California Forward
CA FWD’s commitment to creating inclusive and sustainable growth is driven by supporting interrelated policy action areas that help all Californians prosper. From housing for all, to ecosystems and climate resiliency, these diverse areas are inextricably linked.
The policy priorities listed below are advanced in the coming year with the strength of our collaborative approach, including the California Stewardship Network, the California Economic Summit network and work groups, and our Young Leaders Advisory Council — and we measure our progress with the California Dream Index.
To stay up-to-date on the Action Areas below and receive our weekly CA FWD Newsletter, sign up today!
For 2022, California Forward has identified the following priority actions.
Housing for All
Housing has become the primary obstacle to livability in almost every region. High costs are pushing millions of people below the poverty line and many into homelessness. Compounding existing housing challenges, longer commutes negatively impact air quality and worker’s health, while more and more employers struggle to attract and retain skilled workers.
California Forward, together with partners, has risen to this challenge with ambitious policy initiatives and strategic alliances with triple-bottom-line economic development organizations.
“The triple bottom line for housing — equity, environment, economics — requires attainable homeownership for California’s working families.”
-Jennifer Hernandez, CA FWD Leadership Council
Strengthen local capacity and support homeowners, community-based developers and contractors by bringing together a range of financial tools, partners and programs that will help scale efforts to create affordable, entry-level homes
Design the California Dream for All program framework to provide financing assistance for qualified homebuyers
Support legislation that increases the overall supply of housing in the state
NEWS & INSIGHTS
Seana O’Shaughnessy advocates for affordable housing options that reflect realities and needs of rural communities
With physical and economic recovery turning into a slow process for many, Lift to Rise program helping people get back on track
New CEO of California Community Builders charts path to close racial wealth gap through homeownership
Sonoma County housing project uses innovative funding model
Ecosystems & Climate Resiliency
Water and land are the most foundational and critical resources on the planet. Consecutive years of drought, flooding, and destructive wildfires demonstrate the varied impacts of climate change and the urgent need for deliberate, impactful action.
Advocate to ensure California builds on the state’s 2021 $1.5-billion investment for wildfire and forest resilience to reach the $3-5 billion that will be required annually, with a focus on developing the workforce, infrastructure, community capacity, partnerships and regulatory environment needed to address the size and scale of the crisis
Broaden outreach, coalition-building and regulatory advocacy. Goals include fostering collaboration across diverse communities, sectors and landscapes; addressing barriers to prescribed fire and tribal cultural burning; developing thriving wood products industries; and protecting and enhancing upper watershed health
Integrate a regional climate adaptation agenda through collaboration with the Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA)
Develop an energy advocacy plan that incorporates regional variations and ensures a sustainable, reliable and equitable energy system for all Californians
NEWS & INSIGHTS
Innovative water strategies from leaders across the state are making their way into state action plans
Building a modern, resilient water system is made much more difficult with 1,889 water systems that have under 500 rate payers
New poll in partnership with CA FWD gives insight into how people can take on big problems in divisive times
Key bills represent historic and meaningful investments in broadband, wildfires and more
Thriving Economies
By bringing government, business, and civic leaders together to identify regional priorities, share innovations and align with state investments and other policies we can target the root causes of economic insecurity and unsustainable resource management. The result of this unified effort will be the establishment of a functioning system of “California Capitalism” that will be a model for the rest of the nation and the world.
Advance state-level solutions to capital access barriers faced by small businesses owned by people of color in California
Support legislation aligned with the principles and recommendations included in the Investing in Small Businesses Owned by People of Color work group framework
Advance inclusive economic growth by supporting the equitable implementation of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) and building power and generational wealth for communities of color through the New Paradigm coalition
NEWS & INSIGHTS
Summit workgroup aims to reframe lending to support more California small businesses owned by people of color
Recommendations for sustaining and growing the job-rich sector
Report: Opportunities open for middle-skill workers trained at area community colleges
Funds supporting a regions-up approach to solving problems aligns with CA Fwd and Summit priorities
Education Cradle to Career
California’s learning ecosystem must prepare workers to earn a livable wage.
While educational institutions have the largest role to play, an effective lifelong learning ecosystem requires alignment of strategies and tactics among multiple institutions – from early childhood development and preschool until retirement. To be successful, this approach requires the involvement of stakeholders, political leaders, faith leaders, civic leaders and others. An explicit focus on equity requires identification and dismantling of all obstacles to opportunity.
Support the recommendations of the Recovery with Equity Task Force report to drive meaningful change in the state’s workforce and higher education systems
Develop a state policy agenda for cradle to career issues informed by members of the California Stewardship Network and support aligned legislative activity
Develop cross-sector workforce strategies to ensure California is able to make progress in key strategic areas
NEWS & INSIGHTS
Don Howard of The James Irvine Foundation talks to us about a key element for every low-income worker to advance economically
California Economic Summit work group aims to blaze more pathways to meaningful careers
Key bills represent historic and meaningful investments in broadband, wildfires and more
Reskilling in partnership with employers to fill better paying, middle-skill jobs must be a post-pandemic priority
Connecting California
1 in 8 homes in California still lacks access to high-speed broadband through a computing device or smartphone. The public health pandemic has displayed and even added to the current digital divide, disproportionately affecting our most vulnerable communities.
CA FWD believes that investments in infrastructure are vital to providing the access our communities need to stay connected and to thrive.
Advocate for the state’s historic investments, legislative actions and State Broadband Action Plan to be implemented swiftly, efficiently and effectively in tandem with new federal funding streams.
Advance regional solutions to the broadband crisis by supporting the work of the Regional Broadband Consortia in advancing solutions tailored to communities
Support efforts that boost the capacity of local leaders and staff to use economic development tools such as Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts that can help local and regional economies capture economic growth and target strategic investments in jobs, infrastructure and housing
“To help close the digital divide that exists in communities across California, the Governor announced at the 2019 California Economic Summit in Fresno that he will convene stakeholders, the private sector, education institutions, and government agencies with a goal of developing an inclusive “Broadband for All” plan for the state.”
NEWS & INSIGHTS
How California is working to close both urban and rural digital divides
CA FWD Young Leaders Advisory Council partners with NEO Connect to increase access to broadband in the Central Sierra
U.S. Senator Padilla with federal, state and broadband experts tout work done on broadband needs on recent CA FWD and CETF webinar
18 initial projects identified to jumpstart state’s $6 billion broadband investment
Health & Well-being
When people think about maintaining their health, the medical world of doctors, prescriptions, clinics and hospitals often comes to mind. But health professionals, policy experts and community advocates are increasingly embracing a more comprehensive view – one that takes into account the many significant inputs that surround and shape our home and work lives, our health, and our well-being.
Social and environmental factors have a powerful influence on the quality of people’s health. Known as the “Social Determinants of Health,” these conditions shape not only the health of individuals, but the well-being and prosperity of their families, communities, and the state as a whole. When people lack adequate education, income, and economic security and face economic conditions including systemic racism and discrimination, everybody pays.
PRIORITY ACTIONS
Priority Action 1
Priority Action 2
NEWS & INSIGHTS
Healthcare administrator promotes sustainable community-based models to address health disparities in the Black community
Four-year college graduate goes back to school to upskill and contribute to community health
Free doula services provided to Riverside residents to address significant disparities in maternal wellness
Nonprofit aimed at closing allied health care worker gap finds new partners in California
Government Performance & Accountability
Since our launch in 2008, CA FWD has been committed to improving government performance and accountability. We believe all Californians regardless deserve state, county and local governments that works for them.
We have had a successful track record of proposing, endorsing and promoting a variety of reforms that have positively impacted the residents of California. Learn more here.
Justice System Change Initiative (JSCI)In 2014, CA FWD launched the Justice System Change Initiative (JSCI) to help counties transform their incarceration practices to better advocate for public safety and equity while making government more efficient and accountable. JSCI has conducted Jail Utilization Studies (JUS) in five counties – Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, El Dorado and Merced. Each county’s goal was to address the issue of lowering their jail populations while at the same time not compromising public safety.
NEWS & INSIGHTS
CA FWD’s jail utilization studies showed counties why people were incarcerated and incentivized smarter interventions
Conversation centered on idea to “price out” misconduct in public safety agencies
San Bernardino County program hosts a charter school on site at probation reporting centers
Program allows parents in San Bernardino jails to record themselves reading books and sharing personal messages