Schools Not Prisons & BMOC
A successful youth-grassroots driven campaign to transform school discipline practices, transform justice systems, and center Boys & Young Men of Color.
#SchoolsNotPrisons partners helped transform the public narrative surrounding harsh school discipline by calling attention to systemic challenges and potential solutions, championing non-violence and youth activism and urging families to join the movement.
BHC partners advocated for more equitable funding of California’s schools through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) policy, which resulted in much-needed increased per-pupil spending and lower teacher-to-student ratios. Moreover, partners played an important role in implementing the policy to ensure that new dollars directly benefited students and families most-in-need. BHC led a powerful campaign to improve school climate, change the public narrative and raise awareness surrounding the “school-to-prison pipeline” and end harsh and overly punitive school discipline policies.
Alternatives such as restorative justice, healing, and other trauma-informed practices encompass a growing social movement to institutionalize non-punitive, relationship-centered approaches for avoiding and addressing harm, responding to violations of legal and human rights, and collaboratively solving problems.
When used in schools to address the root causes of harmful behavior, these approaches help find solutions that make it right for all parties involved without the student losing class time.
The work yielded a 50% decrease in suspensions statewide, contributing to more in-class time for teaching and learning. This school climate effort may have also contributed to an improvement in school graduation rates.
-
Millions
of people reached through the campaign since 2016 -
Hundreds
of artists connected with grassroots, youth-serving orgs -
100,000+
attended 30+ free arts & music festivals -
50%
Decrease in Suspensions Statewide
“We’ve seen what happens when young people have a chance to heal from trauma, to lead, and to create a vision for the kind of world they, and we, all want to live in.”
DR. ROBERT K. ROSS President & CEO, The California Endowment
Browse Other Changes Planted by Dr. Ross
Building Healthy Communities $1B invested over 10 years
Health4All 38.6 million lives impacted
Youth Awards 37 total awards given
Farmworker Health $50M initiative
TCE Grant Making 2023 $381M awarded
Parks for All Hundreds of millions leveraged for parks investments in CA
Youth on the Board 1st of large foundations in US to have youth on the board
Childhood Obesity & Freshworks $272M to expand access to fresh and healthy foods in low-income communities
CHIS 20,000 households interviewed annually to find health gaps in CA
Kids Health Coverage Campaign $4M to help enroll children in health programs
Cultural Competency/Health Workforce/PRIME $78.2M to CA organizations working to boost the size and diversity of the state's healthcare workforce
TCE Headquarters 125,000+ use our facilities every year
Wishing Wall
Best wishes, Dr. Ross! I hope your days are filled with all the things that make you happy.
Thank you for your leadership and keeping justice at the center of LA philanthropy!
May you spend many days on the beach. Best Wishes, Winnie
Dr. Ross,
Well wishes on this next adventure! Enjoy this time!
- Stephanie Ghayouri
Dr. Ross! You are a blessing and have changed the world we live in. Thank you.
- H.S.F.
Congratulations on a wonderful 24 years of impact! May God bless you and keep you!
Dr. Ross,
Thank you for your unwavering support of the HCA and the BHC. You made a difference in the world, and supported us to do the same.
In gratitude,
- Yvonne Maria Jimenez
NLSLA
All the best to the world’s greatest boss & mentor. Thank you for your leadership, advice, and support these last 16 years!
- Dan DeLeon
Dr. Ross! Congrats on your transition. I am grateful for the opportunity to have grown up with your support. You inspired me to chase my dreams.
- Corleone (BMoC)
Happy times and thanks for all you have done for me.
Dr. Ross,
Wishing you special times with your daughter. Relax and enjoy the beach.
Love,
- Marie P.
Wishing you well in all things, Bob. Preach on!
- John F.
Bob -
“Dr. Ross” - thank you for your leadership, support, and contributions towards health equity and health justice.
With gratitude,
- Ignatius Bau
Thank you for all the great work bringing health and wellness to California.
- Alan Pullman
Bob,
Thank you for all the good trouble you made and extending a hand to join you.
With love,
- Hanh Cao Yu
Celebrate your new life!!
Our very best,
- Lew & Mary
Thank you for your guidance and leadership!
Dr. Ross,
Wishing you the best time ever spent.
Bob!
Sending love and thanks to you - a role model for the good.
- Robin
I wish you all the best. Hopefully I will see you around the bowl more!
- Virginia Mosqueda
Unveiling Our
2025 Annual
Report
The California Endowment is proud to present our 2025 annual report. Read about the work we are supporting and our partners who are changing California to a state of belonging and inclusion.
View Report