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Working Partnerships

Grassroots organizing & public policy innovation for a just economy

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Thank You for Powering a Better Silicon Valley

Your contribution plays a crucial role in ensuring our success next year as we strive to create healthy and safe neighborhoods, foster just cities, and promote a vibrant democracy that benefits everyone.

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Thank You for Powering a Better Silicon Valley

Your contribution will play a crucial role in ensuring our success next year as we strive to create healthy and safe neighborhoods, foster just cities, and promote a vibrant democracy that benefits everyone.

DONATE NOW

We’re Powering a Better Silicon Valley. Join Us.

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OUR 2024 VISION

Winning Big For Working Families

Building Inclusive Democracy

We believe democracy works best when all voices are heard. This year we’re accelerating our civic engagement efforts to ensure no Santa Clara County resident is excluded from our democratic process. Since January 2024, we’ve already engaged more than 10,000 low-propensity voters in Santa Clara County about elections, corporate accountability, support for fast food workers, and public health.

But that’s not all — following the victory against big money in politics last year, we’re launching a campaign for Democracy Dollars — a tool that will empower San José residents to actively participate in local politics, even in the face of formidable corporate and real estate influences.

A Stable Home for Every Family

In the face of San José’s rapid growth, worsening poverty and income gap, and the region’s growing eviction crisis, we’re rising up for working families struggling to find affordable housing. We’re part of a growing coalition of local advocates backing a housing bond measure aimed at bringing billions of dollars towards making housing more affordable in Santa Clara County.

This is more than a campaign; it’s a commitment to building homes, preserving communities, and securing a hopeful future for all.

Fair Futures for Fast Food Workers

San José’s fast-food industry employs nearly 13,000 cooks and cashiers — 8 in 10 are folks of color, and 7 in 10 are women. These workers are vital to the billion-dollar sector, and they deserve more than a paycheck — they deserve dignity and respect on the job. 
We’re pushing for reform that ensures that fast food workers have the same rights on the job, access to full-time work and benefits, and opportunities for advancement so that they can take care of their families and look forward to better futures for themselves and their children.

Affordable Childcare for All

Picture a Santa Clara County where every child has access to affordable, quality childcare. That’s our vision. We’re fighting for affordable, quality childcare for all kids in Santa Clara County.

It’s not just about helping parents and supporting childcare workers. It’s about reducing poverty, boosting community safety, and strengthening our economy.

Join us in building the future in Santa Clara County.

Working Partnerships USA: 2023 Year in Review

2023 AT A GLANCE

OUR 2023 IMPACT

Building Inclusive Democracy

  • Reached up to 5000 community members in San José through year round civic engagement campaigns around housing and local services
  • Moved the SJ City Council to take decisive action concerning campaign finance practices, fortifying our local democracy and protecting City Hall from the influence of powerful special interests.

Driving Key Legislative Wins

  • Mobilized over 100 community members to take direct action that drove legislative wins around the city budget, wage theft, and housing justice.
  • Expanded worker protections against wage theft across all public contracts.
  • Secured a victory against real estate interest by ensuring funding for affordable housing in the city

Nurturing Thriving Futures

  • Our Trades Orientation Program (TOP) graduated 77 students now armed with the skills to embark on a journey in the construction trades, secure coveted union positions, and construct a truly fulfilling career. Since its beginning in 2015, TOP has graduated more than 605 people from its industry recognized, one-year pre-apprenticeship training program that includes individualized coaching on job search, staying on the job, and career advancement helping ensure that over 87% of TOP graduates secure placements within one-year.

Elevating Worker Leaders 

  • The Fair Workplace Collaborative program empowered 1300 low-wage workers with knowledge on wages, rights, protections, and advancement, and connected about 450 workers to legal support to fight wage theft. 
  • The Worker Power Academy, equipped 30 workers across 3 industries with the skills and awareness necessary to effectively address unlawful conditions in their workplaces.
  • The Care Workers Council, engaged  50+ care providers, Kaiser employees, and workers from diverse industries to champion improved labor standards and universal access to vital care. Earlier in the year, care workers from nine industries, both union and non-union, connected with a dozen elected representatives at a Worker Roundtable
  • Six dedicated workers received Skills to Win training, while our expanding WhatsApp group symbolizes a surge in workers uniting and backing one another.
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Finding Power and Purpose Through Community

Listen to Lucila’s story and her vision for 2024.

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Finding Power and Purpose Through Community

Listen to Lucila’s story and her vision for 2024.

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Powering Opportunity and Economic Justice

Hear from Trades Orientation Program( (TOP) alumni Ronald and Jessica about their transformative journeys.

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Powering Opportunity and Economic Justice

Hear from Trades Orientation Program( (TOP) alumni Ronald and Jessica about their transformative journeys.

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Powering Networks of Care in Silicon Valley

Leslie Rodriguez, Board President, and Nick Palka, Silicon Valley Rising Canvasser, discuss their ongoing commitment to our mission.

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Powering Networks of Care in Silicon Valley

Leslie Rodriguez, Board President, and Nick Palka, Canvasser, discuss their ongoing commitment to our mission.

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2023 Impact Report

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workingpartnershipsusa

🚨 Join us next Wednesday, July 23, for an infor 🚨 Join us next Wednesday, July 23, for an informative Worker's Rights Training hosted by the Fair Workplace Collaborative! ⁠
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You will:⁠
📣 Learn about labor rights in your workplace⁠
🔎 How to identify and report wage theft ⁠
🧊 What to do if ICE shows up at your workplace⁠
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We will also provide:⁠
🍴 Free food⁠
👶 Free child supervision⁠
🎟️ Raffle off $100 gift card⁠
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👉️ Register by clicking the link in our bio!🔗⁠
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🚨 ¡Los esperamos el proximo viernes, 23 de Julio, para un taller informativo de los derechos laborales cual fue organizado por el Fair Workplace Collaborative!⁠
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Acompañanos Para:⁠
📣 Aprender mas sobre tus derechos laborales en su trabajo⁠
🔎 Como identificar y denunciar el robo de salario⁠
🧊 Que hacer si llega ICE a tu trabajo⁠
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Tendremos:⁠
🍴 Comida Gratis⁠
👶 Supervisión gratuita para niños⁠
🎟️ Una rifa de una targeta de $100⁠
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👉️ ¡Regístrate haciendo clic en nuestra bio!🔗⁠
⏳ The High Road Summit is just one week away! ✨⁠
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We're bringing together organizers, workers, policy leaders, and advocates to reimagine our regional economies and push forward real solutions rooted in equity, climate justice, and worker power.⁠
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From the future of childcare and care work to high-road manufacturing, from worker co-ops to state-level policy, our workshops are designed to spark collaboration and action.⁠
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📣 Now’s the time to show up, connect, and commit. Let’s move from ideas to action—together.⁠
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👉 RSVP today at wpusa.org/highroadsummit or head to the link in our bio 🔗
Even as we fight the forces of oppression and expl Even as we fight the forces of oppression and exploitation, we’re grounded in gratitude for the brilliance of our partners and allies. Together, we’re doing the hard work of building futures where our communities have access to basic necessities and real opportunities, now and for generations to come.

📣 Join us at our upcoming High Road Summit—because now is the time to double down on equity, climate action, and worker power!

We’re growing a High Road economy that centers underinvested communities, protects our climate, and uplifts the leadership of workers, immigrants, and communities of color. These aren’t just ideas—they’re real, collaborative projects already transforming our region. And we need bold, committed stakeholders to help sustain this momentum.

Be part of the movement shaping a cleaner, more equitable future.
👉RSVP today at wpusa.org/highroadsummit or go to the link in our bio 🔗
Universal Healthcare Coverage is at Risk! ⚡️🚨⁠
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Gov. Newsom’s proposed budget is a huge blow to the state’s efforts towards universal health care coverage, #Health4All, a goal that Gov. Newsom once lauded. Advocates are calling on state legislators to REJECT these proposed budget cuts. Our system is stronger and our communities are healthier when everyone is covered; an attack on one is an attack on us all!⁠
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Click the link in the bio to find your representative!
We are proud to stand alongside @seiu521, @seiu102 We are proud to stand alongside @seiu521, @seiu1021, @parentvoicesoakland, Headstart workers, parents, and providers to demand justice for our children, families, and care workers from our Care Workers Council. 

Childcare is under attack in Santa Clara County.
❌ Headstart and Early Head Start are being defunded
❌ Childcare providers are being laid off
❌ Facilities are shutting down permanently

These cuts hit hardest in East and South County, where families already face limited access to childcare. These are childcare deserts — and they’re growing.

This is a call to action: Invest in care, not cuts.

Every child deserves a safe, nurturing place to grow. Every working family deserves support. Every provider deserves respect.

We're organizing for Childcare for All — because strong communities start with strong care.

#ChildcareForAll #StopTheCuts #SEIU521 #WorkingPartnershipsUSA #HeadStartMatters #InvestInCare #CommunityPower #SouthBaySolidarity #WhenWeFightWeWi
🔹 Employers in San Jose with 36 or more employe 🔹 Employers in San Jose with 36 or more employees are legally required to prioritize offering additional work hours to qualified part-time employees before hiring external candidates, including subcontractors or temporary staffing agencies.⁠
🔹 This ordinance aims to increase economic stability for part-time workers by ensuring they have the first opportunity to take on additional hours before new hires are considered.⁠
🔹 Non-compliance can result in city-led investigations and financial penalties for violating businesses.⁠
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NEW REPORT by @CHIRLA_ORG and @CAFastFoodUnion she NEW REPORT by @CHIRLA_ORG and @CAFastFoodUnion sheds light on the specific ways that fear about immigration status, and lack of knowledge about their rights, are impacting the lives of over 600,000 fast food workers across California.

While union workers have used their rights to hold fast food bosses accountable, many workers continue to live in fear.

Thanks to the bold leadership of our elected representatives , Santa Clara County is exploring providing Know Your Rights training for fast food workers. We need to let them know that we support safe, in-person training for Fast Food Workers in our county, where they can learn about their rights, understand labor laws, and connect with trusted resource people for guidance on workplace issues.

Read the report: https://www.chirla.org/fastfoodworkersreport/
Last week in San Jose, we gathered with workers an Last week in San Jose, we gathered with workers and community members from across our campaigns — app-based drivers, care workers, Berryessa Flea Market vendors, trades program participants, and more — for a community BBQ and potluck.⁠
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It was a chance to slow down, share a meal, and connect across the different parts of our work and lives. We enjoyed fresh-off-the-grill tacos 🌮 and elotes 🌽, music, games for the kids, and a piñata — and meaningful time spent together.⁠
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Huge shoutout to our team for pouring heart into every detail, and to everyone who showed up, brought food, brought love ❤️, and brought hope.⁠
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We’re proud to be part of this vibrant, unstoppable community in Santa Clara County — and even prouder to keep growing it together 🌱.
📢 We're hiring at Working Partnerships USA!⁠ 📢 We're hiring at Working Partnerships USA!⁠
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If you're ready to turn your passion for social justice into action, this is your chance to join a team fighting for economic equity, workers’ rights, and real community power. From supporting groundbreaking workforce programs to organizing alongside working families, our open roles offer the opportunity to make meaningful change in the South Bay and beyond.⁠
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We're looking for driven, values-aligned individuals to join us in building a future where everyone can thrive.⁠
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Scan the QR Codes or use the link in our bio to apply! 🔗
🚨 May Day is OUR day 🚨⁠ ⁠ This May 1st, 🚨 May Day is OUR day 🚨⁠
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This May 1st, we’re hitting the streets with workers, immigrants, and our Santa Clara community—because when we move together, we’re unstoppable.⁠
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We're bringing our voices, our stories, our culture to the streets—because when our community stands united, no force can silence us, divide us, or steal our future.⁠
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We’re not just marching. We’re building power. We’re demanding dignity. We’re showing up for each other.⁠
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📍 Story & King, San José⁠
🎉 Rally: 2:30pm | March: 4:00pm | Ends at City Hall with performances and community celebration ⁠
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📢 Calling all future organizers, advocates, and 📢 Calling all future organizers, advocates, and changemakers! ✨ 

Working Partnerships USA's Bill Leininger Summer Justice Internship application is now open! This paid, 8-week internship is your chance to dive into real community change work—supporting campaigns that fight for racial justice, workers’ rights, housing, and more right here in Santa Clara County.

Whether you’re a student, a new organizer, or just interested in movement work, this is an awesome opportunity to learn hands-on organizing, connect with mentors, and grow your leadership. You’ll be matched with a campaign that fits your interests and get to see the impact of grassroots power up close.

✨ Apps are due May 10—so don’t wait! ✨

This internship is open to everyone—if you’re passionate about justice and ready to make a difference, we encourage you to apply. Just bring your energy, curiosity, and commitment to community.

Apply today using the link in our bio! 🔗
🕯This year's Workers’ Memorial Day event was 🕯This year's Workers’ Memorial Day event was a powerful reminder of why this work is urgent and necessary. In a world where too many workers still face unsafe conditions, low wages, and a lack of basic protections, creating spaces to share knowledge, build solidarity, and honor those we’ve lost is essential to pushing for real change.⁠
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Through worker stories, hands-on trainings, and open conversations about immigrant rights and workplace safety, we created a space for learning, healing, and collective action. As we continue the fight for safer, fairer workplaces, we carry with us the memories of those we honored and the lessons we heard. ⁠
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The movement for workplace justice doesn’t end with a single event—it lives on in every worker who speaks out, every right we defend, and every community we build together. 💪⁠
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Shout out to @somosmayfair, @pawissouthbay @stepfwd.fdn @sccfairwrkplace @scc_rapidresponsenetwork and our volunteers who made this event possible!⁠
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If you or someone you know needs support, resources, or legal help, visit The Fair Workplace Collaborative website to get connected: https://wpusa.org/work/just-economy/fair-workplace-collaborative/ :link:
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WORKING PARTNERSHIPS USA
2302 Zanker Road, San Jose, CA 95131
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