The California EDGE Coalition Board of Directors and staff mourn the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless other Black men and women who’ve lost their lives to police violence. We stand in solidarity with the Black community and unequivocally affirm that Black Lives Matter.
As a coalition focused on developing workforce and education opportunities we are acutely aware of the disparities, gaps and barriers to economic mobility that communities of color have historically faced, including the devastating impact of the school-to-prison pipeline on students and communities. While recognizing that weeks of protest will not heal the wounds torn open by hundreds of years of systemic racism and discrimination, we do believe it is everyone’s duty to work towards policies and reforms that create a shared prosperity and that are specifically aimed at lifting up communities and people so often left behind.
EDGE remains steadfast in its commitment to build opportunities throughout California and recognizes the strength that comes with diversity. Through the collective effort of our respective organizations representing business, labor, social justice, education and workforce associations, we will continue to advance policies that focus on improving California’s system of workforce education and training—and removing the serious barriers that prevent so many Californians, particularly people of color, from securing economic prosperity and mobility.
Read Edge’s 2020 Policy Agenda here