“We Don’t Dream For Ourselves, We Dream For Our Kids.”
There was tremendous energy at EARN‘s San Francisco office on July 11. For the first time, we brought our listening session partner organizations together for a day-long meeting to discuss the results of statewide listening sessions that reached nearly 1000 California constituents from as far north as Marin County to as far south as San Diego.
At this meeting, we strategized about opportunities to build a statewide constituency that is engaged, informed and equipped with the resources needed to build prosperity for low-wage families and move public policy in California.
Representatives included community organizers, community leaders, and other staff from our listening session partner organizations: Families in Schools in Los Angeles, the Greenlining Institute, Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization, and PICO federations in the Central Valley, including Congregations Building Community in Modesto and People and Congregations Together in Stockton.
Highlights of the day included better understanding that while many constituents are struggling to meet basic day-to-day needs, they are hungry for knowledge and resources that will help them become economically and financially secure. We found that a powerful quote was echoed throughout the statewide listening sessions: “We don’t dream for ourselves, we dream for our kids.”
Many constituents are forsaking their own needs and dreams to ensure that their children prosper in the future. While many constituents have lost hope, they continue to be resilient and look for practical solutions to the problems they are facing.
EARN and our listening session partners will continue strategizing about how we can meet the immediate resource and program needs of California constituents, as well as understand how to continue formally engaging constituents in public policy and advocacy. Together, we will build a movement that ultimately results in economic security and prosperity for millions of Californians.
Until next time,
Sheryl Lane
Director of Public Policy
