As we look ahead at our plans for 2012, we also wanted to take the time to look back at the exciting projects we worked on in 2011 in partnership with our clients. Below, we share some of the best highlights of the year with you:
January:
- Tim Silard, president of the Rosenberg Foundation, writes in Philanthropy News Digest about the state of criminal justice in California and the need for philanthropy to support criminal justice reform efforts.
February:
- The Rosenberg Foundation celebrates its 75th anniversary celebration with an inspiring event featuring social justice, philanthropy and government leaders including Benjamin Jealous of NAACP, the Hon. Kamala D. Harris, Maya Harris of the Ford Foundation and more. The Foundation also releases its multi-year report, and revamped its website.
March:
- The Lawyers' Committee launched a Second Chance Reentry Clinic in San Francisco's the Western Addition, giving former offenders a second chance by connecting them to free legal assistance through pro bono attorneys.
- Also in March, the Equal Justice Society distributes its new, bimonthly e-newsletter.
April:
- Commentary on the urgent need to fix our criminal justice system from NAACP President Ben Jealous and Lawyers' Committee Executive Director Lateefah Simon runs in The Root and on NPR.com. The piece was part of "Justice in California," a publication by the Rosenberg Foundation featuring thought pieces from leading social justice advocates and thinkers.
- Also in April, an unlikely coalition, including tech pioneer Mitch Kapor, gathered in D.C. to release a new NAACP report urging states to spend more on education than incarceration.
May:
- Rosenberg Foundation releases "Justice in California," a publication featuring commentary from some of our leading advocates and leaders.
- Also in May, Mitch Kapor wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle about the need to invest more in schools than in prisons.
June:
- The Mitchell Kapor Foundation hosted the College Bound Brotherhood Graduation in Oakland, Calif., a unique ceremony honoring African American male students from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area who are heading to college in the fall.
- Also in June, Rosenberg Foundation produces a five-minute video on Dukes v. Wal-Mart, the largest civil rights class action lawsuit in U.S. history.
July:
- Social justice leaders Cedric Brown, Arcelia Hurtado, Vincent Pan, Abdi Soltani, Kate Kendell and Nikki Henderson were featured in the San Francisco Chronicle's "Six who make a difference" package, complete with video and a gallery of pictures.
August:
- The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, along with leading civil rights organizations, hosted a San Francisco District Attorney candidates debate.
- Also in August, Mike Cassidy, Silicon Valley columnist for the San Jose Mercury News writes about the Level Playing Field Institute's SMASH program. "Give a kid a chance and you'll be amazed at what happens next."
September:
- It's time to close one or two of California's prisons for women, according to an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle by Rosenberg Foundation's Tim Silard and the California Budget Project's Jean Ross.
October:
- The Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy hosted the "State of the Race" annual conference, and "Celebrating Black Philanthropy" gala reception.
November:
- The African American Art & Culture Complex co-sponsored the world premiere of "Fam Bam" by filmmaker Kevin Epps.
December:
- In the Huffington Post, Eva Paterson of Equal Justice Society interviewed Anthony Graves, an African American who, despite his innocence, was on death row in Texas for more than 12 years.
To read more about our work and the results we were able to deliver for our clients in 2011, find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChangeConsultingLLC.
