The Heising-Simons Foundation is proud to regularly see its grantee partners featured in media outlets across the country, providing an expert voice on a timely issue or being highlighted for their accomplishments and hard work. Here are some news items that have featured our grantees in December 2020.

Faith in COVID-19 Vaccine Facing Uphill Battle in Black Community
San Jose Spotlight, December 30, 2020
André Chapman, CEO and founder of Unity Care, and Milan Balinton, director of the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA), are interviewed for this piece about how the United States’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic has uniquely impacted African Americans. Unity Care and AACSA are supported by the Foundation’s Community and Opportunity program.

How Report for America Is Boosting Local Journalism
Morning Joe, December 28, 2020
The work of Report for America, which places journalists in local newsrooms to cover under-reported topics, is the subject of this video segment at MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Report for America, a program at The Groundtruth Project, is supported by the Foundation’s Community and Opportunity program.

How to Shut Down ICE Detention in Your Community, a Detention Watch Network Guide
Teen Vogue, December 27, 2020
Silky Shah, executive director of the Detention Watch Network (DWN), shares the history and work of DWN, and offers some tips on how to confront the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in communities. The Marshall Project’s work is also mentioned. DWN and Marshall Project are supported by the Foundation’s Human Rights program.

Stimulus Deal Includes Raft of Provisions to Fight Climate Change
The Washington Post, December 23, 2020
Calling it “one of the biggest victories for U.S. climate action in a decade,” this article breaks down how part of the $900 billion coronavirus relief package will “phase out a class of potent planet-warming chemicals and provide billions of dollars for renewable energy.” The article features the Environmental Defense Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council, both supported by the Foundation’s Climate and Clean Energy program.

With Surging Gun Sales Comes Increased Risks
CalMatters, December 18, 2020
Brian Malte, executive director of the Hope and Heal Fund, has written an opinion piece about the critical need to invest in gun violence intervention strategies amid the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing social unrest. The Hope and Heal Fund is supported by the Foundation’s Community and Opportunity program.

Fed Joins Climate Network, to Applause From the Left
New York Times, December 15, 2020
Ceres is quoted in this article about the central bank joining a network of global financial regulators focused on climate risk. Ceres is supported by the Foundation’s Climate and Clean Energy program.

Does Restricting Access To Guns Reduce Gun Violence?
Truth Be Told (at Howard University), December 13, 2020
Dr. Garen Wintemute at the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program is interviewed for this piece that looks at how other countries have managed to reduce firearm-related violence by restricting access to firearms. The UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program is supported by the Foundation’s Community and Opportunity Program.

Coronavirus Pandemic Is Hurting Families Who Are Already Struggling
Daily Democrat, December 10, 2020
“It is hitting the immigrant Latino population very, very hard on all kinds of levels,” said Salvador Bustamante, executive director of Latinos United for a New America, in this piece about the COVID-19 pandemic’s toll on Latino households. Latinos United for a New America is supported by the Foundation’s Community and Opportunity program.

Should California Ban Gas in New Homes? A Climate Battle Heats Up
Los Angeles Times, December 7, 2020
Grantees Rocky Mountain Institute and Ceres are featured in this article that examines efforts to require new homes in California to be powered solely by electricity. Rocky Mountain Institute and Ceres are supported by the Foundation’s Climate and Clean Energy program.

The Cost of Child Care Was Already Astronomical. In the Pandemic, It’s ‘Terrifying.’
The Lily (published by the Washington Post), December 7, 2020
A report by New America, which shows that the average cost of child care for a child under 4 is higher than the average cost of in-state college tuition, is featured in this piece about the financial strains families are experiencing to cover child care costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. New America is supported by the Foundation’s Education program.

COVID-19 Means More Preschool-Age Kids Won’t Be Ready for Kindergarten
USA Today, December 3, 2020
Data from grantees Child Care Aware of America, Center for American Progress, National Association for the Education of Young Children is included in this article that illuminates the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our youngest learners. These grantees are supported by the Foundation’s Education program.

Lawmakers Unveil Anti-Slavery Constitutional Amendment
News Tribune, December 3, 2020
Grantees Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Color of Change, and Human Rights Watch, have endorsed a resolution aimed at excising language from the U.S. Constitution that has allowed “the exploitation of labor by convicted felons for more than 155 years since the abolition of slavery.” Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Color of Change, and Human Rights Watch are supported by the Foundation’s Human Rights program.

California Unveiled a Blueprint for the Future of Early Education. Critics Say It’s Built on Shaky Ground
Los Angeles Times, December 1, 2020
Children Now and the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) are featured in this piece analyzing California’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, which was unveiled in December with the goal of improving the state’s early childhood learning and care system. Children Now and CSCCE are supported by the Foundation’s Education program.