This year’s CalWORKs Training Academy was a powerful reminder of what happens when families, advocates, and community leaders come together to envision a system that truly works for those it was designed to support. At the heart of this movement are the incredible parent leaders of Parent Voices California, a force of energy, wisdom, and lived experience shaping the future of CalWORKs.

These parents are POWER.

For years, Parent Voices leaders have been reimagining CalWORKs into a program that nourishes whole families — not just on paper, but in real lives, every day. Their leadership embodies the theme of this year’s Academy, “Rooted in Resilience: Centering Whole Family Engagement.”

CalWORKs is one of California’s most essential safety net programs, providing cash assistance, child care, and employment supports for families working to build their own pathways out of poverty. But for too long, the program was shaped by outdated, racist, and sexist policies that created barriers instead of opportunity.

This year’s Training Academy highlighted a growing movement to transform the program so parents can access the tools, compassion, and resources they need to reach their dreams. And thanks to their advocacy, more organizations across the state are joining in to demand bold, meaningful change.

Out with the old policies that punished poverty. In with new, community-driven solutions that honor dignity and possibility.

Parent Voices leaders not only fight for systemic change — they also share their stories so others can access support without shame, confusion, or missed opportunities. Their testimonies from the Training Academy reflect the gaps families continue to face, and the power of peer leadership to close them.

Belia’s Story: “I wish I had all the information.”

“I wish I had all the information that [welfare] services provided.
I did not know that I could get support with schooling.
I learned that I was not supposed to be dropped from Stage 1 to Stage 2 child care services until I was a part of Parent Voices and shared my story at a budget hearing.”

Belia’s experience reflects what so many families face: a system that is supposed to support them, but too often fails to communicate the resources they are entitled to. Her leadership helps ensure that other parents don’t have to navigate this alone.

Jazmine Arreola: Leading with Grace and Compassion

At the Academy, Jazmine reminded us of something essential:

“We need to have GRACE. We need to remember to give each other grace.
Even if the system doesn’t change, we all have a role to play to support.
Grace and compassion starts at home.”

Her words highlight the emotional resilience parents must carry while navigating complex systems — and the power of community care within movements for change. When asked what it meant to use her voice to shape programs, Jazmine shared:

“I felt great because I want people to know there are different cases. It felt good for me to share with workers that there are people that really need this help. I cannot make it without my CalFresh, I cannot make it without CalWORKs, housing assistance. So it is an honor to be in these spaces to share my story.” Her honesty underscores why parent leadership matters: policies are most effective when shaped by the lived experiences of those directly impacted.

The CalWORKs Training Academy is more than a conference — it is a space where parents and advocates come together to rewrite the narrative of what families deserve. Parent Voices leaders are showing California that a humane, equitable safety net is not only possible, it is already in motion. Their resilience, clarity, and courage are transforming systems and inspiring organizations statewide to join in the work.

We are honored to celebrate them.
We are grateful to learn from them.
And we are committed to continuing the movement toward a CalWORKs system that uplifts every family.