What’s Next: Looking ahead to May! ✅🌤️ Get caught up on NextGen’s policy work, new projects, & more
April 22, 2024
The month of April is halfway over and a lot has been happening at NextGen. In this issue of What’s Next, we showcase the brand new Cal Grant Reform website; highlight the latest op-ed from leading climate investor and NextGen founder Tom Steyer; spotlight a first-of-its-kind public education campaign focused on School Food Professionals; and uplift plenty more that you won’t want to miss!
Don’t forget – there’s more than one way to stay abreast of what’s happening here at NextGen! Get notified when new posts are shared to NextGen’s Let’s Talk blog, an easy way to receive news and updates from our policy team – sign up with just a click!
With that, let’s dive into What’s Next:
★ Check Out the New Cal Grant Reform Website: To make higher education more affordable, California students deserve Cal Grant Reform! Learn more about why college students, higher education advocates, business groups, workforce organizations, and many others, including NextGen, are in coalition asking State Legislators to reform the state’s premiere financial aid system!
★ Read the Latest from Climate Expert Tom Steyer: In case you missed it, NextGen founder and one of the world’s leading climate investors Tom Steyer recently wrote an op-ed, which was published in the Sacramento Bee! In his op-ed, Tom breaks down why the economic benefits of the climate disclosure laws – SB 253 (Wiener) and SB 261 (Stern) – which were signed into law by the Governor last year and strongly supported by NextGen, are good for the climate and also benefit responsible businesses. “These rules help the market in how they level the playing field among private and public companies by creating clear guidelines and standards for something many companies are already doing,” writes Tom in his op-ed.
★ Meet the School Food Pros Cooking Up Change: Do you believe as the NextGen Policy team does in the importance of providing California kids with healthy, nutritious school meals? That’s why we’re beyond excited to share the launch of Powered by School Food Professionals! This first-of-its-kind public-education campaign is putting a spotlight on the skill, creativity, contributions, and commitment of School Food Professionals working to improve school meals for kids across the state – learn more, including how you can get involved!
★ Learn About Available Extensions and Help for FAFSA: Are you a current or aspiring college student, or do you know any students filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) this year? To understand if you are eligible for thousands of dollars in grants – complete your FAFSA or CADAA by May 2nd, 2024 to see if you’re eligible for financial aid for the 2024-25 academic year!
Get ready, friends! The Big Day of Giving is fast approaching on
Thursday, May 2nd! 👐 🎁
In celebration of the upcoming Big Day of Giving, and in the spirit of generosity, please consider making a donation in support of NextGen’s work! Help us continue advocating for policies and programs that aid California’s most vulnerable communities, and together let’s ensure our fight for equity, justice, and progress continues:
★ Did You Know? Earlier this month, the NextGen team joined over 40 organizations at the California State Capitol for Digital Equity Advocacy Day! We held 24 meetings with state legislative offices, filled the Assembly Communications & Conveyance (C&C) Committee hearing room to demonstrate our support for AB 2239, provided public comment on its vital importance, and showed the strength of our coalition through the diverse representation of our partners from all across the state and from various sectors; including education, healthcare, housing, immigration, youth organizations, and more! We came together to deliver one clear message for California Legislators: the time for digital equity is now! You can watch a full recording of the opening rally for Digital Equity Advocacy Day to hear from advocates and fellow Californians on why now is the time for affordable, fast, and reliable internet access for all Californians.
NextGen Policy’s Chief Deputy Director Adriana Sanchez-Ochoa, Program Manager & Policy Advisor Arturo Juarez, Policy Intern & Program Coordinator A’Mari Truby-McKay, and fellow advocates and partner organizations at the California State Capitol for Digital Equity Advocacy Day.
★ Member Spotlight: This week, we’re shining a spotlight on Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who represents California’s 25th Assembly District and chairs the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Assemblymember Kalra is the author of AB 2065, a criminal justice reform bill which NextGen is proud to co-sponsor. AB 2065 would address racial discrimination and bias in California’s criminal proceedings by allowing access to publicly available criminal justice data to expedite case processing. Thank you Assemblymember Kalra for your work addressing the inequities and disparities in California’s judicial system – follow Assemblymember Kalra to learn more about his legislative work!
★ Legislative Deadlines and Insights: This week the Capitol Community finds itself facing a deadline as fiscal bills, legislation that has a cost to implement and which comprise the bulk of the bill universe, must pass out of policy committees by April 26th to continue along in the legislative process. Generally, many of the most controversial and complicated pieces of legislation make their way through policy committees this week.
California faces a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall this year. The Governor’s January budget proposal projected the deficit at $38 billion; however, we will not know the official number until the May Revision is released next month. This month the Legislature passed and Governor Newsom signed AB 106, which contains early budget actions – provisions that will begin to make a dent in reducing the state’s projected budget deficit by $17.3 billion. Once the May Revision is released, the Legislature and Governor will start the negotiation process to balance the budget and finalize the 2024-2025 state budget.
★ Our Mission: NextGen Policy fights for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, gender, and economic inequities through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement.