START NOW TO GET A KIDS FUNDING MEASURE ON THE 2024 BALLOT
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This is a message for our colleagues who have been thinking about creating a local children and youth fund in California - or who want to encourage the organizations in their network to consider a fund.
We have learned a lot about mounting successful campaigns since 2016 when we started helping folks create dedicated funds for kids. If you have found the idea of having a children and youth fund in your city or county tempting, this is your chance to learn more and asses whether it is feasible.
You may think we are crazy to start talking about elections in November 2024 - we are not. We have learned that if you start now, and ONLY if you start now or very soon, can you be positioned for success.
On the agenda:
- how to get started
- timelines and deadlines
- evaluating the potential for success
- a step-by-step overview of the process of developing a measure and mounting a campaign
Margaret Brodkin of Funding the Next Generation will be joined by Nicole Derse of 50+1 Strategies, as well as a current campaign leader who will describe the benefits of starting far ahead of the election.
You must register no later than a week ahead of time if you want to participate. That way we can prepare specifically for the registrants.
July 19 - noon to 1pm
Zoom meeting
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GOOD NEWS FROM CAMPAIGNS
We are happy to report that 3 children's funding campaigns have submitted the required number of signatures for their measures: coalitions in Monterey County, Sonoma County, and South San Francisco. The picture here is from the Monterey celebration of this milestone. Over 55,000 Californians signed petitions this year to increase funding for services for children.
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SACRAMENTO YOUTH MEASURE - Third try at the ballot for determined youth advocates.
In November 2020, when the second attempt to create a Youth Fund in Sacramento lost at the ballot, youth advocates in the Sac Kids First coalition were determined to not give up. Mayor Steinberg had opposed their measure which had been placed on the ballot by signatures, but promised he would help put a better measure on the ballot in November, 2022.
So far, the Mayor has delivered on his promise, working closely with advocates to find a compromise they all supported: the city will set aside an amount equal to 40% of cannabis tax revenue for a youth fund. It is now up to the City Council to place it on the ballot. Advocates are optimistic that will happen. Let's hope that the third time is a charm and that this latest measure will receive a majority vote by the electorate.
City Councilman Jay Schenirer who has been behind every effort, has been leading the charge in Sacramento to build an infrastructure for youth services, including an office for youth in city government, as well as legislation to officially declare youth development to be a public safety service. Schenirer hopes a third ballot measure to create a youth fund will be the culmination of efforts in the city to make youth a city priority.
Pictured above: Councilmember Schenirer with Councilmember Mai Yang.
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SACRAMENTO'S REPONSE TO GUN VIOLENCE - LESSONS LEARNED
On April 3 Sacramento experienced its worst mass shooting. Funding the Next Generation has just published a case study written by Claudia Jasin, youth program specialist for Sacramento Councilmember Jay Schenirer, describing how the city pivoted from a focus on violence, to a focus on violence prevention and youth.
This case study was written to help other cities learn from Sacramento's experience. It describes the role of the Mayor, media, elected officials who are youth champions, community providers and city agencies. Results have included increased funding for youth jobs, vocal support for the Invest in Youth ballot measure by many elected officials, the creation of a comprehensive violence prevention plan, and an effusive focus on youth in the Mayor's State of the City address launching what Steinberg hopes will be a new era for young people in Sacramento.
Some of the lessons learned cited in the case study:
- Push the media to address prevention, not just the violent incident.
- Have influential elected officials turn their attention to prevention.
- Bring in (and support) community-based providers with expertise in prevention.
- Make sure city staff with expertise in prevention are heard and can organize the city's response.
- Start before the crisis. Sacramento had already passed legislation making youth development a public safety part of the budget.
- Reallocate dollars immediately to the most effective prevention strategies.
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The threatening cloud has passed away - at least for now.
Always looming on the horizon, has been the so-called "Taxpayer Protection and Accountability Act" which would, among other things, make it illegal to pass voter-initiatives with only a majority vote - and would take us back to the "bad old days" of requiring a 2/3 vote. There are many anti-democratic elements to the proposed measure which proponents wanted to be on the November 2022 ballot. BUT we learned in mid-May that the proponents had withdrawn the measure for 2022 (although threatening to keep it alive, of course). But this extreme anti-tax measure has met with such a barrage of opposition from every city and county throughout the state that we are optimistic that even if it does return, it will not be successful. Stay tuned. |
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CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUNDS BUILD COMMUNITY
Local dedicated funds for kids do much more than fill the many gaps in services. They offer the opportunity to strengthen community, empower youth and parents, foster collaboration, and build the fields of child and youth development. Funding the Next Generation's latest publication gives lots of examples and invites folks managing funds to add to the list of ways to have local public funding streams create more democratic, creative and equitable cities and counties.
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Funding the Next Generation has now officially merged its work with Children's Funding Project, our new fiscal sponsor and partner. We are delighted to coordinate our work and build a stronger movement to fund opportunities for children and youth, in California and nationally.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions, ideas or requests for support - no matter how big or small. With a team of some of the best experts in the country, we provide free technical assistance on everything related to local revenue measures for kids and budget advocacy with your city or county.
Margaret Brodkin, Founder Director, Funding the Next Generation
margaret@fundingthenextgeneration.org
415-794-4963
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