“When local land use and zoning decisions are moved from city councils to state legislatures, who’s able to show up to those hearings? If environmental review is bypassed, who loses the ability to raise legitimate concerns about pollution or contamination?” writes Cal Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman. “These are not hypothetical concerns. They are real experiences for communities that have seen ‘progress’ arrive without consultation.”

“It’s like we became a family,” says Auzzie Lewis, who turned her passion into a catering business. “You are working long hours, and everyone becomes friendly and is eager to help each other. Starting your own business is scary, and that mutual support made all the difference.”

Downey’s City of STEM inspires thousands of kids of all ages every day in April to create, experiment, explore, and have fun. The program targets youth traditionally underrepresented in STEM learning, bringing providers to them to create dialogues and raise awareness about related careers and activities.