Past Work
The African American Civic Engagement Project (AACEP) was a three-year program that sought to strengthen and scale up civic participation capacities of Black-serving organizations across California.
The California Black Census and Redistricting Hub elevates Black voices, the need for equity, belonging, and representation in the decennial redistricting process.
My Black Counts is an education and awareness initiative developed by the California Black Census and Redistricting Hub “The Black Hub”. We understand what’s at stake for Black communities in California.
In the Fall of 2015, during the emergence of the Movement for Black Lives and in response to an increased awareness of police violence and anti-Black racism, California Calls launched the African American Civic Engagement Project (AACEP). The African American Civic Engagement Project (AACEP) was a three-year program that sought to strengthen and scale up civic participation capacities of Black-serving organizations across California. The project worked with a cohort of 12 African American groups representing the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and San Diego.
African American Civic Engagement Project
California Black Census and Redistricting Hub
Building on the success of the AACEP, in the spring of 2019, California Calls launched the California Black Census and Redistricting Hub (the Black Hub) to maximize Black folks’ participation in the 2020 Census and 2021 redistricting processes. The Black Hub was a coalition of over 30 Black-led and Black-serving organizations across the state that utilized grassroots organizing and community engagement, strategic communications, data analysis, and mapping tools to maximize participation in the 2020 census and redistricting process among so-called hard-to-count Black communities.
My Black Counts is a public education and awareness lifestyle campaign created to engage, empower and educate so-called hard-to-count Black Californians on the 2020 census process and the importance of being counted. “My Black Counts” is the anthem that unites us all! We honor and celebrate the unique individuality and humanity of all Black people. We include the voices of immigrants and those who are native-born; cisgender, non-binary, non-conforming, and transgender; children, millennials, boomers, and seniors; of all faiths and backgrounds.
As the 2020 Census came to an end, the California Black Census and Redistricting Hub turned its attention to redistricting and worked to elevate traditionally marginalized Black communities and ensure strong, Black participation in the redistricting process through advocacy, training, coalition building, and demography. Our approach to doing so was to equip Black communities with data, mapping tools and technical expertise in order to develop and advocate for sophisticated and effective maps that were truly representative of California’s Black communities. We also worked to encourage collaboration vs. competition with non-Black organizations, and strived to constantly center equity and inclusion in redistricting decisions. The work of the Black Census and Redistricting Hub members to engage, educate and mobilize Black individuals, families, and communities helped ensure strong Black leadership throughout Redistricting spaces and processes resulting in congressional and state legislative maps that preserved, protected and grew Black political power and representation for the next decade.
When we unite with action, we gain access to what we need to thrive.
Read our origin story
The culmination of the African American Civic Engagement Project, the California Black Census & Redistricting Hub, and the My Black Counts campaign uncovered the need for long-term Black power building in California. Under the leadership of James Woodson and Kevin Cosney, the California Black Power Network was formed.
Reparations
Learn about reparations and the necessity of reparations for Black Californians. Also, stay informed on upcoming events and hearing dates for reparations.
Our Work
Learn about our current work plan for developing a comprehensive long-term agenda to help improve the lives of Black Californians.