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The California Senate overwhelmingly passed the Family Communication Act, 30-4. Sponsored by state Senator Leland Yee and supported by Books Not Bars, the bill (SB 1250) would make it cheaper and easier for family members to talk and write to their loved ones who are locked up in state youth prisons, regardless of economic or language barriers. In this time of budget crisis, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have signaled that the Family Communication Act is not only strong policy, but also smart financing. Stay tuned: we'll need your support as the bill heads to the Assembly!
Ella Baker Center and our partners have formed a broad coalition to oppose the Runner Initiative. At a time when California is cutting basic services like healthcare and schools, California State Senator George Runner has introduced a ballot initiative that would pour billions into into failed policing and prison policies. In early May, we held a series of actions in LA, Fresno and Sacramento to launch our campaign to defeat this measure. Watch the coverage and get involved!
From April 4 - 6, 2008 something beautiful happened in Memphis. More than 1,100 activists, entrepreneurs, and change-makers converged on the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination to declare the Dream Reborn and witnessed the blossoming of a new movement. On June 4, 2008, something beautiful happened in Oakland. More than 300 people filled the Oakland Museum of California with visions of a green economic future that provides opportunities for all. We're building on the energy and excitement from Memphis and are channeling it into our green-collar jobs work here in California!
Artists from Oakland, Richmond and Berkeley transform the Ella Baker Center into a music studio and create an entire album -- from writing to recording -- in just one weekend. Tony Fontaine summarizes the Turf Unity Project: "We've lost too many of our folks to violence, and I feel that as an artist, I can use my music to get a message of peace out to the streets." A joint project of Cov Records, Art In Action and Silence the Violence, the Turf Unity project brings artists from neighborhoods that are often in conflict together to create music of peace and hope. The project released its latest edition on April 11. Get your copy today!
The green-collar jobs solution has become a core part of the presidential debate. Whenever candidates talk about solutions to global warming, they talk about green-growth and job creation. In fact, Oakland's Green Jobs Corps funding and the Richmond training program were explicitly cited in a recent Democratic primary debate. KPIX covers this statement and explores how it plays out in the political spectrum.
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