Welcome to the first Local Progress California State Download of the year!Â
Despite the barrage of attacks our communities are facing from the federal government, it’s important to remember that now, more than ever, is when we need leaders like you to be at the helm of the fight. And we’re ready to be right there with you whether you need messaging support, policy guidance, or if you’re interested in connecting with another Local Progress network member, please reach out to me or grab some time on my calendar to chat.
🤝 Meeting You Where You’re AtÂ
Local Progress California partnered with Education Justice Academy to host a social for School Board Members attending the annual California School Board Association conference in December! Over 60 school board members from across the state showed up to meet one another and learn about LP and EJA’s new and growing partnership meant to support California’s progressive school board members. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to Liz Alcantar, California Coordinator, or Kathleen Pointer, School Board Program Manager.
🌱 Bay Area PGL
At the end of 2024, LP California, re:power, and the Bay Rising coalition launched the Progressive Governance Lab in Oakland to ensure that newly elected local officials have the resources, tools, and network needed to be successful leaders at the local level. We were joined by 17 council members, school board members, county supervisors, and parks district members from different jurisdictions in the Bay to train on skills like power mapping, relational organizing, and coalition building. We’re taking an organizer’s approach to local governance! 💪
đź’¬ Building Our Public Safety Message
Nearly 20 of our LPCA members in Los Angeles County joined our team for a training with Vera Institute of Justice where we learned about how to frame and talk about issues of crime, policing, and reform of the criminal legal system.Â
Our members also heard directly from advocates like Catalyst California, La Defensa, and LA Forward about the work they take on to address public safety in a way that aligns with our values and supports our local communities.
Born and raised in Santa Ana, Jessie Lopez is a daughter of immigrants who has devoted her life to serving the Santa Ana community. In 2020, Jessie earned the support of her neighbors and was elected to serve Ward 3 on the Santa Ana City Council, and later served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2023. She has been an active member of the Local Progress Women’s Caucus and currently leads as Co-Chair.
In her first term, Jessie Lopez successfully won on several policy fronts including the creation of a police oversight committee for greater accountability, an improved Climate Action Plan in the city of Santa Ana, and the passage of rent stabilization and just cause- a win we featured in our Stable Rents, Rooted Communities guide.
Jessie Lopez was born and raised in Santa Ana, CA, to two working-class parents from El Salvador. A proud graduate of SAUSD schools, she became the first in her family to graduate college and worked as many as two jobs to afford school. She is also an Orange County Environmental Justice member.
❤️ Fund our Communities. Protect our Neighbors.
Congress is soon expected to consider H.R. 32 – the “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities” Act – a bill that would force localities and states to choose between facilitating mass deportations or losing otherwise unrelated health, education, transportation, and other local funding. This bill is a blatant attempt to scapegoat immigrant communities and punish localities that stand up for them. We need local electeds to take bold action—this means speaking out, rallying your communities, and holding your members of Congress accountable. Check out our Fund Our Communities Digital Toolkit and accompanying talking points.
Please also add your name to our sign-on letter for state and local officials to demand Congress reject this harmful and divisive bill.
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💪🏾 Public School Strong Training Series
Our partners at HEAL Together have kicked off Solidarity 2025 – an eight-week training series designed to equip activist parents, educators, school board members, students, and allies to unite against the attacks on public education outlined in Project 2025. The training series is part of the Public School Strong campaign and is designed to empower participants to advocate for students, schools, and communities at local school boards and beyond. Participants will gain critical insights into federal policy proposals, actionable strategies for mobilizing around shared values, and tools like model policies, school board resolutions, and organizing lessons. Register here.
đź“Ł Communications Resources for YOU
Need a quick brush up on interviewing best practices before an interview? Want to engage with your community on social media, but not sure what platform is best for you? Check out LP’s new Communications Tools & Guides!
From the full-time city council member to the part-time school board member, every local elected official uses communication tools. But not all members and staff have the same resources and knowledge at their disposal to take advantage of news cycles, viral moments, or respond to bad faith attacks. The above resources are now live, so you can build confidence and skill using communications tools at your own pace!
Have additional questions or need 1:1 comms support? Reach out to helpdesk@localprogress.org to get in touch with the comms team!
🏡 Your New Caucus Home
Introducing our one stop shop for caucus events! Trying to remember when that next Women’s Caucus meeting is? Looking for the link to complete your Pride Caucus Survey? Look no further! This link will continuously be updated with all upcoming Caucus events and asks so that you can constantly refer to it and make sure you’re up to date on when your next caucus meetings are.
On the calendar for March
- 📆 Pride Caucus Listening Session – Tuesday, March 4 at 12pm ET/9am PT
- 📆 Black Caucus general membership meeting: Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm ET/4pm PT
- 📆 Nuestro Caucus general membership meeting: Monday, March 24 at 5pm ET/2pm PT
- 📆 Women’s Caucus general membership meeting: Thursday, March 27 at 5pm ET/2pm PT
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⚡️ National Convening Registration OPEN for Members & Alumni!
Join us in Chicago on July 10-12! We’re bringing together Local Progress members, partners, and movement allies from across the country for a weekend of strategy building, peer learning, and leadership development – complete with dozens of workshops, sharing sessions, community spaces, and site visits! As local elected leaders in this moment, we must continue organizing in our communities and across the country. And in the face of hostile state and federal actors that have shown us they will only govern for the wealthy few, it is our moral responsibility and democratic duty to govern for everyone. That’s why we are proud to share the theme for this year’s convening: Organize Together. Govern for All. Members, check your email for your invite and register by March 3 for an Early Bird Discount!
We are organizing a partners pipeline briefing to connect the existing movement pipeline to support the transition from candidate to elected as they step in these new roles to lead and govern. During this briefing, partners will:
- Learn about LP and the Impact Lab’s network and our strategic framework.
- Learn about the impact of LP and the Impact Lab’s work.Â
- Gain an understanding of how they can support the movement pipeline from candidate to governance.
