---

“…the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

---

Over the last few weeks, our nation and the world has again witnessed an unconscionable abuse of police power against Black Americans. NextGen Policy mourns the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and most recently Tyre Nichols – and all the countless lives lost as a result of deeply entrenched systemic racism. The entire team at NextGen Policy stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and the peaceful protesters across our country demanding justice and seeking change. 

Our organization was founded on the core belief that all people deserve a fair, equitable, and prosperous life. In pursuit of this mission, NextGen Policy will continue to embed and prioritize social and economic equity into all facets of our advocacy work. We are deeply committed to destroying the cycle of white supremacy that leads to systematic policies and practices that poison many of our institutions and laws, resulting in generational iniquities and trauma in communities throughout California. 

The work we do encompasses a variety of policy areas, and in each area from immigration to climate change, education to criminal justice, housing to healthcare, we see first-hand how policy decisions that fail to actively counter racism impact the quality of life of millions of Californians. It is not simply enough to say that we approach all our work from an equity perspective – it is a personal, pervasive foundational imperative. 

However, being an organization composed of diverse leadership and staff does not absolve our team of blind spots and accountability, nor of the responsibility to continue our own education and learn new and better ways to confront racism. We are dedicated to the work of addressing bias within ourselves and systemic injustice in California’s neighborhoods and cities. In the coming weeks, months, and years, we will actively pursue more avenues to directly support Black communities through our partnerships, legislative priorities, advocacy actions, and monetary contributions. 

Recognizing that our country is in the midst of multiple crises, we are including on our website resources for those needing support during this difficult time.*