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In its exploratory phase to embark on a major First Amendment strategy, the James B. McClatchy Foundation launched the LIFT Initiative as a grant making pilot to advance awareness of and engagement with the First Amendment as it relates to free speech, freedom of expression, and a free press in Central Valley communities.
Through a listening journey with communities, we partner with Central Valley organizations to uncover the core support needed to engage in First Amendment freedoms and sustain a vibrant civic life. What surfaced is a vivid civic engagement ecosystem of connected partners ranging from community organizers, civic educators and journalists to First Amendment advocates. Collectively, they create a blueprint for how to successfully uplift the First Amendment in the Central Valley. As the LIFT pilot evolves into a longer-term strategy, we embrace opportunities to safeguard local news and amplify community voices that represent the future of the Central Valley.
The James B. McClatchy Foundation envisions communities across the Central Valley thriving in all facets of civic life — from organizing their churches and neighborhoods — to showing up at city council or school board meetings, to creating more local news outlets to uplift voices in the home language of residents.
It is with the First Amendment freedoms of speech, and expression, and a free press, the LIFT Initiative strives to support and activate civic engagement in the Central Valley through examples such as:
LIFTing Local Leaders
Lifting Local Leaders is JBMF’s storytelling series that profiles Central Valley leaders. Their thoughts, perspectives, vision, and wisdom were collected through interviews using the StoryEngine methodology to create beautiful and personal narratives. Read more about this in our blog. We believe in the power of sharing stories to not only highlight the work of organizers and advocates but to act as a vehicle to identify important issues communities are facing in the heart of California. Read the first seven stories HERE.
Feasibility Report
We invite you to read our new study that announces the establishment of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CVJC), a new infrastructure model dedicated to keeping community journalism thriving in California’s Central Valley, despite the collapse of the traditional media industry over the last 15 years, and the outright demise of independent, local news in many American communities. The CVJC is introduced in the new 19-page study, entitled, Feasibility Report on Developing a Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, as a model to save independent fact-based news outlets. JBMF is seeding this new journalism funders collaborative to fortify First Amendment press freedoms and strengthen diversity in journalism.
In exploring the creation of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, the following goals guide our work:
Read the report and press release to understand the risk of losing local journalism in the Central Valley.
Join us in championing the First Amendment through local journalism and help grow support for the Collaborative. Contact us for more information.
We invite you to read our new study that announces the establishment of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CVJC), a new infrastructure model dedicated to keeping community journalism thriving in California’s Central Valley, despite the collapse of the traditional media industry over the last 15 years, and the outright demise of independent, local news in many American communities. The CVJC is introduced in the new 19-page study, entitled, Feasibility Report on Developing a Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, as a model to save independent fact-based news outlets. JBMF is seeding this new journalism funders collaborative to fortify First Amendment press freedoms and strengthen diversity in journalism.
In exploring the creation of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, the following goals guide our work:
Read the report and press release to understand the risk of losing local journalism in the Central Valley.
Join us in championing the First Amendment through local journalism and help grow support for the Collaborative. Contact us for more information.
If you need to reach us, have additional inquiries or would like to update your email preferences, please use the form below:
Phone: 916.979.9166
The James B. McClatchy Foundation (JBMF) accepts proposals only by invitation. Please do not send letters of inquiry or proposals by mail or email unless requested to do so by Foundation staff.
The James B. McClatchy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit philanthropic organization and is not affiliated with the McClatchy Company.
© 2022 James B. McClatchy Foundation. All rights reserved.
