David came to this country as a Dreamer at the age of 14 – crossing the border with his sister on his back, as they escaped political turmoil in their native Guatemala. David and his family settled in Southern California, where his mother worked as a janitor, and his father, a carpenter. He learned English in public schools, before earning scholarships to Stanford and Harvard law. As a young man, he came out to his family and friends, and he is now married to his husband of 20 years.
This is simple. This is just. And this is possible. We can end childhood hunger in California – and we can do it in the year ahead.
It is estimated that 1,490,300 children are food insecure in California today. Even before the pandemic, nearly 14% of children did not know when their next meal would be. California’s budget surplus gives us the power to end childhood hunger now – so that children can go to school and focus on what really matters.
California’s public school system guides most children through their development. To ensure California’s bright future, we need to create the best possible education system for our future generations.
After ending childhood hunger, part of California’s budget surplus should be spent towards additional funding for public schools. But we need to make sure that this funding prioritizes education in Black and Brown communities. Only 23.7% of black students and 36.1% of Latino students are prepared for college or postsecondary careers when they graduate. We need to ensure that all students receive an equitable education because disparities in college and career readiness set us all up for failure.
Our support shouldn’t end after graduation. High school graduates should be able to choose between vocational school, community college, or a four-year university without the immense burden that tuition is today. California needs more skilled workers, and providing a year of free job training will help grow a highly-skilled and well-paid workforce – made possible by a tax on billionaires.
If you agree that we need to end hunger and create an equitable school system now, please join our campaign along with San Francisco’s classroom teachers, City College faculty, the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of teachers who are with us because they know I will be a champion for our students.