Last week, we were honored to share the work of employment social enterprise — and the power of the entrepreneurs with whom REDF has the privilege to work — with California Governor Gavin Newsom and several members of his cabinet.
The State of California is leading the way in transforming lives through the power of employment social enterprises (ESEs)! With nearly $300 million invested in 85 enterprises, the state isn’t just creating jobs — they’re supporting a business model that strengthens families and communities. Thanks to support from Newsom’s administration, ESEs have created 44,000 jobs and counting for people across California.
Alongside our ESE partners Farming Hope, Chrysalis, and Center for Employment Opportunities, we hosted an interactive luncheon to illustrate the power of our public/private/purpose sector partnerships and show how they meet at the intersection of business sustainability and economic mobility for Californians overcoming steep barriers to employment.
During the luncheon, we also set aside time for the governor and his team to hear directly from Californians who have been employed by and benefited from ESEs. They heard the story of Antonio, who spent time in and out of prison and struggled with addiction. He wanted to choose a different trajectory, and found his way to Chrysalis, a California ESE that partners with the innovative Caltrans and Butte County Office of Education program, Back2Work.
Through Chrysalis and Back2Work, Antonio received access to coaching, job training, and other stabilizing resources, and was employed on a crew doing state highway maintenance. After graduating from the program, Antonio was hired for a full-time job at Caltrans, where he’s grown his career and where he still works today. He’s now a substance abuse coach and homeowner, and is happily married, with his kids and grandkids back in his life.
Antonio’s story is one of new beginnings — not just for him, but for his whole family. ESEs have a ripple effect of joy and possibility.
California has helped lead the way for ESEs, but make no mistake: we’re proud to support ESEs all across the country, and our work is just beginning. This win-win outcome in California can translate to win-wins everywhere — helping people all across our country, who are often on the outside of our economy looking in, build the swagger and the sustainability that comes through the power of a job.
Thank you, Governor Newsom, for your visionary support!
Thank you, also, to the following leaders whose partnership has been instrumental in this movement so far:
- Deputy Cabinet Secretary Kevin Matulich
- Secretary Jeff Macomber, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Secretary Tomequia Moss, California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing
- Secretary Amy Tong, GovOps
- Director Dee Dee Myers, California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
- Undersecretary Mark Tollefson, California State Transportation Agency
- Undersecretary Jacque Roberts, California Labor & Workforce Development Agency
And massive gratitude to REDF’s Director of Government Partnerships & Policy Greg Ericksen, Head of Policy Manie Grewal, and the inimitable Carla Javits (REDF Senior Advisor), on whose broad shoulders we stand.
Let’s go.
