Bay Rising Action is thrilled to announce our endorsement of Nikki Fortunato Bas for Alameda County Supervisor! Look out for her on the March 5th primary election ballot.  Nikki has been an advocate for working people for over two decades. As a lifelong community organizer, nonprofit director, Filipina-American, and working Mom, she believes in a future for the East Bay where every family is healthy, safe, and housed. From her early days as a community organizer in Chinatown, to her work as Executive Director of East Bay Alliance for Sustainable Economy, to her current position as Oakland ..read more

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: Grassroots Electoral Power in the Bay Area appeared first on Bay Rising Action ..read more

Leaders note the tremendous power of district attorneys in the criminal legal system, wave of progessive prosecutors FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Jan 6, 2021 Media Contacts: Irene Rojas-Carroll, Senior Communications Manager, Bay Rising Action, irene@bayrisingaction.org // Amaris Leon, Campaign Manager, Sajid Khan for Santa Clara D.A., amaris@votesajid.com Today, progressive political network Bay Rising Action endorsed public defender and outspoken civil rights advocate Sajid Khan in the race for Santa Clara County District Attorney. The multi-racial, multi-issue network represents communi ..read more

SFGATE/September 6, 2023 The 2020 presidential election produced some of the highest turnout of young voters and voters of color. Alex Lalama was among them. A San Francisco State University student at the time, Lalama was one of many students becoming more politically involved, which Lalama attributes to the “era of Trumpism.” In fact, according to the Berkeley Institute for Young Americans, even though little is known about many of the factors influencing youth voter turnout, disapproval for Donald Trump was one that significantly correlated to voter turnout for people ages 18 to 39.  “Young ..read more

In April 2023, Oakland Rising Action interviewed newly elected Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. Thao’s commitment to social justice and equity has been a driving force throughout her career – she is a dedicated public servant and community leader. Here are some of her thoughts on her running for office and the importance of community organizing. Oakland Rising Action: Hi, Mayor Thao. Thank you very much for joining me today to share your experience of running for the Oakland mayor’s seat. After representing District Four, what motivated you to decide to run for Oakland mayor? Mayor Thao: My career at ..read more

If you’re considering running for office, it’s essential to take the time to assess your readiness and evaluate your motivations. Answering these questions for yourself at the start can give you the best chance to embark on a transformative journey in public service. Embrace the excitement that comes with this prospect, as it offers a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on your community. Remember, running for office is a significant responsibility, but it’s also a platform to advocate for social justice and effect meaningful change. In this blog post, we’ll explore key considerations ..read more

In March 2023, we interviewed San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees Vice President, Ligia Andrade Zúñiga for Women’s History Month. Vice President Zúñiga is a longtime community activist and is a champion for education, making sure students have an equal voice to communicate their experiences and their needs, including all those who are invisible, underserved, and underrepresented. Here are some of her thoughts from her running for office to making sure that our schools, political arenas, and our communities are accessible to everyone.  Part 1 BRA: You mentioned that the ..read more

In March 2023, we interviewed San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees, Ligia Andrade Zúñiga for Women’s History Month. Vice President Zúñiga is a longtime community activist and a champion for education. She makes sure students have an equal voice to communicate their experiences and their needs, including those who are invisible, underserved, and underrepresented. Here are some of her thoughts from her running for office to making sure that our schools, political arenas, and our communities are accessible to everyone.  Claire Donovan-Suguitan for Bay Rising Action: Thank y ..read more

Oakland Rising Action’s Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2022 CONTACT:  liz suk, Executive Director, Oakland Rising Action | info@OaklandRisingAction.org OAKLAND – After holding conversations with nearly 6,000 infrequent and new Oakland voters ahead of this November’s election, Oakland Rising Action is celebrating numerous election wins across Alameda County and Oakland. Their voter guide reached nearly 60,000 Oakland households by mail, and received an additional 6,815 views online. Progressive candidates and ballot measures such as Measure W, which will i ..read more

By Margi Clarke Did you see lots of ads about candidates and ballot measures this election cycle? Well, prepare for a lot more. The national airwaves and internet are where big money in politics dominates the debate, and it’s true for Bay Area elections as well. Grassroots voices can be drowned out by the traditional ways elections are handled by mainstream consultants, media companies, and most political leaders. They don’t invest in talking with constituents, instead broadcasting one-way to them with false-solution politics, and political donors and political ads grease many palms along the ..read more