BUILDING COLLABORATION.
UPLIFTING COMMUNITIES.

The CALIFORNIA URBAN PARTNERSHIP develops technology, joint venture, and policy solutions to build economic security in communities of color.  We envision neighborhoods in regions where race is never a barrier for people to achieve economic prosperity.  

Leaders Take Action on Economic Development Projects and Social Justice Issues at CUP Community Investment Summit in Capitol Region 

The Community Investment Summit brought stakeholders into workgroups focused on building collaboration to strengthen programs, businesses and public policies.   Pictured here (left to right) is California Urban Partnership CEO, Malaki Seku Amen, Fortune School CEO, Margaret Fortune, Greater Sacramento Urban League CEO, Cassandra Jennings, and NAACP Sacramento Branch President, Betty Williams.


SACRAMENTO, CA - A solution oriented effort to create jobs and wealth in the Sacramento region’s African American community is moving forward.

On March 24, the Urban Partnership convened over 90 grassroots, business, education, government and elected leaders at its Community Investment Summit. The event advances progress already made to build collaboration, and form a powerful community-driven response to economic inequality and injustice.  
 
Summit Action Teams began a journey focused on completing Action Plans for the following three joint venture project concepts, which are called #EatBuildInnovate :
 
1. Healthy Food Businesses and Community Arts, Culture and Entertainment (EAT)

2. Construction Business Clusters and Neighborhood Revitalization (BUILD)

3. The STEM Workforce Diversity Pipeline (INNOVATE)
 
Informed by research and community input, #EatBuildInnovate projects were designed to use economic approaches to solve difficult social problems.
 
Over the next 6-8 months, the Action Teams will work to move the #EatBuildInnovate Action Plans towards community driven investment and implementation.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE! 
 
Sign Up NOW to Get Updates, Get Involved and/or Donate to support the Community Investment Initiative! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
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SACRAMENTO REGION PROGRESS REPORT:

​The Urban Partnership's 10-Year Initiative To Build Economic Security In Low Income Communities Of Color Moves FORWARD.
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​The Urban Partnership is proud to release the 2017 Progress Report for its 10-year Initiative to build economic security in low income communities of color. The report highlights Sacramento region EAT, BUILD and INNOVATE action plans focused on developing exciting hubs for healthy food and the arts, construction business clusters that play a role in revitalizing neighborhoods, and preparing more African American and Latino youth for successful education and career paths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
 
Two years ago, the Urban Partnership’s board of directors set in motion the organization’s Community Investment Initiative.  Since that time, the Urban Partnership has interviewed and engaged 328 African American and Latino grassroots stakeholders at its regional meetings. The 2017 Progress Report describes other steps taken to shape the Initiative, as well as details on EAT, BUILD and INNOVATE.
   
The Urban Partnership is supporting community leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in taking bold steps to connect vulnerable communities to economic and educational opportunities.  
 
“To fight poverty and have a better future, the Sacramento region must have growth that is driven by fairness and equity. That means creating situations that allow everyone to participate and prosper,” said Urban Partnership board chairwoman, Bonnie Garcia.
 
“Concerted investments and policies for, and developed from within, communities of color will also be critical to ensure that the Sacramento region’s majority populations are ready to lead it into the next economy.”

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR
2017 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT SUMMIT​

MARCH 24, 2017
SIERRA HEALTH FOUNDATION CENTER
1321 Garden Highway
​Sacramento, CA  95833​

The crisis of income inequality, gentrification and racial injustice demands urgent action to strengthen programs, businesses and policies that will build economic security in low income neighborhoods and communities of color. For numerous reasons, African American and Latino stakeholders must be empowered to access, lead and own the processes related to delivering the long-term solutions they need.

The California Urban Partnership's Community Investment Initiative and Summit provides a structured process that turns conversations, data driven ideas, energy and resources into successful outcomes.  More than a process, our collective impact Initiative provides technical assistance, capacity building and fund development support to organize dynamic partnership efforts that strengthen local programs, businesses and policy solutions. We anticipate the presence of business, community, youth, elected, education, health, government and philanthropic leaders and stakeholders from across California; convened to work in Action Teams, refine Action Plans and commit to specific implementation steps for long term joint venture projects focused on:
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  • Jobs & Wealth Creation
  • Education & Workforce Development
  • Healthy, Safe & Livable Communities
  • Community Outreach & Engagement   

NEXT STEPS FOR COLLABORATION 101 AND THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

Vice President of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs for the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Kevin Blackburn, (standing) was a workgroup facilitator at Collaboration 101.  His workgroup focused on actions and opportunities to grow businesses and create wealth in Sacramento’s African American community.


​COLLABORATION 101 -  the Urban Partnership’s 2016 forum (for African Americans in the Sacramento Region) to support long term community program, business and policy SOLUTIONS - was an amazing success.
 
On April 22, dynamic workgroups of almost 100 local business, community, academic, youth, religious, philanthropic, law enforcement and government leaders focused on economic development, education, health and community organizing strategies.
 
COLLABORATION 101 - part of the Urban Partnership's Community Investment Initiative process - helps groups of nonprofits to partner on project opportunities and take data-driven ACTION with a shared agenda and measurement systems, connected activities, ongoing communication and support for coordinating their collaborative work (i.e., Collective Impact). 
 
Here are the next steps:
 
ONE:

Action Teams ( for all ::::: Focus Areas ) will be formed to work on Action Plans for community program, business and policy priorities in 2016.  The priorities will emphasize proactive, innovative and sustainable approaches to solving problems.
 
TWO:

Follow up meetings/forums to present and mold consensus on specific local project opportunities and/or policy issues, will be scheduled.  A separate meeting/forum will be held for each Focus Area between July through October, 2016.
 
THREE:
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Action Plans will be completed and compiled in a Playbook. At the March 24, 2017 Community Investment Summit, active partners from all sectors will refine the Playbook and advance the implementation of 2017 program, business and policy initiatives. Priorities for 2018 will also be considered.
 
See baseline data guiding 2017 projects and priorities  here. 
 
COLLABORATION 101 is part of a long term initiative that will increasingly expand the participation of diverse ethnic groups and sectors, as well as strategically align the priorities of all active stakeholders. A focus group approach provides a culturally appropriate and safe environment for communities of interest and trusted allies to freely discuss sensitive issues. It’s also an opportunity for communities of color to practice self-determination – in solving difficult generational poverty problems - without asking for permission or apologizing.
 
Follow this link for more information on the Urban Partnership’s Community Investment Initiative.

PARTNERSHIP CREATES ARiZE.org TO FOSTER  DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING

The California Urban Partnership is excited to launch ARiZE.org – an online community resource, engagement tool and digital magazine.  ARiZE.org ​will promote shared economic prosperity, and empower people who need support in all areas of their lives.  It's all about bringing local people together for the good of BUSINESS, CULTURE and COMMUNITY.   Now more than ever before, it's important to recognize cultural and ethnic diversity as something that makes America strong.  Promoting respect and appreciation for that strength among our citizens advances America’s innovation, global leadership, economic prosperity and future.  ENTER THE SITE NOW! CLICK THE ARiZE LOGO BELOW.​

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE URBAN PARTNERSHIP'S 2015 POLICY FORUM BREAKFAST SERIES

URBAN PARTNERSHIP FORUM FOCUSES ON EMPOWERING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, BUILDING WEALTH AND FIGHTING POVERTY

Chief executives of community development corporations talked about accomplishments, resources and challenges linked to growing businesses and creating affordable housing in low to moderate income communities. From left to right, Clarence Williams - California Capital FDC, Mary Rogier - Northern CA Community Loan Fund, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk - West Angeles CDC, Doug Bystry - Clearinghouse CDFI and Darrell Teat - Nehemiah Corporation.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - In the midst of national conversations on race and injustice, the California Urban Partnership recently convened an exciting Policy Forum Breakfast focused on access to capital.  Over 200 community, business and academic leaders, along with government representatives and elected dignitaries attended.

 Entitled The State of Community Development Capital, this event aimed to develop a small business and homeownership agenda to help free low income Californians from being trapped in poverty, and the criminal justice system. Sponsors of the free breakfast forum included AT&T, JP Morgan Chase & Company, Comcast, Nehemiah Corporation, Clearinghouse CDFI and the Northern California Community Loan Fund.
California Assembly
Majority Floor Leader,
Chris Holden
Jobs and the Economy Committee Chair, Eduardo Garcia, and Assemblymember Cheryl Brown
President and chief executive officer of the CUP, Malaki Seku-Amen, opened the event saying “Here is our great moment to be solution-oriented. We’re going to take the ‘Hands Up, Don’t Shoot’ movement to a higher level!”  

“Today we will join our HANDS together! We will use our minds to learn about, and create, meaningful solutions together.  We will begin fighting and working together to meet the needs of our communities!”

California now has a drastically new and challenging environment for community economic development.  While research and economists point to entrepreneurship, revitalizing distressed neighborhoods and building family wealth as solutions to help low-to-moderate income Americans rise into the middle class, all of California’s programs to help make that happen are weak, or have been eliminated.
California Legislative Black Caucus Chairman, Reginald B. Jones-Sawyer
The CUP forum was critically important for helping grassroots stakeholders and new policymakers understand what resources are currently in place, what gaps need to be filled, and how they can work together to make capital accessible and adequate for the business development and affordable housing needs of low income and communities of color.  

Emerging from the presentations and panel discussions was the recommendation that the CUP focus on organizing partners and supporters to advocate for the following:  

  1. Create a California New Markets Tax Credit program for the purpose of attracting private sector investment to California’s low income neighborhoods. 

  2. Greater insurance industry investments in urban and economically disadvantaged communities through the California Organized Investment Network (COIN).

  3. Funding for increased technical assistance, financial literacy and coaching, and capacity building for entrepreneurs and families.

THE CUP PARTNERS WITH STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG ON "MANAGE YOUR MONEY WEEK."

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In partnership with the office of California State Controller John Chiang, the CUP will organize financial survival workshops connected to Manage Your Money Week (MYMW).  During Manage Your Money Week, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, unions, schools, libraries, financial institutions, and financial management associations will be working together in communities throughout California to host free money management education events and promote the importance of good money management practices.  On Saturday, October, 25, 2014, the CUP will present MORE MONEY, LESS PROBLEMS:  a free workshop on how to make dreams come true by managing money, stress and health, and creating partnerships to build wealth. 

OUR PARTNERS
& SPONSORS