Center on Policy Initiatives
MISSION
The Center on Policy Initiatives is a research and action institute dedicated to creating economic prosperity, sustainable communities and a healthy environment for all. CPI serves a unique role in the San Diego region providing the analysis, policy solutions, education, and alliances that advance social and economic justice.
Who We Are
We are proud to have a staff and board that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. They are labor organizers, educators, researchers, academics, and community leaders. Our team has extensive experience in organizing, research, fundraising, civic engagement, youth development, and policy advocacy. CPI’s staff and board are dedicated to the mission and vision of advancing economic justice and prosperity for all.
Where We Work
San Diego County
BASE DEMOGRAPHICS
CPI’s policy advocacy, research, and leadership programs serve the population of working age families in San Diego County who are living with economic hardship and struggling to make ends meet. In high-cost areas like San Diego County, economic hardship is defined as having a household income of less than 200% of the federal poverty threshold. Since women and people of color are overrepresented in low-wage jobs, we target working women and communities with strong proportions of Black, Latino, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, and immigrant/refugee residents.
ISSUES WE CARE ABOUT
- Worker Rights
- Fighting Wage Theft
- Budget Advocacy
- Community Schools and Education
- Climate and Environmental Justice
PAST CAMPAIGN SUCCESS
- As both an election year and census year, 2020 was an important year for democracy. CPI was a proud member of the Count Me 2020 census coalition, helping to make sure everyone in Region 10 is counted. In partnership with Engage San Diego, CPI ran a text and digital ads program to encourage people to vote early and learn more about important local races. We reached 106,560 people through digital ads, 78,311 people through texts, and got 2,723 commitments to vote.
- In 2021, CPI convened groups to discuss and strategize about County level redistricting and advocated for the fairest, most equitable map possible. Our primary goal was to keep communities of color together and give them a stronger and fairer voice in the election process. The approved map is not a perfect map, but it represents most of what we wanted.
