Submitted by Deena Levine-Lipsett, Chair
While advocacy has always been a focus of JFCS East Bay, and staff members have continually advocated for clients, our agency only formally adopted an Advocacy & Public Policy (PP&A) board committee charge and a priority framework in 2018 under the direction of Avi Rose, former Executive Director. Our committee currently consists of five Board members, supported by our CEO, Robin Mencher. In 2022-2023, we anticipate that our committee will grow to include additional community members.
To date, we have focused on advocacy actions in two very broad areas where we have raised our voices in support of clients: housing justice and immigration/refugee/asylee issues. Additionally, our agency, through the PP&A committee, is an active board member of JPAC (Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California). We participate in discussions of and lobby for their legislative priorities related to, for example, social and mental health services and support for Holocaust survivors. We plan to expand our areas of focus in the coming year with a larger committee.
Over the past two years, we have engaged in local, regional, state, and national advocacy actions. To provide only a few examples:
Local
We have advocated in coalition with other Contra Costa community groups to promote tenants’ rights such as eviction protection and support for budget requests around tenant legal assistance.
We have advocated for and will receive resources from Contra Costa County for refugee resettlement, to benefit refugees arriving in the county.
Regional
We are collaborating with two other regional refugee resettlement agencies, IRC NorCal and JFS of Silicon Valley, to advocate for resources for Afghan resettlement in Alameda County.
State
We have advocated with partners (e.g., HIAS and CA Welcomes Coalition) for Enhanced Service Programs for immigrants, refugees and asylees.
With other resettlement agency leaders, we have briefed Senator Padilla on Afghan refugee resettlement needs in California.
PP&A committee staff have advocated for the governor to prioritize dollars for economic and social service support for young children and struggling families.
National
We have met with congressional staff or directly with congresspeople (e.g., Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Mark DeSaulnier) to emphasize the need for Refugee Welcome in the U.S., including support for pathways to citizenship for recent arrivals.
Our committee, with the support of staff, will continue to strengthen linkages to public officials, organizations and networks. We look forward to sharing in further updates how we are engaging in advocacy in line with our foundational values and our responsibility to assist clients.
