Ian Leui, Jazmin de Luna, Manual Lopez, Samantha Galindo and Samarea Johnson were honored in December at our 28th annual CDF Beat the Odds® gala. They mingled with celebrities and enjoyed an evening where they were the center of attention, and their hard work – at school, home and in their community – was recognized. Now we are accepting applications for our next cohort of students to be a part of the CDF Beat the Odds family. Our online application portal is open through March 29. The program honors outstanding young people who demonstrate academic commitment, are involved in improving their community while overcoming adversity. Through a competitive review process, we will select five deserving high school freshmen from the greater Los Angeles area to receive academic support geared towards college enrollment and completion. In order to apply students must write a personal statement that describes their hardships and how they have overcome them and get a letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, casework or any other unrelated adult. Other requirements can be found online. Application deadline is March 29.
More Featured Updates
A Victory for Health in South L.A.
On June 2nd, Alex Johnson, Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund - California, and Lorena Sanchez, Health Programs Coordinator, joined nurses and medical staff from Compton Unified School District to celebrate the official accreditation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital
California Sends Largest Delegation Ever to Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® National Training in Tennessee
Over 300 college students and graduates, teachers, probation officers, artists, and nonprofit partners will build skills to empower children through the CDF Freedom Schools summer literacy program Knoxville, TN – This week, Children's Defense Fund-California will convene a delegation of over 300 California participants at the 2015 Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute for the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program. During the intense, week-long training, college-aged Servant Leader Interns, teachers, community leaders, probation officers and program coordinators will learn how to deliver the CDF Freedom Schools curriculum and make learning fun. "The Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute provides methodological, philosophical and moral foundation for the_ CDF Freedom Schools_ program," said Alex Johnson, Executive Director of the Children's Defense Fund - California. "Participants not only develop the skills and knowledge necessary to operate a successful program site back in their community - [...]
Children’s Health Advocates Hail California’s Budget as a Historic Leap Toward Health Coverage for All Children
SACRAMENTO, CA — Children's health advocates commended state legislators and Governor Jerry Brown for crafting a budget that addresses key children's health priorities. The budget agreement includes $40 million in 2015-16 to expand access to Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible children, regardless of immigration status. "Thanks to leaders in California's Legislature and Governor Brown, more than 170,000 undocumented children will get access to health coverage, and the preventive care they need to grow up healthy and lead productive lives," said Wendy Lazarus, Founder and Co-President of The Children's Partnership. "This budget is a tremendous step toward providing coverage to every California child. When we invest in our hardworking families and their children, we will see substantial and lasting impacts that benefit all Californians." "California is stronger when everyone has access to health care, including our immigrant children and families," said Corey Timpson, Director [...]
Contra Costa County Bans Solitary Confinement of Youth
Alex Johnson, Executive Director of Children’s Defense Fund-California, issued the following statement following Contra Costa County Probation Department’s decision to end its use of solitary confinement for all youth detained in Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall. “Contra Costa County’s settlement agreement ending the punitive, prolonged isolation of our most vulnerable youth inside our juvenile justice facilities is a historic victory for youth and families. We must end the punitive incarceration model and extend what Contra Costa County did throughout the state by passing Senate Bill 124 introduced by Senator Mark Leno to place strict limitations on the use of solitary confinement in juvenile justice facilities and provide youth a pathway toward healing and success.” Related Links: Senate Mark Leno Statement Ella Baker Center Press Release Public Counsel Press Release Senate Bill 124 to End Youth Solitary Media Contact Cadonna [...]
Children’s Defense Fund-California Joins with Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center to Connect Lynwood and Compton Children with Health Coverage
Los Angeles, CA - The Children's Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) is proud to welcome a new partner, Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center, to support the non-profit organization's successful efforts to enroll uninsured children in health coverage. Together with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), CDF-CA has spearheaded a systematic approach to supporting schools in Compton, Lynwood, Pico Rivera, and El Monte in developing strategies that connect uninsured children with health coverage. "CDF-CA works tirelessly with schools and communities to ensure that every child has access to free and affordable health coverage. We are excited that the Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center is partnering with us. There are too many children and families in Compton and Lynwood that are not able to visit a doctor or a dentist when they need one, which interferes with their ability to do well in school and [...]
Governor’s Proposed Tax Credit for Working Poor Families is a Positive First Step to Reduce Child Poverty in California
In response to Governor Brown's May Revise budget proposal released today, Alex Johnson, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund-California, issued this statement:"Governor Brown has taken a positive first step to reduce California's highest-in-the-nation child poverty rate by proposing a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that will help working poor families make ends meet. We are pleased that Governor Brown is recognizing the urgency of addressing the state's child poverty crisis and proposing some relief for Californians who have not seen the benefits of the economic recovery."Growing up poor negatively impacts the entire trajectory of a child's life and reinforces a generational cycle of poverty that steals hope and opportunity from our most vulnerable children. California needs a bold, comprehensive multi-year plan to end child poverty – and with state revenue surging, we have the resources to make a commitment to end the [...]