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 Repeal of ACA Will Harm Children and Families in Unprecedented Ways
Urban Institute report shows ACA repeal would increase ranks of California uninsured by nearly 5 millionLOS ANGELES, CA – The Urban Institute released a new report that looks at the implications of a partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and makes clear what is at stake for California children and families. If Congress moves forward with its intent to repeal the ACA without an immediate, responsible, and sustainable replacement, the number of uninsured children would more than double, from 4% to 9% nationwide, and the health of millions of Americans would be in jeopardy.Congressional leaders have announced that their first order of business in the new Congress is to pass a reconciliation bill modeled after the 2015 reconciliation bill that repeals the ACA without a replacement plan. In California, Congress' inability to negotiate an agreement on a replacement of the ACA [...]
Children’s Defense Fund – California and Public Counsel Release Report on Racial Justice and Educational Equity in Long Beach Schools
Long Beach, CA – Children's Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) and Public Counsel released a report Tuesday about educational equity and racial justice in Long Beach schools. The report, [Untold Stories Behind One of America's Best Urban School Districts][4], is a bold vision for Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) to build and foster positive learning environments for all students. "The report combines a deep analysis of data and policies with the lived experiences of LBUSD students and community stakeholders who have long been advocating for higher commitment and investment in social emotional supports," said Angelica Salazar, senior policy associate for CDF-CA and coauthor of the report. "A deep look at the district's data found the racial disparity of suspensions issued to White and Black students continues to increase, while the written policies are primarily punitive, and community keeps asking for more school support [...]
New U.S. Census State and Local Data on Poverty Underscores Need for Bold Action to Reduce Child Poverty in California
U.S. Census Bureau data released today reveal that 1.9 million California children (21.2%) lived in poverty in 2015, down slightly since 2014, when 2.05 million California children (22.7%) were poor. Children remain the poorest age group, and research confirms that poverty is especially devastating for children. Children of color continue to be disproportionately poor: 28.5% (1,328,619) of Latino children, 31.0% (150,457) of Black children, 11.4% (115,846) of Asian children and 33.2% (23,300) of American Indian/Alaska Native children were poor in 2015, compared to 10.3% (240,953) of White children. A striking number of California children live in extreme poverty, defined as less than half the poverty level, putting them at severe risk of homelessness, trauma, and hunger. In 2015, 795,846 California children (8.9%) lived in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $33 a day for a family of four. "Child poverty is an [...]
Working hard, playing hard
Last month CDF-CA participated in two excursions to strengthen the movements for boys and men of color, and women and girls of color.
Youth Converge on Sacramento to #FreeOurDreams
Nearly 500 youth and adult allies – including CDF-CA youth leaders from Long Beach – made their voices heard in Sacramento this month. After a weekend summit, the youth participated in a youth-led rally, shared their stories at a legislative hearing of the Select Committee
Youth Spotlight: Maria Gonzalez
Maria Gonzalez considered herself an introvert.