for advocates and activists who work in non-profit or grassroots organizations.
We accept applications from genderqueer and non-binary people, cisgender and transgender women, and transgender men, especially BIPOC folks, who want to build their skills, on behalf of their organizations, to influence public policymaking at the state level.
At its core, SPI-State affirms that the people closest to the problems and harm should be centered and shaping the solutions to address them. SPI-State seeks to diversify the policy arena by building the leadership of people impacted by gender-based oppression, violence, and discrimination. Each year the WFC chooses specific intersectional issue areas for SPI fellows to advance. Check out our past policy wins.
SPI-State Issue Areas:
The Women’s Foundation California’s Solís Policy Institute (SPI) focuses on shaping just policies that will positively impact the lives of non-binary and genderqueer people, cisgender and transgender women, and transgender men in California. This year, SPI-State aims to feature teams working to address racism, anti-Blackness, and cis-hetero-patriarchy through the following specific areas:
Tatiana Lewis
Organizer, Ella Baker Center
Katarina Sayally
Advocacy and Organizing Manager, Community Works West
Hope Williams
Director of Legislative Advocacy, Sustainable Economies Law Center
Shivani Nishar
Policy Associate, Initiate Justice
Rose Lavalley
Lead Policy Coach, Fresh Lifeliness For Youth (FLY)
Monica Madrid
State Policy Advocate, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
Ana Avilez
Promise City Program Associate, Mission Economic Development Agency
Cherry Javier
Manager of Community Engagement, Office of Transgender Initiatives, CCSF
Ruth Sosa Martinez
Policy Strategist, Power California
Aydee Palomino
Program Project Manager, Alianza Coachella Valley
Andrea Luna
Policy Analyst, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice
Esperanza Mendez
Communications Copywriter, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
Gabriella Brown
Maternal and Infant Health Program Manager, Black Women for Wellness
Yuli Smith
Co-Founder, Co-Executive Director, Around-Birth Collective, Inc.
Isatu M. Bokum
Founder & Executive Director, Girls Talk Organisation
Wendy Blanco
Director of Counseling Services, Peace Over Violence
Tineace Ferguson
Organizer, Starting Over Inc.
Amethyst Yates
Assistant Director (FREE Project), Starting Over Inc.