Event Details

In a year dominated by the pressure of federal elections, it is crucial to recognize the impact that voters can have at the state level, as well. California is boasting a hefty slate of proposed ballot initiatives this year, with topics ranging from health and education to taxes and housing. Join us as we delve into some of these key ballot measures, discussing the potential impacts on philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and the communities we serve. This session will equip you with the knowledge to understand and engage with these critical policy decisions, ensuring your organization is prepared to navigate the upcoming election landscape.

Please indicate (in the following registration section) which ballot measures interest you and your organization most during registration so we can understand what feels most relevant to participants.

The California Policy Forum is a unique partnership between CalNonprofits and Philanthropy California (Northern California Grantmakers, Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, Southern California Grantmakers) and the League of California Community Foundations. The California Policy Forum not only provides a platform to bring together the voice of nonprofits and philanthropy in our state but amplifies the sector's significance and priorities to policymakers and experts. 

Speakers

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Jeannette Brown

Policy Director, California Association of Nonprofits

Jeannette Brown is the Director of Public Policy at CalNonprofits. She brings to the role more than 15 years of experience in public policy advocacy, government affairs, political campaigns, educational programming, strategic communications, and nonprofit management. Jeannette spent the past 11 years working for both statewide and regional associations focused on nonprofit affordable housing development, homelessness solutions, and homeownership access, including support of major, coalition-driven campaign victories that secured billions in affordable housing funding.

Previously, Jeannette worked for a political consulting firm specializing in local government issues, the League of CA Cities, and statewide ballot measure campaigns. She is committed to advancing policy solutions that materially improve Californians’ lives, and has a rich history of mobilizing and informing members around advocacy agendas that prioritize a more inclusive California so people of all incomes can thrive. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and received a Master’s in Public Policy/Administration from California State University. She is a Southern California native and still calls its concrete sprawl home after growing up in the countryside of rural Oregon.
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Karla Mercado

Director, Philanthropy CA, Philanthropy CA

<p>Karla Mercado supports SCG's public policy efforts and manages Philanthropy California initiatives.</p>

<p>Prior to SCG, Karla was the director of special events for a public relations firm where she developed and coordinated strategic networking events for local nonprofits, institutions, and corporate clients, with the goal of expanding their community involvement and exposure. She began her work in the nonprofit sector as a case manager for the Los Angeles Chapter of Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she supported and maintained records for youth and their mentors to ensure positive youth and match development. Karla has a B.A. in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles and an M.P.A. and certificate in Non-Profit Management from the California State University, Northridge.</p>
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Chris Micheli

Attorney & Lobbyist, Snodgrass & Micheli

Chris Micheli is a founding partner of the governmental relations and advocacy firm of Snodgrass & Micheli located in Sacramento, California. He has substantial legislative and regulatory experience in the areas of state and local taxation, transportation, labor and employment, forestry, health care, civil liability, and insurance. As a legislative advocate, Micheli regularly testifies before policy and fiscal committees of the California Legislature, as well as a number of administrative agencies, departments, boards, and commissions.

Over the last twenty years, he has published over one thousand articles and editorials in professional journals, newspapers and trade magazines, whose diverse subjects range from tax incentives to transportation funding. He is a graduate of the University of California, Davis with a B.A. in Political Science – Public Service and the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law with a J.D. degree. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at McGeorge where he teaches the course Lawmaking in California as well as several online courses, and as a Lecturer in Law at the University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law where he teaches the course Legislative Drafting. He resides in Sacramento, California with his wife, Liza, two daughters, Morgan and Francesca, and son, Vincenzo. He enjoys reading, writing, soccer, martial arts, and travel.
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Liana Molina

Director for Policy and Movement, Northern California Grantmakers

Liana joins NCG as our Director for Policy and Movement, where she’ll focus on growing our capacity to transform philanthropic practice and investments and building power in communities most impacted by racial inequities. She brings a wealth of experience as a social change advocate and strategist advancing social, racial, and economic justice campaigns.

In her role with Build Affordable Faster - TODCO over the last few years, she’s provided core support for the emergent Oakland Progressive Alliance (OPA), a partnership between labor, community-based organizations and progressive elected leaders to harness political power to further progressive policy changes centering Oakland’s most vulnerable residents. Prior to this, she worked with the California Reinvestment Coalition (CRC) - now known as Rise Economy - as the Director of Community Engagement and statewide organizer where she led a multi-year campaign to reform predatory payday lending at the federal, state and local level and strengthened the statewide movement for financial justice and consumer protections. In her work throughout the years with the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE), she organized faith leaders, workers, residents and built coalition support for campaigns to lift low-wage workers out of poverty and win community benefits from large-scale development projects.

Liana’s passion for social change work is rooted in her experience growing up in El Paso, Texas on the US - Mexico border, her family history, formative years in college, living in deep east Oakland, her spiritual beliefs and a strong desire to serve a greater purpose in life. Liana holds a B.A. in Sociology from Santa Clara University and a certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University. In her free time, you can catch her chasing sunsets and waterfalls, hiking in the redwoods, going to concerts and other shows, traveling to beautiful destinations and enjoying time with friends and family.

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