Category: Updates

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Updates

We Are California Open Letter

Dear Movement Family, 

Early this morning, Trump was declared the winner. And like many of you, we are struggling with the harsh reality of what a second, more vindictive and emboldened Trump administration will mean for our communities. 

You too may be weighing how to protect vulnerable members of your community, organization and perhaps your own family. You may be preparing for what needs to be done today. 

As you do, remember that you are not alone. For generations, our ancestors survived the worst of white supremacy and we are still here. 

This is not the outcome we hoped for, but it is one that our movements are prepared for.

For decades our movements have fought righteously and courageously to make California more inclusive and equitable and to break from our dark and divisive past.

Because of our progress  and the power we have built, Trump and his allies are ready to punish California and take away our freedoms. They are more determined than ever to turn us against one another.
Corporate billionaires, bigots and authoritarian bullies poured hundreds of millions into this election, attacking California’s progress and blocking solutions to our most pressing challenges. They used fear and racism to defeat measures that would have improved the lives of working Californians. And now they are already painting a narrative that blames our values of inclusion and caring for one another as the problem — not their greed or hunger for power. 

But this election was never about Trump. Or Harris. This moment is about us.

We have a choice. We can retreat into our silos or turn toward one another. We can be paralyzed or we can move into action. 

WE ARE CALIFORNIA is a new effort to unite our communities and movements from San Diego to the far North regions of our state, from the Bay to LA and from our coasts to our inland regions. We call on our movements to remember who we are as Californians and to lean into our greatest strength – one another.  

This is the moment to unite our power to build on our past victories, defend our communities and organize TOGETHER to advance our vision of a California where everyone without exception can thrive. On Saturday, November 16, we’re gathering in communities across the state to  to organize our neighborhoods block-by-block and lead the charge toward real change.

We Are California

Join us to send a clear message:

We are California and we are not backing down. 

Join us on Saturday, November 16th
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Updates

CHNSC mobilizes Vietnamese Americans to vote (Nguoi Viet)

(This is a machine translation from the Vietnamese original article)

GARDEN GROVE, California – The California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative (CHNSC) is organizing phone calls and voter education campaigns to create a voice for the Vietnamese community in the November 5 election.

Continue reading “CHNSC mobilizes Vietnamese Americans to vote (Nguoi Viet)”
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Updates

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes Secure Automatic Registration

Man casts his ballot as he votes for the local elections at a polling station. Focus on hand.

We are deeply disappointed in Governor Newsom’s decision to veto SB 299 (Limón), a crucial solution that would have established Secure Automatic Voter Registration (SAVR), enfranchised millions of eligible residents, and position California as a clear leader in expanding democracy while other states are overtly suppressing voters. The Governor has missed a tremendous opportunity to address the racist legacy of voter registration in his home state.

Over the last two years, 140 organizations across California joined the California Grassroots Democracy Coalition and have steadfastly advocated for SB 299. We hoped the Governor would heed the call of community organizers, working-class, Black, Latinx, Asian American, Pacific Islander, young people–ultimately, millions of Californians seeking a voice and a vote in our state’s democratic process. 

By vetoing SB 299, Governor Newsom is maintaining an unnecessary barrier to the ballot for 4.7 million eligible but unregistered voters. This veto perpetuates California’s egregious and racially segregated voter participation gap. Under the current voter registration system, over half of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) users decline to register, partly due to users’ confusion, language barriers, or haste–rather than disinterest in voting. Voter registration was created to deter certain communities from participation, and it clearly continues to do so when California’s electorate is not representative of our state demographically.

Ultimately, the Governor chose not to invest in the Californians most impacted by systemic racism. By the intention and leadership of the author, delayed implementation of SB 299 to 2030 would not have impacted the 2024-2025 budget cycle and allowed for additional resources to be identified and secured for the measure’s success. SB 299 intended to use the existing pre-registration infrastructure established for 16 and 17-year-olds when receiving their driver’s licenses to pre-approve registration for millions of other Californians currently left out of our democracy, all while protecting non-citizens from being erroneously registered. 

Our people-powered effort will continue fighting from every corner of the state to ensure that all communities and all eligible voters have access and opportunity to participate in our democracy.

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Updates

2024 Election Endorsements

Get ready to make our voices heard this November 5th 🗳️

OC Action has endorsed progressive candidates at the federal and local level of government who we believe represent our values and lift up our communities!

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Jobs

Job: Research Analyst II

Title: Research Analyst II
FLSA: Exempt, Full Time
Pay range or rate: Commensurate with experience

Division: Research
Supervisor: Research Director
Revised: January 2024

Under the supervision of OC Action’s Research Director, the Research Analyst II will conduct data collection and analysis supporting the aligned research agenda of Orange County’s largest integrated voter engagement table. The Research Analyst II will help develop focus groups designed to assess voter attitudes and test messages, both as part of key electoral and legislative campaigns to engage with and learn from Latinx, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, and Filipinx community members in Orange County. The Research Analyst II will also support other research projects, including public opinion polling and post-election, strategic, and policy analyses.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Conduct qualitative research, including focus groups, and analyze qualitative data.
  • Use data analysis, GIS software to acquire, manage, and analyze census, voter, and other quantitative data.
  • Create tables and graphics that capture research findings.
  • Draft written narrative describing research findings.
  • Present research findings to diverse audiences, including community-based organizations and policy makers.
  • Participate in staff meetings, in-service meetings, organizational retreats, and professional development training.
  • Perform any other functions as needed by management and agency.
Minimum Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
  • Understanding of qualitative research methodology.
  • Experience conducting qualitative research, including focus groups.
  • Experience using data analysis, GIS software to acquire, manage, and analyze census, voter, and other quantitative data.
  • Experience creating tables and graphics that capture research findings.
  • Experience drafting written narrative describing research findings.
  • Experience presenting research findings to diverse audiences, including community-based organizations and policy makers.
  • Ability to use CIVIS and SQL to analyze voter data preferred.
  • Masters degree with two years or Bachelor’s degree with five years experience required.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to work with diverse populations.
  • Must be comfortable with the philosophy and goals of OC Action.
  • Ability to work some evenings, weekends.
  • Current and valid California Driver’s License and transportation to travel to conferences, meetings, and trainings; verification of car insurance is required.
  • Verification of employment eligibility and background check required.
Non-Essential Qualifications
  • Ability to use PDI voter data system to set up flags and survey questions, create field lists, coordinate and cut turf, and report on field outcomes.
  • Ability to use third party voter engagement platforms, including phonebanking, texting, and other tools.
  • Ability to train others on the use of PDI, third-party voter engagement platforms.
  • Ability to coordinate use of PDI, third party voter engagement platforms with field staff and external partners.
Supervisory Responsibilities
  • None
Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

Both in-person and remote attendance.

Physical Requirement

Sitting, typing, speaking, listening, standing, and driving.

Mental Requirement

Tolerance for distractions and interruptions.

Application Process:

Please email a cover letter, resume and 2 professional references (past supervisors including email address and phone number) to: info@ocaction.org. Please ensure that the email subject has the job title: Research Analyst II.

No phone calls please.

Application deadline: Open until filled.

Agency Background:

OC Action is committed to a long-term progressive transformation of the Orange County electorate and will continue to move towards the change that our people deserve.

OC Action is an innovative partnership of community-based organizations committed to increasing the quality, scale and effectiveness of civic participation in communities of color and among low-income populations. Partner organizations are: Resilience OC, Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Orange County Congregation Community, Orange County Labor Federation, Orange County Environmental Justice, AHRI for Justice, and the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative.

Categories
Updates

Call Asm Pellerin to Pass SB 299

Last week, we mobilized alongside 100 voting rights advocates and community members from the California Grassroots Democracy Coalition to meet with legislators and demand an end to racism in California’s voting systems. Passing SB 299 would automatically register 4.7 million eligible voters, the majority from Black, Latinx, and Asian American communities. It is time we reclaim our democracy! 

The fight for SB 299 is not over. We need your help to tell Assemblymember Gail Pellerin to stop blocking California’s progress towards voter equity and racial justice.

Volunteer to call Pellerin’s office on Monday 6/17 or Tuesday 6/18

Civil rights icon Dolores Huerta spoke during our press conference and met with Asm. Pellerin. She said, “Simply put, voter registration laws are racist.” SB 299 is the next step to end racism in California’s voting systems. 

Volunteer with us to call Asm. Pellerin and urge her to pass SB 299 and end racism in our voting systems!