The Daughters of Charity (1633-present)
Founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac to assist community members in need, the Daughters of Charity were formally established in 1633. Today, there are more than 10,000 sisters in almost 100 countries across the globe.
The Daughters of Charity Province of St. Ann Elizabeth Seton have engaged in anti-poverty work in California since 1852. The sisters live and work in community and support ministries providing education, elder care, and social services across California and the western United States.
GRACE: The Early Years (2013-2017)
Seeing the economic injustice harming millions of California children and families, the Daughters of Charity founded GRACE in 2013. To combat poverty effectively, the sisters acknowledged the need for systems-level transformation through the following activities:
- Fighting for child and family-first policies and investments at the federal, state, and local levels
- Working alongside other anti-poverty advocates, like the National Foster Youth Institute and Daughters of Charity ministries
- Increasing understanding and awareness of the poverty crisis in California and its impact on children
These activities were collected under the banner of the End Child Poverty California (ECPCA) education campaign in 2016.
Following the education campaign, the GRACE End Child Poverty Institute (ECPI) was established in 2017. As a 501(c)(4) organization, ECPI bolsters ongoing education and advocacy efforts. It also powers increased engagement with government leaders and greater grassroots mobilization in the civic process, among other activities.
The End Child Poverty Plan (2017-2021)
In 2017, after years of outreach and collaborative advocacy efforts, the California Legislature passed the Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Act (AB 1520, Burke). AB 1520 committed the Legislature to the goals of eliminating deep child poverty and cutting child poverty in half. A comprehensive framework of research-backed poverty reduction strategies would guide policymakers toward successfully meeting these goals.
Co-chaired by Conway Collis, founding President & CEO of GRACE from 2013-2021, and Will Lightbourne, Director of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) from 2011-2018, a multi-sector task force convened in 2017-2018 to develop this framework. Their final report, the End Child Poverty Plan, included 43 research-based and community-informed recommendations across seven major policy areas.
Successful adoption and full implementation of the Plan’s recommendations became an organizational priority. The End Child Poverty California Coalition formally coalesced and membership quickly grew to more than 150 organizations. With support from ECPI in cultivating legislative and budget champions, as of 2023, the Coalition has achieved full or partial adoption of policies consistent with 41 out of 43 recommendations and secured more than $15 billion in state funding for anti-poverty programs and initiatives.
ECPCA, Powered by GRACE (2021-present)
ECPCA considers AB 1520 and all that came after as landmarks in California’s fight to end child and family poverty. It was a similarly pivotal period of organizational maturation. Over the past ten-plus years, we have demonstrated:
- The effectiveness of the social safety net in keeping millions out of poverty
- The importance of an intersectional, interdisciplinary, innovative agenda to combat poverty, centering the expertise and voices of those with lived experience
- The power of conviction, solidarity, and collective action in the face of injustice, greed, indifference, and fear
Looking forward, however, we ask, What’s next?
Under the direction of a new President and CEO since the summer of 2021, we have adjusted our vision, shifted our strategies, and increased investment in both the work we do and the people who do it. Included in this is how we tell our story. We lead with our north star followed closely by the people behind the effort: End Child Poverty California, powered by GRACE.
Currently, we have a staff of seven engaged in policy and advocacy, coalition building, and narrative change. We are proud to work in solidarity alongside our anti-poverty partners in the fight for freedom, justice, and prosperity in California and beyond.