For our Season 2 finale of Courage — It Looks Good on You! , we’re looking ahead to 2024! Specifically the 2024 primary election, taking place in California in March, and how one of California’s most important voting-blocks, Latinas, can shape the future. According to a UCLA study , “turnout gaps between Latinos—one of the fastest-growing demographic groups— will lead to election results that are increasingly unrepresentative of the wishes of many voters… [however] research has shown that having...
Oct 17, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 8
The 2022-23 California legislative session may have come to an end, and in our guest’s opinion, was an “epic fail” – but the people still have opportunities to impact change in our communities, by urging Gov. Newsom to sign key legislation and voting for transformative ballot measures in the upcoming 2024 election. Jay Hockley Sr., a community organizer at Initiate Justice, joins Irene Kao, Executive Director of Courage California, to discuss the fate of important 2023 public safety bills he adv...
Oct 03, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 7
The UFW has been instrumental in passing laws, securing protections for farm workers, and advocating for immigration reform, but there is still much work to be done, and fast, due to the severity of the climate crisis. Year after year, increased temperatures and natural disasters have proven fatal for farm workers – even in California, where we have some of the strictest labor laws. So why are advocates pushing for a national response, especially if California’s laws would remain stronger? The D...
Sep 19, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 6
School districts nationwide, including here in California, have been up against right-wing activists who have been pushing back against the LGBTQ+ community in education. While this is nothing new, in recent years there has been an uptick in activists pushing misinformation, strategically electing right-wing leaders to school boards, and passing discriminatory policies in our schools. San Bernardino City Unified School District board member, Abigail Medina, joins Angela Chavez, communications di...
Sep 05, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 5
As the 2022-23 California Legislative calendar year comes to an end, voters will soon be bombarded with campaign ads and candidates making impressive claims and promises about themselves, and damning claims about their opponents, all in an attempt to win your 2024 vote. But thanks to Courage Score , Californians can tune-out the campaign noise (and misinformation) and see the receipts firsthand. Irene Kao, executive director of Courage California joins Angela Chavez, to discuss all things Courag...
Aug 22, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Californians overwhelmingly care about the environment and climate change. Courage California’s newly released polling provides us with a better understanding as to what exactly this means to our state’s diverse communities – how Californians view it, are impacted by it, who they believe is responsible for it – and what this means for the future of environmental racism and justice. According to the poll, communities that are overburdened by climate change contributing industries, are not willing...
Aug 08, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In the aftermath of the Antioch Police Department’s “racist text scandal” – in which texts were released that revealed decades of police officers using derogatory, homophobic and sexually explicit language, and bragging about falsifying evidence and beating up suspects – community members are left picking up the pieces, facing hard truths, and in need of healing. James Herard, executive director of Lift Up Contra Costa , joins Angela Chavez, communications director at Courage California, to disc...
Jul 25, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 2
We're kicking off season two of Courage — It Looks Good On You! with Steve Phillips, author of "Brown Is the New White: How the Demographic Revolution Has Created a New American Majority" and the newly released national bestselling book "How We Win the Civil War: Securing a Multiracial Democracy and Ending White Supremacy for Good." Steve Phillips, joined by Irene Kao, executive director of Courage California, discusses his new book and what exactly it will take to prote...
Jul 11, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Join us in June for a new season of Courage — It Looks Good On You! We’ll be covering an array of topics to ensure you're an empowered voter, and Californian. If you have any questions or topic suggestions please feel free to email us at Info@couragecalifornia.org. With You, fashioned in Courage, We Can create a California that represents and serves us all. Connect with us: @CourageCA #CourageLooksGoodOnYou Support: couragecalifornia.org/donate...
Apr 26, 2023•44 sec•Season 2Ep. 1
Hear from our Courageous team members – who have been busy helping pass progressive state legislation, getting out the vote for our elections, and holding our electeds accountable – to find out what they’re thankful for in 2022. Spoiler alert, we’re all a bit thankful to the California voters who made their voices heard in the midterm elections! With You, fashioned in Courage, We Can create a California that represents and serves us all. Connect with us: @CourageCA #CourageLooksGoodOnYou Support...
Nov 18, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Today we're talking about California's youth vote! We polled young voters in our state's key Congressional toss-up districts -- and found that young voters care, plan to vote, and lean progressive – but want parties and candidates to EARN their vote. What will it take to turn out the youth vote in California? Join our colleague Lindsay West in a conversation with Bulmaro 'Boomer' Vicente , Policy Director for Chispa in Orange County and former candidate for State Assembl...
Oct 24, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 9
California's 2022 Legislative session is long-gone. While our state’s environmental and climate justice advocates saw some wins this cycle – we also saw some disappointing failures, such as Justice40, which died in the Senate. AB 2419 — introduced by Assemblymember Bryan (CA-54) – would have created an equity framework for federal climate and infrastructure funds, mandating that 40% of those federal funds directly benefit communities facing the greatest environmental burdens. The California...
Sep 27, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 8
As we head into the General Election season, what ALL Californians should be focused on is our state’s voter turnout. In this episode Jay Chotirmal, Courage California’s Senior Communications and Voter Engagement Manager, has a conversation with James Herard, ED of Lift Up Contra Costa, and Cindy Lee, Field Organizer at Hmong Innovating Politics, about what happened during California’s 2022 primaries. We’ll learn about what the challenges were and what organizers identify as the GOTV needs of th...
Aug 19, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The California Legislature is currently on Summer recess – returning in Aug. Lawmakers adopted a $300 billion dollar state budget , that will provide refunds to most taxpayers in the state, boost public education funding, and expand abortion access. The following made the cut: $2.3 billion to provide healthcare access to all income-eligible Californians through full-scope Medi-Cal, extending access to more undocumented Californians $35.2 million to expand CalFresh to all, regardless of immigrati...
Jul 11, 2022•9 min•Season 1Ep. 6
The Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – which overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey – ending the right to safe and legal abortion in the United States. In this episode we learn what the Supreme Court decision means for California, and how California’s fight to expand abortion rights and access can be a model for the nation. Nourbese Flint interviews Onyemma Obiekea, Policy Analyst at Black Women for Wellness/Action Project , Shannon...
Jun 26, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 5
LisaMarie Betancourt interviews two Central Valley healing justice advocates, community organizer Grisanti Valencia & Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Gidai Maaza. What roles are communities currently occupying in public safety? What are the small entry points we all can make for collective healing? In this episode, we talk about healing justice for communities most impacted by policing and least served by current community care models. Healed people heal people. With You, fashioned in...
Jun 16, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 4
LisaMarie Betancourt interviews co-founder of the Prosecutors Alliance of California , Cristine Soto DeBerry for a conversation about lasting public safety. How do we create safer communities for everyone? Who is harmed and what is criminal? In this episode, we talk about the impacts of crime and punishment in California, victimization, and how progressive prosecutors throughout California are critically engaging with the legal system to heal communities and prevent crime before it happens. Shot...
May 03, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Jay Chotirmal interviews Data for Social Good ’s Jose Bedolla and Lisa Garcia Bedolla to learn about the ins and outs of political polling and pollsters, the people behind the polls. As most Americans have experienced, polls aren’t always reliable – but it turns out, even inaccurate polls can provide us with important information. Who funds, conducts, and is surveyed for polls can be just as informative. Inclusivity matters when working to pass policies and elect leaders who truly represent all ...
May 03, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Irene Kao interviews Executive Director of Communities for a New California Pablo Rodriguez, and Los Angeles Supervisor Holly Mitchell in this episode to learn more about the word progressive and the progressive movement. We unpack how the terminology translates across diverse parts of California, and how Holly and Pablo are working towards progressive goals in their respective communities. Shot of Courage: Do you have an election coming up in your district? Visit couragevoterguide.org to find o...
Apr 04, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 1
You're invited to join us on April 4 for the launch of " Courage — It Looks Good On You!" Courage California is fighting for a California that works for all of us – by providing the information and resources Californians need to hold their elected officials accountable. Courage — It Looks Good On You! will help keep Californians informed about the issues – and help you discover the different ways to courageously participate in the democratic process and ensure your voices are hear...
Mar 31, 2022•2 min
