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In the press

Show your support for Catalyst California and spread our message on social media.

Accountability Systems

Babies and Toddlers

The Early Years are Critical to Setting a Strong Foundation

Babies are Rapidly Acquiring Language and Knowledge of the World Around Them

Supporting Babies to Thrive Gives Them Opportunities to Succeed and Build Resilience

Babies and Toddlers in LA County Report

Building California's Future: Tackling the Facilities Challenge for Our Youngest Learners

Uplifting the Assets of California's Dual Language Learners in the Early Years

Uplifting Family Voices: Family Engagement in California’s Rate Reform & Quality Initiative

The research is clear that the healthy growth, learning, and overall well-being of our babies and toddlers is directly connected to the well-being of their families and community. Supporting babies and toddlers to thrive means supporting families and communities to thrive. It is critical that the state intentionally centers whole child, whole family policies and resources for our babies’ and toddlers’ healthy development and growth.

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Bringing Up California

Built Environment

California Partnership for the Future of Learning

California Racial Equity Coalition

California Redistricting

Care First

Centering Equity for L.A. County’s Redistricting Cycle

Community Safety Solutions

Decrease the Role of Law Enforcement

Dena Rise Up

Dual Language Learners

ECE Facilities

Early Care & Education

Equitable Economic Investments

Equitable Funding

Equitable and Common Sense Charging Policies

Fair Redistricting

About the Program

Funding Racial Justice- Local Budget Basics

That's a Wrap: Inaugural Funding Racial Justice Budget Advocacy Training Program

Funding Racial Justice: Budget Advocacy Training for Community Power

Government Responsiveness to Racial Inequity

Healthy Built Environment

Justice Reinvestment

K-12 Education Policy

Los Angeles Office of Racial Equity (ORE)

The LA City scandal has caused deep wounds across communities and exposed inequities in how city government operates. While the political and civic leaders involved in the scandal must be held accountable, intercommunity healing and a more equitable future will require more than just resignations. A new vision of city governance is needed, and that vision needs to be rooted in and shaped by the perspectives of BIPOC and low-income Angelenos. In collaboration with residents, OUR LA will work to realize this vision and advance a community-based reform agenda. 

OUR LA - Organize | Unite | Reform LA

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This November, LA County voters will have the option to begin a process of fundamentally reshaping how the County Government operates. Unlike the City of Los Angeles, which took a methodical approach over nearly two years to identify modest governance reforms, the County has brought sweeping reforms to voters in less than a month with Measure G. Like many others, Organize, Unite, Reform LA (OUR LA) is still analyzing these reforms and their potential implications on our communities. 

OUR LA Statement: County Governance Reform Measure G

Participatory Budgeting

Police Reform

Prosecutorial Reform

Quality in Early Care and Education

Race Counts

Racially Just Schools of Belonging

California’s public schools and early childhood learning spaces serve children of all races, religions, and economic backgrounds, so they can grow and thrive. As advocates, we have long worked to make these spaces safe, inclusive, and affirming where joyful learning can happen for every child. But under the Trump administration, this diverse education system is under serious threat. 

Resources for Safe Schools in Challenging Times

Student Equity Need Index

Furthers LCFF’s vision by prioritizing the allocation of resources to high-need schools to better address inequities.

Strengthens shared-power and shared-decision making between district and community.

Provides additional flexible funding for school sites.

Equity Alliance for LA's Kids

SENI in the Context of COVID

LAUSD's SENI Website

Racial Justice Equity Plan to Recovery

On a Podcast: Budgeting for Educational Equity

Transparency

WE ARE CALIFORNIA

Whole Child

Youth Development

Organizational

Reimagining Justice & Safety

2026 CHAMPIONS FOR EQUITY AWARDS: 
We the People

The Looming Crisis: How California Survives HR1

For Catalyst California’s 25th Anniversary, we joined together for a truly special evening as we honored the past, confronted the present, and got ready to fight like hell for the future. This Champions for Equity Awards was, perhaps more than ever, a community gathering to celebrate those who daily advance racial justice and embody Leadership in Movement. We continue to find joy, inspiration, and strength in one another as we navigate these challenging times.

2025 Champions for Equity Awards: Leadership in Movement

2025 CHAMPIONS FOR EQUITY AWARDS: Leadership in Movement

On March 2, 2025, Catalyst California hosted its Race & Politics: Solidarity in Movement event at Plaza de la Raza, a powerful and uplifting gathering to address the urgent challenges facing our state: an administration bent on abusing power, the aftermath of a devastating climate disaster, and the relentless attacks on our communities by billionaires, bigots, and authoritarian forces.   

Race & Politics: Solidarity in Movement – Healing Communities and Building Multiracial Solidarity

This dynamic discussion included presentations from Catalyst California and Pillars of the Community on how data show that the San Diego Police Department is committed to a practice of gang profiling that is racially biased, undermines safety, and wastes tremendous public dollars.  We also heard heartening stories from community members directly impacted by gang profiling and discussed a comprehensive set of equity- and care-centered community safety solutions.

Webinar Recap: End Gang Profiling in Southeast San Diego

Celebrating Community and Collaboration: Reflections on the 2024 Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference

RACE COUNTS 2.0 WEBINAR

RACE COUNTS 2.0 Webinar Recap

Catalyst California Honors Holly J. Mitchell, Max Arias, and Pete White at 10th Anniversary Champions for Equity Awards

2023 State of the State: Solidarity in Action

Equity Advocates Unite at State of the State: Solidarity in Action for An Afternoon of Art,  Conversation, and Community

2022 Birth to 12th Water Cooler Conference

Recap: 2022 Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference

Champions for Equity Awards: Evolve

Catalyst California Honors Three Generations of Racial Justice Leaders at Champions for Equity Awards: Evolve

Webinar: Updated Justice Equity Need Index

Introducing the Updated Justice Equity Need Index (JENI)

2021 Fall Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference

That’s A Wrap For Our Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference: Shining A Light on Equity!

Champions for Equity Awards: Power Pivot

That’s a Wrap! 2021 Champions for Equity Awards: Power Pivot

Webinar: Justice Equity Services Index

NEW INTERACTIVE TOOL! Join Justice Equity Leaders to Learn More About the JESI.

2021 Spring Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Series

That's A Wrap For Our Virtual Birth to 12th Water Cooler Series!

State of the State: A Just Recovery

That’s A Wrap for Our First-Ever Virtual State of the State!

Budgeting for Justice

REPORT RELEASE: Budgeting for Justice

That’s A Wrap on Our First-Ever Virtual Champions for Equity Awards!

Webinar: CARES Act Implementation

Webinar: WeBudget Launch

WeBudget Shows LAUSD's Spending Through an Equity Lens

Webinar: Meeting Crisis with Courage

REPORT RELEASE! Meeting Crisis With Courage: A COVID-19 Budget Playbook for Advocates and Policymakers

Webinar: RACE COUNTS Training

RACE COUNTS Webinar + Training | February 20, 2020

2019 Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference

It's a wrap! Thanks for joining us at our second annual Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference!

2018 Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference

That’s a wrap! Recap of the Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference.

As our nation marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, we gather to honor the people and movements working every day to make the promise of equity, justice, and belonging real for our communities. This year’s event comes just one month before consequential midterm elections that will shape the future of our country and our democratic institutions. 

In challenging times, coming together matters more than ever. Join us for an afternoon of solidarity with We the People who believe in a better future and are willing to fight for it.

Become a sponsor today and join us on October 4th for an afternoon of inspiration, connection, and celebration! Sponsorship provides opportunities to visibly share your support of Catalyst California and to invite your friends and colleagues. Join us as we celebrate hard-fought progress, uplift courageous leaders, and recharge for the work ahead.  

We are proud to honor Cathy Cha, a visionary philanthropic leader whose work has expanded opportunity and advanced equity across California. Cathy recently joined the Freedom Together Foundation as a Senior Fellow after serving for 22 years at The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, seven of which were as President and CEO. 

Check out the sponsorship opportunities below. To be listed on the invitation, please confirm your sponsorship by August 7.  

Meet Our Champion for Equity Award Honoree 

We are proud to honor Cathy Cha, a visionary philanthropic leader and steadfast advocate for racial justice and solidarity, whose work has helped reshape how institutions partner with communities to advance equity and opportunity. 

Join us on Sunday, October 4, 2026, for the Champions for Equity Awards: We the People, an afternoon of inspiration, solidarity, and renewed purpose at a defining moment for our democracy.  

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