California Forward

CALIFORNIA FORWARD (CA FWD) LEADS A STATEWIDE MOVEMENT, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS COMMUNITIES, REGIONS AND INTERESTS TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT AND CREATE INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FOR EVERYONE.

CALIFORNIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT, THE CALIFORNIA DREAM INDEX, GATEWAY CITIES, RESILIENT LANDSCAPES AND A DELIBERATIVE POLL : CA FWD ORGANIZED WORK GROUPS AND REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS THAT CULMINATED IN THE CALIFORNIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT, CONTINUING THE COMPREHENSIVE ROADMAP TO SHARED PROSPERITY. THE PLAN OUTLINES PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON HOUSING FOR ALL, EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES, ECOSYSTEM & CLIMATE RESILIENCY, THRIVING ECONOMIES, EDUCATION CRADLE TO CAREER AND CONNECTING CALIFORNIA. STATE LAWMAKERS AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH LEADERS ARE INVOLVED IN MANY ASPECTS OF THE SUMMIT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT JOB CREATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND BETTER MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS PROGRAM BUILDS A STATEWIDE MOVEMENT, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS COMMUNITIES, REGIONS AND INTERESTS TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT AND CREATE INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FOR EVERYONE. THE PROGRAM DRIVES COLLECTIVE ACTION TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO SCALE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES THE STATE IS FACING, DRIVEN BY THE BELIEF THAT THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF REGIONAL SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE STATE WILL HELP ENSURE THE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SOCIAL PROSPERITY OF ALL PEOPLE. WE START WITH THE EVIDENCE. THE DATA GATHERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DREAM INDEX SERVES AS OUR "NORTH STAR," ALLOWING US TO TRACK ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND KEEP OURSELVES AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROGRESS.

CALIFORNIA STEWARDSHIP NETWORK, YOUNG LEADERS ADVISORY AND REGIONS RISE TOGETHER:WE CENTER OUR WORK IN CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE REGIONS WITH THE POWER OF THE CALIFORNIA STEWARDSHIP NETWORK, AN ALLIANCE OF REGIONAL LEADERS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON TRIPLE-BOTTOM-LINE SOLUTIONS THAT BALANCE EQUITY, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE BACKBONE FOR AN ALLIANCE OF REGIONAL LEADERS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON TRIPLE-BOTTOM-LINE SOLUTIONS THAT BALANCE EQUITY, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. CA FWD IS COMMITTED TO ELEVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DIVERSE AND EMPOWERED LEADERS THROUGH THE BECKY MORGAN STEWARD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND OUR YOUNG LEADERS ADVISORY COUNCIL. ENSURING MARGINALIZED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS FROM DIVERSE REGIONS, COMMUNITIES, RACES AND ETHNICITIES HAVE A VOICE IN ADVANCING ACCESS TO GREATER ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS. CA FWD HAS PARTNERED WITH THE NEWSOM ADMINISTRATION ON ORGANIZING CONVENING'S WITH REGIONAL LEADERS TO LIFT UP AND EMPOWER REGIONAL APPROACHES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE REGIONS RISE TOGETHER INITIATIVE.

CALIFORNIA DREAM FOR ALL: HOUSING HAS BECOME THE PRIMARY OBSTACLE TO LIVABILITY IN ALMOST EVERY REGION. HIGH COSTS ARE PUSHING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND MANY INTO HOMELESSNESS. COMPOUNDING EXISTING HOUSING CHALLENGES, LONGER COMMUTES NEGATIVELY IMPACT AIR QUALITY AND WORKER'S HEALTH, WHILE MORE AND MORE EMPLOYERS STRUGGLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN SKILLED WORKERS.CALIFORNIA FORWARD, TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS, HAS RISEN TO THIS CHALLENGE WITH AMBITIOUS POLICY INITIATIVES AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH TRIPLE-BOTTOM-LINE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS.