The CORE Collective

Communities Organizing for Racial Equity in Education (CORE) Collective

Since 2016, EdTrust-West has partnered with and invested over $2 million in grassroots organizations working to advance education equity, achieving meaningful wins for students of color across California. In 2023, we re-launched the CORE Collective with a renewed focus on racial equity, collaborative capacity-building, advocacy, and power-building in education.

CORE Collective Overview

The CORE Collective is a two-year, invitation-only program that empowers grassroots organizations serving students, parents, families, and communities most impacted by racialized opportunity gaps in California’s education systems. Spanning TK–12 and higher education, the program supports organizations to grow their capacity, strengthen community power, and drive policy and systems change. Its core goal is to build collective power, connecting the on-the-ground work of partners to broader local and statewide advocacy efforts, amplifying their impact, and advancing a more equitable education system in California.

Program Goals

The CORE Collective seeks to:

Strengthen and improve California’s educational equity ecosystem

Support power- and capacity-building activities and collaboration

Direct resources to emerging grassroots community-based organizations

Advocate for racially equitable systems change at state and local levels
Foster deep, action-oriented partnerships where grantees actively inform and contribute to EdTrust-West’s policy, research, and advocacy work

CORE Collective 2025-27 Cohort

We are thrilled to announce our new 2025–2027 cohort of exceptional grassroots organizations committed to advancing educational equity across California. These partners will collaborate with EdTrust-West over the next two years to strengthen community power, inform policy, and drive systems change.

Learn more about our 2025–2027 cohort partners below.

California Community Colleges CalWORKs Association (CWA) - Statewide

Founded in 1997, the California Community Colleges CalWORKs Association (CWA) supports parenting students in California’s community colleges who participate in the CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) program. CWA empowers student parents to transform their lives and their children through advocacy, training, and community building.

CWA advances policies that expand access and support, equips college staff and students through statewide training programs like the Annual Training Institute and Coffee with CalWORKs, and connects a statewide network of CalWORKs leaders to share best practices and drive collective action for student success.

Central Valley Movement Building Organizing Institute (CVMBOI) - counties across California’s Central Valley

Central Valley Movement Building Organizing Institute (CVMBOI) advances educational justice and strengthens grassroots leadership across California’s Central Valley. Established in 2020, CVMBOI addresses organizer turnover and builds sustainable movements that center community voice.

Its work brings diverse voices together to shape solutions, trains local leaders to drive change, builds alliances to amplify impact, and grounds strategies in research and lived experience. CVMBOI envisions a future where every child, regardless of background, has access to high-quality education and opportunity.

Kid City Hope Place - Los Angeles County

Founded in 2008 by the Urban Foundation, Kid City Hope Place empowers teens and young adults in South and Central LA to overcome systemic barriers in education and careers. Through programs in college access, persistence, career readiness, and the arts, Kid City fosters a supportive community where young people thrive.

Its mission is to unleash youth potential through leadership development and equitable college and career opportunities. By addressing financial and institutional barriers, Kid City equips students to explore their passions, develop advocacy skills, and build pathways for future generations.

Sacramento ACT (Area Congregations Together) - Sacramento County

Founded by local congregations, Sacramento ACT (Area Congregations Together) is a faith-based community organization that activates people of faith to create change and healing in Sacramento. Grounded in storytelling and shared values, it develops community leaders to tackle pressing issues such as homelessness, mental health, public safety, education, and immigration.

Through its Local Organizing Committees, Sacramento ACT builds partnerships across diverse communities to advance justice and equity. Guided by faith leaders who serve as its moral compass, the organization equips residents with organizing tools and strategies that spark collective action and lasting impact.

The Village Method (TVM) - Alameda County

The Village Method (TVM) is a youth development organization that empowers young people, engages families, and strengthens community connections. Founded by Mark and Mahea Gaskins, TVM delivers culturally responsive programs that nurture identity, leadership, and academic success.

TVM supports families in navigating education systems, collaborates with educators and districts to deliver programs and mentorship, and partners with local organizations and agencies to expand opportunities for youth. Through these efforts, TVM advances educational equity and builds thriving, connected communities.

Watts of Power Foundation – Los Angeles County

Founded in South Los Angeles, the Watts of Power Foundation works to disrupt inequities in public education by increasing the recruitment, development, and retention of Black male educators. In 2021, it launched The Village Initiative, a holistic strategy integrating community, care, and career advancement to close racial opportunity gaps.

Its fellowship model provides housing, mentorship, wellness, and professional development to prepare fellows to lead in education. Watts of Power also offers a college-accredited Components of Care program, training educators to teach with empathy and cultural responsiveness. Together, these efforts advance lasting educational equity through empowered leadership.