Working Partnerships is a public policy institute that builds partnerships with community, labor and faith groups to improve the lives of working families in Silicon Valley. 

 

Join us for the Equal Voice Online Convention
at noon Sunday

Posted May 15, 2012

Make sure the Equal Voice for America's Families 2012 National Family Platform reflects the issues important to you by participating in the first online Equal Voice national convention at noon Sunday, May 20.

Working Partnerships is hosting a participation event in our boardroom at 2102 Almaden Road in San Jose (map), or you can participate on your computer at home by going to www.equalvoice2012.org/USA and logging in through your Facebook or Twitter account. Visit the website now to be sure your computer is ready and for instructions on how to participate and vote.

Earlier this month Working Partnerships helped families under attack by the stressed economy and government's responses to it develop the platform that represents the issues of most concern to them by filling out online surveys. Sunday, through internet technology, families across the nation will come together to discuss the issues facing America's families and how to make the American Dream achievable for all.

The more voices we have, the stronger our message will be, so tell or email your friends about the Online Convention, too.

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Lead the Vote 2012 shifts
to motivation, education phase

Posted May 7, 2012

Lead the Vote 2012, Working Partnerships' drive to register young Latino and Vietnamese voters, reached its goal of 3,500 new voters and moved into its motivation and education phase with a May 7 event at San Jose State University.

The event was less than a month before the June 5 California primary, which will be the state's first conducted under the "top two" system. Educating new voters about changes in the electoral system, the more practical aspects of voting such as how to find the proper polling place as well encouraging new voters to participate in the democratic process is what Lead the Vote 2012, funded by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, is about until the election.

Working Partnerships project is part of a larger effort targeted at five "traditionally underrepresented groups" identified by the registrar including immigrant communities, low-income communities, 18-24 year-olds, seniors and the disabled.

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Working Partnerships helps push
minimum wage increase closer to enactment

Working Partnerships' Cindy Chavez speaks to rally before minimum wage petitions are submitted to San Jose City Clerk.

Posted May 4, 2012

San Jose City Council accepted the certification of a petition drive May 1 to place a $2 increase in the city's minimum wage on the ballot, a huge step for the city's lowest-paid workers and the precedent it could set as the largest U.S. city with a minimum wage.

The city will now prepare a report on the effects of the increase, and Working Partnerships turned out dozens of speakers to demand that staff produce a fair report based on sound research that includes how this increase will benefit working families and the overall economy, not one framed solely by business interests on alleged job losses.

As we reported in our April newsletter, Working Partnerships responded quickly when the San Jose State University students who initiated the minimum wage campaign sought our help as San Jose's leading advocate for everyday people. We helped train advocates on the issue, provided research support and assisted with legal issues.

Working Partnerships, with our coalition partners, has created a website to keep supporters informed about the campaign with one-click capability to email City Council members on the issue. Please be sure to include your street address on the mailing form.

The petition drive produced nearly double the required 19,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

Read our earlier coverage about the minimum wage drive here, here and here.

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