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Nothing Stops a Bullet Like a Job

A new documentary film, “Father G and the Homeboys,” follows four gang members as they struggle to overcome drug addiction, reunite with their children and hold onto jobs. Father G (the Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J.) keeps the homeboys on track. Boyle is founder of Homeboy Industries, a TCWF grantee based in Boyle Heights—a community east of downtown Los Angeles—that provides employment opportunities and counseling for at-risk youth. Conceived and directed by John Bohm, a Los Angeles schoolteacher, and narrated by Martin Sheen, the film won the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary from the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival.
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Mini-Farmers Market Opens in Low-Income Neighborhood of Sacramento

Filling a void left after the closure of grocery stores within walking distance of the Sacramento neighborhood of Alkali Flat, a new weekly mini-farmer’s market is selling vegetables and fruit from local farms. Opened and operated by Sacramento Mutual Housing Association, and made possible by a grant from TCWF, the 15-stand market will be an important resource for low-income residents who would otherwise have to drive miles to the nearest supermarket to find fresh produce.
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Nonprofits Invited To Seek Advocacy Assistance From Alliance for Justice

By clarifying the laws governing advocacy by tax-exempt organizations, Alliance for Justice (AFJ) helps nonprofits speak on behalf of underrepresented communities in public policy debates. A national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations, AFJ offers workshops, publications and public education activities. A grant from TCWF has enabled AFJ to provide free technical assistance to California nonprofit organizations with questions about advocacy laws and regulations. Call (866) NP-LOBBY or visit the Technical Assistance section of the AFJ website.
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New Gang Czar Appointed in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has appointed Jeff Carr deputy mayor and the city’s first director of gang reduction and youth development programs. An ordained minister with more than 17 years of experience developing social service and youth programs in Los Angeles, Carr was formerly executive director of the Bresee Foundation, a Los Angeles-based organization that has previously received funding from TCWF. In his new role, Carr will coordinate Mayor Villaraigosa’s Gang Reduction Strategy—which targets eight zones across the city—and oversee an evaluation of current gang prevention and intervention programs.
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Study Shows Decline of Job-Based Health Insurance in California

Job-based health insurance coverage in California—the backbone of the state’s health insurance system—continues to decline, according to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Funded by grants from TCWF and The California Endowment, the study shows that employment-based coverage of non-elderly residents fell from 56.4 percent in 2001 to 54.3 percent in 2005. Although the percentage decline in job-based insurance may seem small — 2.1 percent — it meant that 678,000 fewer working Californians had health insurance, the report said.
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California Ranks 39th on Health Scorecard

The Commonwealth Fund has published a 50-state scorecard of health system performance that assesses key health system indicators, including access, quality, potentially avoidable hospital use and costs of care, equity, and the ability to live healthy lives. “State Scorecard” findings reveal wide variations among states and much room for improvement—in illness prevention and management as well as in cost control. An interactive U.S. map presenting state-specific rankings and results—compared with benchmarks—shows California’s overall ranking as 39 out of 50, with a high of 3 for “healthy lives” and a low of 50 for “quality.”
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CaliforniaSpeaks to link Eight Sites Together for Non-Partisan Conversation on Health Care Reform Issues

On August 11, thousands of Californians from across the state will participate in CaliforniaSpeaks, a live, statewide videoconference, designed to give residents a direct voice into the health reform debate. The forum will link participants gathered at eight sites across California and will also involve state leaders Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, among others. To ensure that attendees span all different ages, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds and political beliefs, participants will be randomly selected. CaliforniaSpeaks, a project of AmericaSpeaks, is funded by grants from TCWF, The California Endowment and The Blue Shield of California Foundation.
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Grant Will Fund Community-Based Projects for Social Change

The Washington D.C.-based Case Foundation is accepting applications for the Make it Your Own Awards™, a nationwide grant program open to individuals who have ideas for long-term social change. Applicants can be leaders or employees of grassroots organizations, government officials or employees, or unaffiliated individuals planning to join forces with community members. Twenty finalists will receive a $10,000 grant. The top four finalists will each receive an additional $25,000 grant. Applications must be submitted through the Case Foundation’s online application process by August 8.
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The people photographed represent the diverse populations served by grantees of The California Wellness Foundation.

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