Resources & Key Dates

NextGen Policy Responds to the Federal Administration’s  Authoritarian Overreach in Los Angeles 
For Immediate Release: June 12, 2025
Contact: Tyler Bushnell, tyler.bushnell@nextgenpolicy.org
Statement from NextGen Policy’s Executive Director, Arnold Sowell Jr:
“Right now, the world is witnessing a frightening and unprecedented moment in the history of the United States as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with U.S. Marine Corps members descend upon Los Angeles-area work sites and neighborhoods, taking individuals into custody with a complete disregard for their due process or individual rights,” said Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director of NextGen Policy. “Each of us should find it deeply troubling that this Administration continues to cross constitutional lines in order to push an extreme anti-immigrant agenda that does not recognize individual rights and tramples on legal precedents.
Furthermore, the federal administration’s authoritarian tactics—such as the unwarranted federalization of the California National Guard over Governor Newsom’s objections, and the activation of U.S. Marines—only serves to exacerbate an already volatile situation of their own making. These actions are clearly intended to intimidate individuals who are exercising their constitutionally protected right to peacefully protest and assemble. NextGen Policy will continue to advocate for and support the rights of our nation’s immigrant communities. Our Know Your Rights webpage provides legal resources and outlines your constitutional rights if approached by federal law enforcement.” 
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NextGen Policy is a nonprofit advocacy organization that breaks down barriers and rebalances power in the State Capitol on behalf of all Californians. 

NextGen Policy Responds to the Federal Administration’s Authoritarian Overreach in Los Angeles

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&nbsp;  NextGen Policy Receives $63K Award from SMUD’s Shine Program, Provides Stipends for Workforce Transition For Immediate Release: June 5, 2025
Contact: Ken Spence, ken.spence@nextgenpolicy.org 
SACRAMENTO – NextGen Policy, a California-based, nonprofit organization fighting for justice-centered policies and programs, today announced that the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), the sixth-largest, community-owned electric service provider in the country, granted it a $63,000 award through its Shine program. The funding advances NextGen’s efforts to provide justice-impacted young adults with the skills and support needed to obtain quality jobs.
SMUD’s Shine program supports nonprofits that engage key communities across their service area in helping to transition to a clean energy future. This year’s cohort of Shine awardees will deliver projects that increase access to and support for: clean energy science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education; environmental justice and equity; zero carbon workforce development; habitat restoration; increased tree canopy; energy efficiency and electrification; and youth training and job readiness for under-resourced community members.
With its award funds, NextGen Policy and its strategic partner, Clover Agency, are ensuring over 100 participants of its EDD Opportunity Young Adult (OYA) Career Pathway Program have access to stipends for workforce readiness and training, career coaching, and supportive services. These stipends are crucial for OYA program participants as they will reduce the economic barriers that often arise when reentering into the workforce. This support will help participants concentrate on acquiring new skills, securing employment, and improving their chances of long-term self-sufficiency. 
“We&#8217;re incredibly grateful to receive this support from SMUD’s Shine program. These funds are more than just an award, they represent an investment in the futures of young adults in the Sacramento region who deserve a second chance and a clear pathway to career opportunities,&#8221; said Dr. Ken Spence, Senior Policy Advisor, NextGen Policy. “We look forward to expanding our Opportunity Young Adult Career Pathway Program and continuing to work alongside community partners and local businesses to create lasting, positive change.”
This news is extremely timely; a report from North Carolina State University found that within the first year of release, about 37% of formerly incarcerated individuals are able to find employment nationally. “There is a critical need for programs that facilitate reintegration into the workforce, and the SMUD Shine award helps bridge that gap by offering resources that foster stability and advancement,” said Dr. Paul De La Cerda, Principal and Program Manager at Clover Agency.
“SMUD’s vision for a clean energy future includes helping transform the communities we serve,” said Jose Bodipo-Memba, SMUD Chief Diversity Officer. “SMUD’s Shine program harnesses the determination and vision of local nonprofits—like Next Gen Policy, in making meaningful change that will provide equitable opportunities so everyone can benefit for generations to come.&#8221;
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About NextGen Policy
NextGen Policy is a nonprofit advocacy organization that breaks down barriers and rebalances power in the State Capitol on behalf of all Californians.
About Clover Agency
The Clover Agency is a grant management consultancy with a simple mission: that everyone, regardless of their background, native language, culture, sexual orientation, age, or race, deserves an equal opportunity to embark on a fulfilling career journey. Our commitment to this belief serves as the cornerstone of our program model, designed to empower learners of all ages. We are dedicated to helping all students navigate the transitions and milestones that lead to successful, meaningful careers, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant economy for all. For more information, visit https://cloveragencyinc.com/.
About SMUD
As the nation&#8217;s sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity to Sacramento County for more than 75 years. SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. In 2023, SMUD&#8217;s power supply was, on average, 78 percent carbon free, and SMUD has a goal to reach zero carbon in its electricity production by 2030. SMUD&#8217;s rates and customer bills are consistently among the lowest in California, and are today, on average, more than 50 percent lower than its neighboring investor-owned utility. For more information on SMUD&#8217;s Zero Carbon Plan and its customer programs, visit smud.org.
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NextGen Policy Receives $63K Award from SMUD’s Shine Program, Provides Stipends for Workforce Transition

NextGen Policy Responds to Comments on Air Resources Board Leadership 
For Immediate Release: June 2, 2025
Contact: Tyler Bushnell, tyler.bushnell@nextgenpolicy.org
Statement from NextGen Policy’s Executive Director, Arnold Sowell Jr:
“The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is one of the premier and most respected regulatory agencies in the country, if not the world,” said Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director of NextGen Policy. “Given the scope of its work and the reach of its regulatory authority CARB has from time to time its fair share of detractors among elected officials, the stakeholder community, as well as among regulated industries. As Californians face economic uncertainty, are subjected to environmental disasters, and experience cost of living increases, we need a strong, competent leader at the helm of CARB. Liane Randolph is that leader – and NextGen remains unequivocally confident in her ability to help our state navigate these pressing issues. We look forward to working with Chair Randolph and the Air Resources Board to advance more equitable programs and policies that will protect our economy, our air quality, and our climate.” 
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NextGen Policy is a nonprofit advocacy organization that breaks down barriers and rebalances power in the State Capitol on behalf of all Californians. 

NextGen Policy Responds to Comments on Air Resources Board Leadership

NextGen California Responds to the Challenging Fiscal Outlook and Funding Cuts Outlined in Governor Newsom’s May Budget Revision 
For Immediate Release: May 19, 2025
Contact: Tyler Bushnell, tyler.bushnell@nextgenpolicy.org
With the state budget deficit projected to reach $12 billion, Governor Newsom’s May Revision proposes deep cuts to key programs to balance the budget.
SACRAMENTO – Last Wednesday, May 14th, Governor Newsom released his revised 2025-26 California State Budget, the so-called May Revision. As detailed by the Governor, the May Revision paints a confounding economic picture: increased state revenues being totally overwhelmed by the fiscal repercussions of the Trump tariffs, resulting in a state budget deficit totaling $12 billion. To close the deficit and balance the budget, the Governor’s May Revision proposes various program cuts and fund shifts. Now begins the serious work and negotiations between the Legislature and the Governor to craft a final budget by the June 15th constitutional deadline.
Our state budget is a value statement and the blueprint that guides California&#8217;s fiscal and policy investments into the future. As the 4th largest economy in the world, our state budget totals over $300 billion in general fund and special fund expenditures. Clearly, the current state budget deficit and the proposed program cuts outlined in the Governor’s May Revision will have near term ramifications across a range of issue areas – health, education, the environment, housing, and social services – and affect the lives of millions of Californians. It also appears that the current fiscal uncertainty will remain indefinitely, as our state budget coffers still have not felt the full extent of the new federal Administration’s imposition of funding cuts, policy changes, and tariffs.
NextGen California fights to advance policies and programs that focus on equity and justice for all Californians and, unfortunately, though it attempts to minimize harm, the Governor’s May Revision will hurt many of our state’s most vulnerable populations and communities. Areas where the Governor’s revised state budget makes notable funding changes include access to healthcare, combating climate change, and supporting higher education.
NextGen California’s Executive Director, Arnold Sowell Jr., and other members of the NextGen team share their reactions to the Governor’s May Revision below, as well as their main takeaways for what these budget cuts mean for their legislative priorities and the lives of Californians:
Statement from NextGen California Executive Director, Arnold Sowell Jr.: 
“Amidst fiscal uncertainty at both the state and federal level, Governor Newsom’s May Revision reflects an unfortunate but understandable reality – we must curtail spending on many of our priorities to meet this moment while also walking the tightrope of trying to address the many pressing needs facing California communities,” said Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director of NextGen California. “The fiscal situation our elected officials are facing is extremely difficult, having to choose between cuts to important programs that protect and support vulnerable populations. Here at NextGen, even in these trying fiscal times, we look forward to working with the Governor’s office, State Legislators, and our trusted partners to ensure that the final budget continues our efforts to build a more equitable, prosperous, and climate resilient California for all.”
Statement from NextGen California Policy Advisor, Jamie Pew:
“Budgets like this one are what happens when Big Oil and the Trump administration are able to inject chaos into California’s economy,” said Jamie Pew, Policy Advisor for NextGen California. “ Until Big Oil is paying in full to clean the air and water it pollutes and the climate disasters it triggers, our state will continue to balance its budget on the backs of hard working Californians. NextGen California supports the Governor’s proposal to reauthorize the Cap-and-Invest program to align with our 2045 carbon neutrality target – and urges strengthening the program further. Policymakers are now presented with an opportunity to refashion the Cap-and-Invest program by pulling back subsidies for corporate polluters and re-investing those funds in all California communities.”
Statement from NextGen California Legislative Director &amp; Policy Advisor, Samantha Seng:
“Amidst a backdrop of financial uncertainty being driven by the ever changing federal landscape, we thank Governor Newsom for attempting to minimize the harm to students pursuing a higher education,” said Samantha Seng, Legislative Director &amp; Policy Advisor for NextGen California. “The budget does help to ensure that critical state financial aid allocations through the Cal Grant program and Middle Class Scholarship continue this year so that no student sees a reduction in their grant amounts. However, more needs to be done to ensure that all California higher education students, regardless of their family situations, have the opportunity to receive critical student services as well as complete their higher education.”
Statement from NextGen California Research &amp; Policy Advisor, Tiffany Germain:
&#8220;In what is clearly a very difficult budget year, NextGen California and our partners are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom for his steadfast leadership in fully funding School Meals for All,” said Tiffany Germain, Research &amp; Policy Advisor for NextGen California. “This program is a proven success in fighting hunger and easing financial burdens on California families by providing two free meals a day to every student, regardless of income. To maintain and build on this progress, continued investment in school nutrition is critical, including support for the Kitchen Infrastructure and Training (KIT) program and connecting schools to local farmers through the Farm to School Incubator Grant program. We also look forward to working closely with the Administration to ensure that the next phase of the Healthy School Food Pathway program continues—we see this initiative as vital to enabling school food professionals to deliver fresh, nutritious meals across California.&#8221;
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The mission of NextGen California is to fight for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, gender, and economic inequity in California through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement. 

NextGen California Responds to the Challenging Fiscal Outlook and Funding Cuts Outlined in Governor Newsom’s May Budget Revision

Let’s Talk… Financial Aid
Yes, Student Financial Aid Is Still Available—Apply Before the April 2nd Deadline
March 28, 2025
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A solid financial aid package was instrumental to my pursuit of a higher education degree, as it is for many low-income, first-generation students from mixed immigration status families like mine. Without the state Cal Grant program and institutional aid from my university, I likely would not have graduated in a timely manner—or at all.
For me, financial aid made college attainable by making it affordable. Today, the need for financial aid support remains more critical than ever, primarily because the cost of living has risen dramatically – prices are now 23% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic began in February 2020. As the cost of living rises, financial aid becomes more than just tuition assistance—it helps students cover essential expenses like housing, books, transportation, food, child care, and other basic living costs, making higher education more accessible.
While financial aid remains a vital lifeline for many students, the process of applying for it has grown more difficult over the past few years—largely due to changes at the federal level. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Education was tasked with overhauling the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to simplify the process. The new application promised to be faster and easier—allowing students and families to complete the process in under 15 minutes by linking directly to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and automatically populating their income and tax information. However, its rollout during the 2024-2025 application cycle was plagued by a delayed release and technical issues.

For those able to access it, the simplified application delivered on its promise but widespread technological glitches created major barriers for many applicants. Students reported issues with the application failing to save completed sections, crashing unexpectedly, or being inaccessible for hours at a time as the Department of Education worked to resolve backend problems. The most significant challenge, however, has been faced by students from mixed-status families (MSF). These are students who are U.S. citizens with parents or guardians who do not have a Social Security number (SSN).
The students from MSF were at first effectively locked out of completing the FAFSA because the new application requires a SSN—a requirement their parents or guardians cannot meet. This issue has been partially resolved, as workarounds are now available. Students from MSF can now complete the application by manually inputting their income and tax information and then verifying their contributor’s identity by submitting acceptable identification documents to the Department of Education. Needless to say, this process is tedious and time-consuming, as it requires manual verification by Department staff.
FAFSA Delays and Federal Uncertainty – What It Means for Students
This year’s financial aid cycle faces many of the same challenges as last year’s. Once again, the application’s release was delayed, technological glitches ensued, and a long-term solution for accepting and reviewing identity documents for students from mixed-status families has yet to be announced.
A key difference, however, is the federal response. Last year, the Department of Education under the Biden Administration actively monitored application issues, providing workarounds, solutions, and timelines for resolution. In contrast, the Trump Administration has stated the FAFSA application is fully functional—despite clear evidence from students and financial aid practitioners that significant problems remain.
Further complicating the situation, the Department of Education recently experienced significant workforce reductions, with more than 50% of its employees laid off by the Trump Administration. This means, solutions to issues with the financial aid application will likely be further impacted. Additionally, students attempting to contact the Department of Education&#8217;s call center for crucial assistance with completing their financial aid applications are unlikely to reach anyone to receive the help they need.
Significantly adding to the uncertainty, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Secretary of Education to take &#8220;all necessary steps to facilitate the closure&#8221; of the Department of Education. While the President does not have the authority to unilaterally abolish a federal department, this move has heightened concerns about the future of federal education policy. Beyond the political implications, it also creates confusion and unnecessary hurdles for college-bound students already struggling to access the financial aid they need.
Fortunately, California has resources that can help. Students that are in need of assistance regarding their financial aid applications can contact the California Student Aid Commission by phone at (888) CA GRANT (888-224-7268), or by email at: studentsupport@csac.ca.gov.
Understanding the Risks: FAFSA Data Privacy for Mixed-Status Families

Another emerging concern for mixed-status family students is the fear of sharing identifiable information with a federal administration that may use the application data to target them. This creates an additional barrier in filling out an application for federal financial aid for these students, who may be hesitant to disclose sensitive personal information due to potential risks.
FAFSA data is currently protected by federal laws and cannot be used for immigration enforcement. However, there is no guarantee these protections will remain in place. This uncertainty may cause students from mixed-status families to worry that submitting a FAFSA could put their undocumented contributors at risk.
Given these concerns, when considering whether to submit a FAFSA or not, it may be helpful for students from mixed-status families to assess whether their contributors’ personal information has already been shared with other federal agencies. For instance, contributors may have previously provided their information when filing taxes with the IRS, applying for immigration benefits through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or obtaining a California driver’s license through the DMV. Additionally, if the student or their contributors have already created a StudentAid.gov account, having applied for financial aid previously, the U.S. Department of Education retains that information. Submitting a new FAFSA form would only update existing records with new details, such as changes in income or address.
Families should also consider whether the student or any older siblings have previously submitted a FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education is required to retain applicant and contributor information for the duration of the student’s relationship with the Department. For example, if a student receives a Pell Grant, the Department will keep their information for the lifetime of the grant. Continuing students who have previously submitted a FAFSA can renew their application, meaning that much of their information is already on file. Understanding these factors can help families make informed decisions about submitting the FAFSA to access crucial federal financial aid while weighing concerns about data privacy and potential risks.
Students from mixed-status families who choose not to apply for 

Financial Aid

Let’s Talk… Voter Suppression
How the “Safeguard” American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act Would Block Millions of Californians from Voting 
April 1o, 2026
IMPORTANT UPDATE: A year ago NextGen shared a blog post warning readers about the devastating impacts on voter participation if Congress passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Fortunately, that bill died last year due to Congressional inaction. However, this year, the original bill has not only been resurrected but amended to include additional draconian voter suppression policies such as strict ID requirements to cast a ballot, alongside its original onerous requirements to register to vote. This latest version, now called the SAVE America Act, passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives in February of this year and is currently being debated in the U.S. Senate.
The bill’s new voter ID provision requires voters to show a valid photo ID at the polls. For mail-in voting, a photocopy of the ID would need to be included with the returned ballot, or the last four digits of a voter’s Social Security Number could be provided. The bill text is unclear about which forms of ID would be accepted, but some analysts believe that only a few forms of government photo ID would qualify (Driver’s License, U.S. Passport, State ID and Military ID). The National Conference of State Legislatures refers to this policy as “strict ID.” Of the 36 states that require some form of voter ID, only 10 states have strict ID requirements.
This might sound all too familiar – that’s because a similar voter ID ballot measure will likely appear on the November ballot in California. You can read more about that ballot measure here.
To add to all the confusion, in March, President Trump issued an Executive Order restricting mail-in voting to individuals who have been verified in a national citizenship database through the Department of Homeland Security.
Below find NextGen&#8217;s original blog post about the SAVE Act from last year. In this blog post, we examine the various elements of the original bill and outline its most troubling aspects — requiring documentary proof of citizenship as part of the voter registration process.

Original Post From March 1o, 2025
For the last 15 years, voter registration rates in California have steadily increased from 68% in 2007 to 83% in 2023, according to the California Secretary of State’s office. This surge in voter registration is a testament to the outreach efforts of community partners, new online platforms that make it easier to register, and a series of state-level pro-voter reforms – most notably, the semi-automatic registration program through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
But if the SAVE Act passes Congress, it will become a lot harder to register to vote, undoing all the hard work and progress made to bring more Californians from all walks of life onto our voter rolls.
So What Is The SAVE Act?
Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) re-introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act this year, after it failed to advance last year under a divided Congress. The SAVE Act radically changes the voter registration process in the name of combating voter fraud (more on that below).
Here’s what the SAVE Act actually does:

It requires in-person registration with proof of citizenship documents. The required documents would need to be presented in person for a person to vote in federal elections:


U.S. passport – OR –
U.S. birth certificate in addition to government photo ID (or in place of U.S. birth certificate, the following documents could be used: naturalization certificate, hospital record of birth, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, final adoption decree or an American Indian Card issued by the Department of Homeland Security)
Military ID card with a United States military record of service showing that the place of birth was in the United States.



REAL ID or a standard Driver’s License are not sufficient because they do not indicate citizenship, as required under the legislation.
It’s important to bear in mind that current federal law already requires people registering to vote to attest that they are U.S. citizens under penalty of perjury. Furthermore, under existing federal law, voter registration applications must ask for either a valid driver&#8217;s license number (or state-issued photo ID), or the last four digits of a Social Security number. If a person fails to provide this information on their application or the person cannot be matched to a state database, they must provide documentation to establish current residency or identity. Non-citizens who registered to vote — even unintentionally — are subject to serious legal consequences and deportation.

It imposes new voter roll purges. The bill mandates voter roll audits using federal and state databases to identify non-citizens. This sounds reasonable, right? But the catch is that these audits would be done without any safeguards to ensure that the purges were limited to non-citizens. Voter roll audits often get it wrong, erroneously flagging people for potential removal when their eligibility is ambiguous or may have changed due to naturalization. As the Brennan Center for Justice notes:

“We know that overbroad purges of supposed noncitizens would ensnare eligible American voters because they already have. Examples abound from 2024 alone. Alabama attempted a purge of 3,251 people suspected of being noncitizens, but litigation revealed that the list included at least 2,000 eligible American voters. A federal district court stopped this faulty and unlawful purge.”
With this in mind, it’s critical that individuals flagged for removal be notified in advance and provided sufficient time to establish their voter eligibility. However, the SAVE Act does not require any such notification, setting the stage for the removal of thousands of eligible Americans — if not more — from the voter rolls without them even knowing it.

It opens up election officials to greater legal jeopardy for honest mistakes. Election officials could face criminal charges if they accept or process voter registration applications without proof of citizenship, even in cases of administrative error. Under the SAVE Act, private citizens also can sue election officials if they suspect they are not following the law. Unfounded paranoia about election fraud has already made election officials the target of harassment in recent years and providing an avenue for citizen lawsuits will only ramp up the climate of fear in which many election officials operate.

How Common Is Voter Fraud?
Since the debacle of the 2000 presidential election, concerns over voter fraud have been steadily on the rise, kicking into overdrive with President Trump’s 2020 unfounded claims that the election was stolen. But there is no evidence to support these claims. As the Brookings Institution points out, even research conducted by the conservative Heritage Foundation (responsible for Project 2025) shows the negligible incidence of voter fraud in the United States:
“Looking at the seven closest states, we find for instance that in Arizona, Heritage had to go back 25 years, over which there were 36 elections held and 42,626,379 ballots cast, in order to come up with 36 cases of fraud. The percentage of fraudulent votes was a minuscule 0.0000845%, and no election outcome was altered by ballot fraud throughou

Voter Suppression

Let’s Talk… Apprenticeships
NextGen’s Commitment to Breaking Down Barriers to California Careers
February 14, 2025
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A single parent enrolls in a fast, flexible certificate program to boost their skills and income. A veteran returning home begins an earn-and-learn pathway toward a lifelong career. A high school student engages firsthand with industry professionals on a real worksite. Each of these avenues represents a type of apprenticeship program and there are thousands of Californians seeking career opportunities through apprenticeships. Key members of the NextGen Policy team are focused on and committed to making these vital programs and their designated public funding more accessible and targeted.
Despite California’s role as an international economic powerhouse, our workforce is experiencing substantial challenges that need to be addressed. We’re facing an aging population that is retiring from the labor force, which means a declining pool of skilled workers across all industry sectors. California also has a serious workforce shortage with more than one million unfilled job openings. This labor shortage will only become more pronounced as demand for skilled workers increases across the state’s various labor markets, driven by the intensifying need to construct more housing, the growing transition to a clean energy economy, and the continuing boom in the tech industry.

NextGen is not alone in advocating for increasing the number of apprenticeships as the solution to this looming workforce crisis, but our mission extends beyond just achieving the 500,000 apprentices goal by 2029 as directed by Governor Newsom. Our goal is to reach Californians that have been historically locked out of these opportunities and face countless barriers to family-sustaining careers, including displaced workers in our rural areas and low-income communities.
California’s Job Situation: Room for Growth
California is the fifth largest economy in the world, with a vast array of industry sectors – tech, entertainment, manufacturing, agriculture, and much more. Despite our macro-level success, when we zoom in on the True Rate of Unemployment in California (a more nuanced measurement than the general unemployment rate) we find that fewer than half of our adults are working jobs that pay a living wage. In addition, employers are having trouble finding qualified workers, and there are few incentives available for employers to start apprenticeships, especially outside of the trades professions.
Apprenticeships create avenues toward sustainable job opportunities for many communities that have not been traditionally supported by the labor market – for example, unemployment gaps by race and gender suggest designed and persistent structural biases in many of our policies and programs which impedes pathways to opportunity as well as hampers greater diversity in the workforce. Job availability and security is vulnerable to explicit and implicit barriers: underfunded public schools serving predominantly Black and brown communities which often do not offer students exposure to certain career pathways, the justice system involvement of disproportionate numbers of Californians of color which creates barriers to future employment, and the limited access to and availability of specific job training and placement programs in rural and other regions of our state. NextGen is committed to addressing and providing solutions to overcoming these and other persistent barriers that are the real obstacles to equitable job opportunity.
Building on the learnings from developing and implementing various workforce development programs, NextGen aims to expand apprenticeship opportunities across California by streamlining processes and forming a coalition of key partners. Led by NextGen, the coalition will identify policy and budget solutions, drive legislative change, and engage a broad network of supporters, including employers, community-based organizations (CBOs), educational institutions, and workforce agencies.

Key Partnerships
NextGen was awarded a $6 million grant through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) program to focus on the creation and expansion of public sector registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. One such partnership under this grant is with the Chef Ann Foundation (CAF), a national organization dedicated to ensuring that school food professionals have the resources they need to provide nutritious, locally sourced, healthy school meals to the millions of California K-12 students.
NextGen is providing political strategy and advocacy support to ensure that the Healthy School Food Pathway (HSFP), a first-of-its-kind program developed by CAF, is fully funded. The program supports workforce readiness for scratch-cooked school food and aims to expand the pipeline for the next generation of school food leaders. Open to anyone, from current school food professionals with years of experience to community members who are interested in entering the field, the program helps all participants develop the cooking and administrative skills needed to run successful K-12 school meal programs.

2025 Initiatives
One of NextGen’s 2025 priorities involves long-term strategies related to funding as well as policy and programmatic changes that will facilitate California’s apprenticeship goals. Our priorities include uplifting the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, a $135 million program investment designed to develop new and innovative apprenticeship programs. With a total of $95 million already allocated for the program in the past two years, this crucial funding source is set to run out after 2025, threatening the strong progress that the state has made towards reaching the goal of 500,000 apprentices by 2029.
Our initiative seeks to create a more accessible and scalable apprenticeship system – one that better aligns with employer needs and provides more Californians in the less resourced areas of our state – so called forgotten regions – with the skills and support necessary to begin family-sustaining careers. Through strong public-private partnerships and policymaker engagement, our efforts will expand non-traditional apprenticeship programs in high-demand sectors like IT, behavioral health, and human resources.
NextGen’s Commitment
Expanding apprenticeships in California is essential for creating equitable economic opportunities and addressing workforce shortages. With NextGen’s leadership and strong coalition partners, our team is determined to open doors for all Californians, regardless of where you live, your educational status, or your background, while meeting the state’s critical workforce needs.
NextGen has unique relationships with stakeholders and subject-matter experts across varying perspectives from higher education institutions to industry employers in the public and private sectors. Our expertise is not only centered in bringing communities together to find innovative solutions but also finding seats at the table for those voices unheard and underrepresented in previous legislative and statewide funding efforts.
The state legislative session is just heating up so please expect plenty of engagement opportunities in the near future if this issue is of interest to you &#8212; sign up for workforce development updates and ways to get involved.
Thanks for reading,
Kami Peer

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Apprenticeships

NextGen California Issues Statement on Legislature’s State Budget Proposal

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For Immediate Release: June 18, 2026
Contact: Tyler Bushnell, <a href="mailto:tyler.bushnell@nextgenpolicy.org">tyler.bushnell@nextgenpolicy.org</a>
Statement from NextGen California Executive Director, Arnold Sowell Jr.:
“With the California State Senate and Assembly having reached a budget agreement last week, NextGen California was pleased to see several programmatic investments that advance our policy work,” said Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director for NextGen California. “We are particularly excited about investments in the immigration, veteran, and workforce spaces, including a one-time increase of $100 million towards immigration defense services, $7 million to the Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) pilot program, and $5 million for the Jails to Jobs pilot program at the California Workforce Development Board. Each of these programs provide much-needed benefits and support to vulnerable Californians. Additionally, we are incredibly thankful to the Legislature for continuing to invest in School Meals for All and its affiliated programs, which ensure that millions of students across the state have access to free, healthy school meals.
“NextGen California continues to push for budget investments in a few other issue areas relating to climate, consumer protections, higher education and workforce development policy that were not included in the Legislature’s budget agreement. The NextGen California team continues to do our part to uplift the need for these investments to Governor Newsom as the final budget negotiations take place over the coming weeks. We also thank the Senate for continuing to champion the efforts to establish a stronger Cap-and-Invest program as well as secure more funding for community climate investments. Specifically, NextGen California urges state leaders to pass SB 1216 (Laird) in the final budget package which will help ensure California can achieve its climate goals and finance critical community air protection and climate programs. 
“Additionally, we urge legislators to include $7.25 million to continue the state’s Student Loan Empowerment Network (SLEN) under the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation as California’s 4 million borrowers urgently need student loan counseling services amidst worsening federal policy changes. We will also continue to encourage a robust implementation framework for federal Workforce Pell, including a re-envisioned Cal Grant C program. Furthermore, in the apprenticeship space we’re uplifting the need for a $500,000 funding allocation in order to streamline the registration process for the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS).”
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<a href="https://www.nextgenpolicy.org/">NextGen California</a> is a nonprofit advocacy organization that breaks down barriers and rebalances power in the State Capitol on behalf of all Californians.