Western Center on Law & Poverty

08/28/2026

TAKE ACTION ASAP by submitting a comment on the Governor's website.

Federal cuts in H.R. 1 stripped food aid from refugees and trafficking survivors, as well as children and seniors. California leaders have the power to act now to protect them by strengthening the state's food safety net.

No person should be left hungry.

As Dolores Huerta reminded us:

"There is no excuse why these programs should not be fully funded."

👉 Take action now: gov.ca.gov/contact

08/28/2026

TAKE ACTION ASAP. 🍎

Federal cuts in H.R. 1 strip food aid from refugees and trafficking survivors, as well as children and elders.

California leaders have the power and responsibility to protect them from the devastation of hunger by funding CFAP now.

As Dolores Huerta reminded us: "There is no excuse why these programs should not be fully funded."

Link in bio to submit your comment to the Governor.

08/27/2026

The wait is over — meet our 2026 Garden Party honorees. 🏆

This year, Western Center on Law & Poverty is honored to recognize three visionary leaders whose work embodies our shared vision of a more just California:

🏆 Earl Johnson Equal Justice Award — Professor Ahilan Arulanantham, Professor from Practice and Faculty Co-Director of the Miñana Family Center for Immigration Law and Policy, UCLA School of Law

🏆 Derrick Bell Award — Father Gregory J. Boyle, S.J., Founder of Homeboy Industries, with special recognition of the powerful work of Hope Alley.

🏆 Mary Burdick Advocates Award — Lisa Newstrom, Managing Attorney, Bay Area Legal Aid

Join us as we honor their extraordinary work at Garden Party 2026 — October 14 at The Ebell of Los Angeles.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now: igfn.us/form/OoDIdg

08/27/2026

Just days after a federal court struck down the Trump administration’s discriminatory visa ban, the State Department reportedly halted immigrant visa appointments worldwide under the guise of a new “training program.” We’ve filed an emergency motion to enforce the court’s judgment.

"This blatant attempt to sidestep the law continues to keep families separated, disrupt lives, and leave people who have already endured months of uncertainty in limbo. A court order is not a suggestion. The administration must follow the law and resume processing these visas.” - Senior Attorney Antionette Dozier.

Read the Press Release here:
https://wclp.org/emergency-motion-to-enforce-visa-review/

08/27/2026

This Women’s Equality Day, we asked some WCLP staff what women’s equality means to them—through the lens of their own lives, their work, and the communities we fight alongside. What we found it that equality is something we build together and keep pushing forward.

Read the blog here:
https://wclp.org/womens-equality-day-2026/

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

Thank you Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Senator Scott Wiener, and other legislative leaders for meeting with us during the Lobby Day and hearing directly from advocates about the issues shaping our communities.

From racial justice and housing to technology accountability, these conversations are an important part of turning shared values into action—and ensuring California continues to lead the nation with bold, progressive policy.

08/24/2026

Food assistance for immigrant children, seniors, and people with disabilities shouldn't be where we cut the budget.

But under H.R. 1, all three groups are losing SNAP eligibility — for different reasons, same result: hunger.

California can and should fill the gap by funding the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

*** TAKE ACTION TODAY by submitting a comment on the governor's website-- see the link in our bio.

08/21/2026

Hunger doesn't wait for Congress to catch up.

The SNAP cuts in H.R. 1 aren't a future threat — they're happening right now. Millions of Californians have already lost food assistance: kids, seniors, veterans, disabled workers, unhoused neighbors, working families. Veterans are losing $219 a month. Seniors cut from the program are 23% more likely to end up in a nursing home.

And it won’t just lead to a hunger crisis. Farmers, grocers, and local economies are already taking the hit too — here in California and across the country. The current Farm Bill isn't reform. It's disinvestment, and it's already costing lives, farms, and local businesses.

The Senate has a choice: pass a Farm Bill or relief package that actually reverses these cuts, or let the damage compound.

📞 Call your Senators.

✉️ Email your representatives https://secure.everyaction.com/76ItkRZL70ae1ApG7NWaVQ2

Feeding families isn't optional. Tell your Senators to reverse the SNAP cuts and deliver what's needed to the people they represent.

08/20/2026

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER & ICON DOLORES HUERTA JOINED WESTERN CENTER & OTHER ADVOCATES last week to call for urgent action to prevent a looming hunger crisis.

Federal cuts in H.R. 1 threaten to strip food assistance from humanitarian immigrants, families with children, and foster youth. California leaders have the power to act now by strengthening the state's food safety net and ensuring no child, family, or immigrant goes hungry.

No child should be left hungry. People with disabilities should not lose access to food or medical assistance because they cannot meet burdensome work requirements. As Dolores reminded us:

“There is no excuse why these programs should not be fully funded.”

California has a long history of choosing to build a stronger safety net. Now is the time to uphold that commitment and ensure that every child, family, immigrant, foster youth, older adult, and person with a disability can access the food and support they need.

California leaders: it’s time to step up.

Let the Governor know you support funding CalFresh and CFAP so that every Californian has access to food.

1. Go to https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
2. Select “Budget 2026-2027” as your topic for this email
3. Select “Leave a Comment” for the purpose of your message
4. Select “Next” and select “Pro”
5. Edit the Message Subject Title line with:
"Governor Newsom, One More Time for Hungry Kids!”
6. Add your message to the Governor