From Connection to Action: More than 600 partners come together to deliver community-focused solutions as California continues protecting its families

With stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Sacramento, Riverside, Oxnard, San Diego, and the final convening last week in Fresno, California Connects brought together hundreds of attendees representing a wide range of organizations, languages, and populations.

“California continues to show what connection and access to resources looks like in action,” said Josh Fryday, GO-Serve Director and California Chief Service Officer. “When Washington stalls, California shows up and these convenings are proof that when communities and government work together, we can create an infrastructure of trust, build solutions, and strengthen our communities from the ground up.”

Convening by numbers: deep engagement, broad reach

Housed within the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve), OCPSC’s mission is to bridge community and government action, advance equity through trusted messengers, and ensure Californians everywhere have access to resources and support.

• More than 740 people representing 621 organizations were in attendance at the convenings, including CBOs, state agencies, institutions of higher education and philanthropic partners
• More than half of the organizations serve youth, immigrant and refugee communities, and households with limited English proficiency
• Attendees collectively serve communities in more than 50 languages, with Spanish, Vietnamese, and Farsi among the most common after English
• Education, children, and family services were top focus areas represented by attendees, mirroring California’s ongoing commitment to equity

“The way we connect best are through the community-based organizations who have direct contact with our residents on a daily basis,” said Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas. “Through this amazing office, through this amazing network, we’re able to share information in real time…. These are the things we need to make California thrive.”

Real-Time Results

More than 600 community-based organizations (CBOs), state agencies, and local leaders came together to exchange ideas, build lasting networks and deliver solutions to today’s challenges in real time. Community-based organizations connected directly with state partners, shared on-the-ground challenges, and identified actionable solutions – from improving access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and health care programs to supporting immigrant and small business communities.

“One of the most important takeaways from this meeting was the ability for us to say what it is that we have to give as an organization, and then being able to see, by category, that there are several organizations that will be able to assist us in kind,” said Angela DeShields from the Greater Sacramento Urban League. “The community we’re located in is becoming more diverse, and being able to pool our resources with other organizations we’ve met here today is really exciting.”

From Community to Action

Participants shared existing resources and immediate resource gaps, enabling each CBO to identify partners and link directly with state agency contacts for follow-up opportunities.

In Oxnard, one CBO arrived at the convening seeking volunteers to help distribute food to families in need, while another had a strong network of local volunteers but lacked sufficient supplies to meet demand. During the California Connects convening, the two groups met, exchanged contact information, and immediately began coordinating efforts. Within days, they launched a joint food distribution effort that served hundreds of residents—an early example of how these gatherings are sparking practical, community-driven collaborations that deliver results where they’re needed most.

“In just a few weeks, we’ve seen these convenings become places where CBOs can connect directly with state partners, share real challenges, and access resources in real time,” said Aubrie Fong, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications. “When we invest in connection, we invest in impact that lasts.”

California Connects: Regional Convenings attendees participating in an interactive workshop designed to surface shared priorities, resources, and connections.

Each regional convening built upon the last, with attendees describing the series as a catalyst for stronger partnerships and renewed energy. In every region, state agency partners (including California Volunteers, the Youth Empowerment Commission, California State Library, Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, California Housing Finance Agency, California State Treasurer’s Office, and others) sat side-by-side with CBOs. Together, they charted how to access funding, respond to emerging needs like food-access disruptions, and strengthen local capacity.

Local leaders joined to emphasize the power of collaboration in addressing local needs in their districts, while community members shared how the sessions gave them new tools and relationships to drive impact.

The California Connection: Regional Convenings mark the launch of a bold, statewide commitment to fortify the social fabric of our communities. These gatherings are not isolated events—they represent the first steps in a sustained, regionally rooted movement to foster connection, collaboration, and resilience across California.

“My organization works with refugees and other newcomers, and while we feel very lucky to be in a state with so many resources and opportunities, trusting government information is not easy,” said Nao Kabashima, Executive Director at Karen Organization of San Diego. “Through the work we do with OCPSC, our community feels more comfortable getting connected to the information, resources and services the government offers. We feel honored to be a part of this OCPSC network and look forward to continuing this work together.”

The California Connects: Regional Convenings mark the launch of a bold, statewide commitment to forge long lasting partnerships between community and the state. These gatherings are not isolated events; they represent the first steps in a sustained, statewide rooted movement to foster connection, collaboration, and resilience across California.