JPAC WINTER 2015 NEWSLETTER

SAVE THE DATE! JPAC'S ADVOCACY DAY 2015 IS COMING UP

MAY 11-12, 2015

REGISTER TODAY!

Join Jewish community members from across the State to influence decision-makers in Sacramento on issues of concern to the broader Jewish Community. Advocacy Day provides opportunities to build relationships with elected officials, influence policy on issues of importance to the Jewish community and California at large, network with lay leaders, elected officials, and staff from across the State, and ultimately make a difference in the lives of millions!

LOCATION:
Citizen Hotel, 926 J Street Sacramento 95814

SCHEDULE:
Monday, May 11: 6:00 p.m. Legislators' Reception and optional Dinner

Tuesday, May 12: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Program & Legislative Appointments

Visit http://jpac-cal.org/advocacy-day/sign-up-for-advocacy-day/

to register online.

JPAC Advocacy Day is an annual mission to Sacramento that brings together lay leaders and staff from Jewish organizations all over California, including Jewish Federations, Jewish Community Relations Councils, and Jewish Family and Children's Services, as well as national organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, Hadassah, and the Jewish Labor Committee. It is an opportunity to come together in Sacramento and strengthen relationships, discuss policy, and represent the greater Jewish community statewide to our legislators.

What past attendees have said about Advocacy Day:

""I liked the opportunity to learn more about government processes, to feel like I was contributing in some small way, and to spend the time with like-minded colleagues."

"I like being in Sacramento where the action is. I like being with other Jewish communities. I enjoy hearing from legislators about issues that matter to them."

"It was a good opportunity to open the door for being able to meet with representatives in the home district offices at a later time."

JPAC's Winter Board Meeting Update

JPAC held our winter board meeting on February 4th in Sacramento. Bringing together 35 representatives from our member organizations, we heard from Jasmine Tarkoff of the Multi-Faith Poverty Action Network, met with members of the California Jewish Caucus, and held a coffee reception that was well attended by State legislators.

Our board's agenda setting discussion focused in on poverty issues, campus climate, immigration, hunger and SSI, and early childhood education, among other issues. We are paying close attention to bill introductions and will determine our legislative agenda by March.

Following our meeting at the Sacramento Jewish Federation building, we headed over to the Capitol to meet with members of the Jewish Caucus: Senator Marty Block, Senator Lois Wolk, Senator Jeff Stone, Senator Ben Allen, Senator Bob Hertzberg, Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, and Senator Mark Leno.

Quick Facts about the CA Jewish Caucus:

It has 10 active members and is the first official Jewish Caucus in the country.
It is an ethnic caucus, not a religious caucus
It is the only bi-partisan caucus in Sacramento.

Sen. Stone, Sen. Block, Sen. Wolk, and Sen. Allen address JPAC's Board

Sen. Block introduces the Jewish Caucus

Sen. Leno addresses the JPAC Board

Sen. Allen andAsm. Bloom with AJC LA's Cole Ettman

Asm. Bloom, Sen. Allen, Sen. Block, Henry Stern, Ryan Pessah, Jessica Trubowitch, Shana Hazan, and Julie Zeisler at JPAC's coffee reception with legislators

Thank you to our member organizations:

Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles

Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties

Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles

Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and Sonoma Counties

Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Jewish Federation of San Diego County

Jewish Federation of Greater Long Beach and North Orange County

Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley

Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region

Jewish Federation of Santa Barbara

Jewish Labor Committee Western Region

Hadassah Southern California

Anti-Defamation League

American Jewish Committee LA

30 Years After

Jewish Vocational Service

FEATURED MEMBER ORGANIZATION- JEWISH LABOR COMMITTEE WESTERN REGION

The Jewish Labor Committee Western Region, a long-time JPAC member, is an affiliate of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. We support all labor campaigns, including humane and reasonable working wages and conditions; homecare workers; fair and just immigration reform; and labor issues affecting formerly incarcerated returning citizens. As part of Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), we spear-headed a campaign to deal with sexism as a forefront issue. currently involved in supporting a multitude of labor actions. We also support Raise LA, the campaign to raise minimum wage in Los Angeles for all workers. We're also involved with the CA4SSI Coalition to protect funding for the Disabled and change the poverty standard in California.

We speak to union, community, interfaith and business groups about how to identify human trafficking and slavery-tainted supply chains and about the debilitating consequences of human trafficking on our job market, economy and diminished quality of life for all.

As an affiliate of Labor United for Universal Healthcare, the JLC WR works to improve, protect and expand Medicare to be inclusive of everyone.

We are concerned with pop-up pickets at ports to block the unloading of ships with partial Israeli ownership. We are in the fight against the BDS movement.

For more information about JLC, visit www.jewishlabor.org/

Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC)

http://www.jpac-cal.org

The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) is the largest single-state coalition of Jewish organizations in the nation. Comprised of local Jewish Federations, Jewish Community Relations Committees and Councils, and other Jewish community advocacy groups from throughout California we advocate on behalf of Jewish social service agencies, traditional community concerns, and broadly shared values that affect the citizens of our State.