On Saturday August 8, 2010, The California Shared Prosperity forum gathered hundreds of grassroots leaders from local and state-wide communities to engage them in a half-day of advocacy training and a chance to express their concerns on such issues as the devastating impact of the state’s budget and fiscal crisis on working families, communities of color and seniors.

After an exciting round of trainings on building electoral power in low-income communities, and how the state budget process works, over 1000 community members filled up the seats at the gymnasium at Pacifica High School to in a forum moderated by USC Professor Dr. Manuel Pastor.

Parent Voices member Gina Jackson and CAUSE member Aracely Preciado directly addressed California State Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma about the state budget crisis and the need to seek targeted revenues solutions.

KRC member and UCLA Student David Cho, CHIRLA member Maria Delgado and PUEBLO member Nayra Pacheco addressed their concerns to candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction Larry Aceves about early childhood education and how we are going to fund our schools in this state budget crisis. 

Hundreds of community members had traveled the state to engage in this important day of training and discussion to build power in their communities and were activated to important issues that directly affect them. They will be taking this knowledge to the November ballot and beyond.

Photo Credit: Korean Resource Center

Click here to see CAP's Riverside Electoral Movement Building Training