A Note From Executive Director Irene Kao

In this newsletter you will get updates on what has been keeping our team busy in 2022, and also information about our annual Voter Guide to help you in advance of the California Primary Election in June (your ballot will be in the mail by May 9!).

Thank you for being on this journey with us to create a more equitable California, and hold all of our elected officials accountable.

In Solidarity,

Irene Kao

Is your Representative an All-Star?

In February, we released our 7th Annual Courage Score. Courage Score is a report card published every year in partnership with over 100 progressive advocacy groups throughout California. After surveying those organizations on their priority bills from the previous legislative session, we carefully review how every legislator voted on those bills and then assign them a score.

Courage Score is a useful tool for all Californians to better understand if your elected officials are fighting for you or wealthy special interests.

Irene announced the release of Courage Score at a press event outside the state capitol, joined by Assm. Kalra and Melissa Romero, California Environmental Voters Senior Legislative Manager, to highlight the importance of voters having access to reliable information and tools to hold elected officials accountable.

Vote Your Values

Just in time for the June 7th primary, we will be releasing our annual Courage Voter Guide. In 2020, this widely used resource helped over 600,000 people vote their values at the ballot-box, and this year our goal is to reach 1 million voters.

Our research team goes beyond the misinformation that surrounds campaigns by digging into the issues, endorsements, and funding sources for propositions and candidates. We work with both local and statewide partners to ensure that our recommendations in the guide are both progressive and competitive.

Here at Courage, we believe the Voter Guide is an empowering tool for all Californians who want to ensure that their votes will move our state and country closer to a truly representative democracy. Sign up here to receive yours!

Courage, It Looks Good on You!

We’re excited to announce another first this Spring, our new monthly podcast “Courage -- it looks good on you.”

Listen now to hear from progressive leaders Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and Pablo Rodriguez, Executive Director of Communities for a New California discuss “What is Progressive?”.

Our monthly podcast will keep Californians informed about important issues like community safety, rights, the future of abortion, and environmental justice, and provide listeners with information on how to courageously participate in the democratic process. Tune-in for insightful conversations with elected officials, community advocates, and leaders throughout the state.

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and Spotify, and share it with your friends and family!

LA Mayoral Debate

On March 26th, in partnership with the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), Courage co-hosted a Mayoral Debate with three of the top candidates in the running to become the next mayor of Los Angeles: Congresswoman Karen Bass, LA Councilmember Kevin de León, and LA City Attorney Mike Feuer.

The debate provided Courage California members, and Los Angeles healthcare workers an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their plans to address pressing issues facing the city. Question topics included access to mental health care, police accountability and environmental justice. Courage Executive Director Irene Kao co-moderated the event with Sophia Mendoza, Secretary-Treasurer of NUHW.

Watch the recording here!

Know Your Power

Let’s face it. Sometimes it can feel like our legislative systems are impossible to understand. Courage California Institute is here to help demystify the process with Know Your Power, a blog series that educates, empowers, and helps Californians courageously engage in politics in California and across the nation.

Roe v. Wade, Supreme Court nominees, and the life cycle of the California Legislative Session - this blog is all about educating our readers and with new content every two weeks!

At Courage, we believe change begins with an understanding of our shared history in order to create shared power in the present.

The Dismantling of the USPS…Exposed!

Since 2020, Courage has actively campaigned to save the U.S. Postal Service as a vital public service. On February 17th, Courage co-hosted a special film screening of “The Great Postal Heist,” with Cinema Libre Studios. Our members had an exclusive sneak peak of clips from their new documentary, about how corporations and Congressional leaders sabotaged the USPS. Participants enjoyed a rich discussion with the film’s director, Jay Galione, and postal organizer Ron Williams. You can watch the recording here and the full-length film is available here on demand.

Thanks to a coalition of millions of people across the country, Courage Members included, Congress passed The Postal Service Reform Act to make USPS more financially sustainable .