$1.5 Million for Holocaust Education

Dear Friends,

The State Legislature just passed a budget "trailer bill" – which amends the previous budget bill – that includes $1.5 million for the California Teachers Collaborative on Holocaust and Genocide Education. The trailer bill now heads to the Governor's desk.

The Collaborative is developing robust lesson plans and teacher training initiatives to educate 6th-12th graders about the impact of letting bigotry go unchecked. It was established by the JFCS Holocaust Center in San Francisco in 2021, and now includes 14 major Holocaust and genocide educational organizations from across the state – including many JPAC members. This funding will allow the Collaborative to expand their work and reach over a million California students by 2027.

This was a top priority for JPAC and the Legislative Jewish Caucus, and a big last-minute win in the final days of the legislative session. Coupled with the $20 million secured for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (more on that below), we had a successful year amidst a major budget deficit.

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In other end-of-session news, we have 12 priority bills that are likely heading to the Governor's desk (plus three bills that have already passed). These bills enhance community security and access to healthcare, combat hunger and poverty, and stem the tide of gun violence and climate change.

Click Here to Track the Status of Our Bills

Stay tuned for action alerts where you can join us in urging the Governor to sign our priority bills into law!

Onward,

David Bocarsly

Executive Director, JPAC

SAVE THE DATE: JPAC Capitol Summit

May 14-15, 2024 · Sheraton Grand, Sacramento

Nonprofit Security Grant Program – Deadline Extended

CalOES met our request to extend the deadline for Nonprofit Security Grant Program applications. The four week delay pushes the deadline past the Jewish holiday season so Jewish institutions aren't at a disadvantage.

Nonprofits at risk of hate-motivated violence can now apply for grants to secure their institutions of up to $250,000 for one site, and up to $500,000 for two sites.

The deadline to apply is now Friday, October 27, 2023, at 5:00 PM sharp.**

Nonprofit Security Grant Program Information

Please share this information with synagogues and other institutions who might benefit from this program.

ICYMI: Ethnic Studies Developments

In response to our urging, the Governor and the State Board of Education sent a letter to every public school in California highlighting the model curriculum, uplifting the guardrails to avoid discriminatory content, and mentioning that some vendors are shopping around noncompliant curricula. You can read more about this major development in JTA, Jewish Insider, The J., Jewish Journal, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel.

The California Department of Education hosted a webinar on antisemitism, which included a discussion on ethnic studies. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond was joined by Jewish Caucus leaders and our own Dr. Anita Friedman. You can rewatch it here.

JPAC is the voice of California’s Jewish community to the State Capitol, and the largest single-state coalition of Jewish organizations in the nation. We advocate in Sacramento on behalf of the Jewish community’s concerns and broadly shared values. Our member organizations collectively serve hundreds of thousands of Californians of all backgrounds and represent the interests of California’s 1.2 million Jews.

JPAC is a Coalition of California's Leading Jewish Community Organizations:

Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles • Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund • JCRC Bay Area • Jewish Family Service LA • Jewish Family and Children’s Services of SF • 30 Years After • American Jewish Committee • Anti-Defamation League • Bet Tzedek Legal Services • ETTA • Hadassah • HIAS • Holocaust Museum Los Angeles • JCRC of Jewish Silicon Valley • Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles • Jewish Center for Justice • Jewish Community Relations Council of Sacramento • Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay • Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Long Beach and Orange County • Jewish Family Service of San Diego • Jewish Family Service of the Desert • Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley • Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara • Jewish Federation of Orange County • Jewish Federation of San Diego County • Jewish Federation of the Desert • Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys • Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region • Jewish Free Loan Association • Jewish Long Beach • Jewish Vocational Service San Francisco • JVS SoCal

Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) | www.jpac-cal.org