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Today, ������Ƶ CA announced its 2017 CA Fellows. This year’s fellows come from diverse backgrounds and industries.  From creating more inclusive pathways to college and careers to using virtual reality to activate more robust civic engagement, these visionary leaders are all working to tackle the important issues facing California and our nation.

“Our CA fellows transcend partisan politics and prove that real change starts locally,” stated Megan Garcia, Director of ������Ƶ CA. “These innovative Californians are solving real problems that affect real Californians, right now.”

“California is leading the way on innovation and urban/rural renewal,” added Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO of ������Ƶ. “Our hope is that our second class of California fellows will serve as living examples of what’s possible when people get involved locally and inspire more people to do the same.”

Of the 80 applications that were submitted, half were from women and people of color. The new class of CA Fellows will be focused on three main issue areas: education, tech for good, and civic engagement. ������Ƶ CA selected the following cutting edge social entrepreneurs whose names, projects, and affiliations are as follows:

• Ann Ravel��– former FEC Chair – encouraging civic engagement

• Erika Pinheiro��– Al Otro Lado – using mobile technology to connect immigrants to public services 

• Kyle Halle-Erby��– San Francisco International High School��– creating pathways of success for vulnerable students in college and career

• Michael Draskovic��– Ovrture – virtual reality for good

• Tim Haydock��– YouthWire – filling media deserts while empowering and educating disenfranchised youth to engage in the Central Valley

• Wayne Sutton��– Change Catalyst – fostering inclusivity in tech

Over the next year, ������Ƶ CA will support its fellows by providing them a public platform through media partnerships and live events, the opportunity to engage with our national network of policy experts, and a $30,000 financial stipend. Given broad based frustration with the state of policy and politics in California and nationally, ������Ƶ CA fellows’ stories will empower Californians to take action in their own communities.

������Ƶ CA is a civic startup working to amplify the reach of California change agents whose innovations solve public problems in bold new ways.