Here’s your December digest on NextGen Policy’s work! ❄️
December 9, 2024
Season’s Greetings from your friends at NextGen Policy!
With just a few short weeks left in 2024, our team is hard at work wrapping up a few important projects while we also get a head start on our 2025 budget and policy priorities. In this issue of What’s Next, we take a closer look at several items we’ve been working on, including a recap of our recent Free My Future Student Loan Debt Summit; information on an upcoming meeting of California’s Racial Equity Commission that you’ll want to mark on your calendar; recent news coverage on our partnership with Freedom Through Education focused on meeting the workforce needs of underserved Sacramento communities; and lots more that we’re excited to share with you!
So, find a place to get cozy and warm, and let’s jump into a new issue of What’s Next at NextGen Policy.
★ Thanks for Joining Our Free My Future Summit: The NextGen Policy team would like to extend a huge thank you to the more than 700 registrants who signed up to join this year’s Free My Future Student Loan Debt Summit! The goal of the Free My Future Summit, as always, is to empower student borrowers by providing them with up-to-date information, resources, and technical assistance. We fielded a great line-up of policymakers, student activists, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders to answer questions and address other important issues related to the nation’s student debt crisis. With the pending change in the federal administration, this year’s Summit could not have come at a better time.
★ Upcoming Racial Equity Commission Meeting: Mark your calendars for the upcoming meeting of the California Racial Equity Commission! Specifically, the Racial Equity Commission’s Community Engagement Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, December 19th at the California Natural Resources Agency (located at 715 P Street in downtown Sacramento) starting at 1 p.m. PT. There will be opportunities for public comment so attendees can share their perspectives on ways to improve policies and programs focused on addressing social, racial, and economic disparities in our state. If you can’t attend the meeting in person, register here to join virtually.
★ Addressing Sacramento’s Workforce Needs: NextGen Policy is partnering with Freedom Through Education – a local nonprofit agency focused on guiding justice involved individuals from dependence to independence – to help address the pressing workforce training needs of Sacramento’s underserved communities! Our organizations are working together to help strengthen and expand the workforce training opportunities and programs in the Sacramento region, particularly through skills development and job placement support. Read about our partnership with Freedom Through Education and the important work we’ll be doing in 2025! Additionally, learn more about NextGen Policy’s ongoing efforts to help foster a healthy and thriving workforce here in California.
Catch up with NextGen Policy by reading the latest post on our Let’s Talk blog!
In honor of last month’s Veteran’s Day celebration, NextGen Policy’s Executive Director Arnie Sowell wrote a special blog post on Arlington National Cemetery and its personal connection to his family, as well as his thoughts on a notable incident that occurred at the cemetery earlier this year and its effect on our democracy.
★ Did You Know? Here’s some exciting news – NextGen Policy is now active on Bluesky! Connect with us on Bluesky to keep up with our team of policy experts as we work to address some of the most critical issues impacting California communities including providing climate solutions, addressing the student debt crisis, solving food insecurity, removing barriers to digital equity, and so much more. If you haven’t yet, follow NextGen Policy on Bluesky today and catch up on our recent posts!
★ Member Spotlight: For this issue of What’s Next, we’re shining a spotlight on all of the incoming members of the California State Legislature. There will be a total of 28 new members in both the State Assembly and Senate, including a historic record number of 59 women serving in the 120-member State Legislature! This includes 38 women in the 80-member State Assembly and 21 women in the 40-member State Senate. The NextGen Policy team would like to give a warm welcome to all of the legislators who were sworn in on December 2nd. Check out the full list of Assemblymembers here, and the full list of Senators here!
★ 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.
Thank you for being a part of our journey toward a more equitable California. As we continue to push for progressive policy change, we invite you to make a difference by donating to support our organization. Your contribution will directly impact our efforts to address environmental, social, and economic inequities throughout the state.
Thank you,
NextGen Policy