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California Dream
You became a Californian because someone in your family believed in a dream. A strong public education. The promise of a job. The weather. (Ahhh, the weather.) In its long history, the California Dream has meant different things to different people. Today, the state’s identity is in marked contrast to the rest of the country. The dream may still be alive, but it’s challenged at every corner.
What does it mean today?
KPBS and mission-driven media organizations around the state will explore the California Dream starting this year. Reporters and producers will tell the personal stories and discuss the ideas that make up the history, future and current state of the California Dream.
‘Brain Waste’: Highly Skilled Immigrants Struggle To Fill Workforce Gaps
- Jan. 8
- Farida Jhabvala Romero/KQED
As a greater proportion of college-educated immigrants flock to California, they face barriers to getting good jobs — a “brain waste” estimated to cost California and other states billions of dollars per year in lost individual earnings and tax revenues.
Reporter’s Notebook: Tolerance Or Tantrums? It’s Not Just Politicians Who Need To Choose
- Jan. 6
- By Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio
As a veteran California Capitol reporter leaves the beat, he digs back into his reporter’s notebook to reflect on our growing polarization. His takeaway? Just because you disagree with someone’s political views, it doesn’t make them a bad person.
Keeping Men Of Color In The Teaching Profession
- Jan. 2
- Vanessa Rancano/KQED News
Recruiting male teachers of color is one thing. Getting them to stay is another.
The Future Is Male: Why California Needs More Male Teachers Of Color
- Dec. 31, 2019
- Vanessa Rancano / KQED News
Three-quarters of California students are of color. For these students, having a teacher of color, who has high expectations, can relate to their experiences, and serve as a role model could make a big difference.
California Looks To Reduce Homelessness Through Better Prevention
- Dec. 27, 2019
- David Wagner / KPCC
Officials are looking to cities like Chicago for lessons on how to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.
Large Chaldean Iraqi Population Is Thriving In San Diego Suburb
- Dec. 3, 2019
- By Claire Trageser
In recent decades, the city has been changing — it's now home to one of the largest populations in the country of Chaldeans, a persecuted religious and ethnic minority from Iraq.
San Diego Students Going To Mexico For College
- Nov. 7, 2019
- By Max Rivlin-Nadler
A private Tijuana university offers a business degree in English that's become a low-cost alternative for American students. A growing number of U.S. students are crossing into Mexico to pursue college degrees at CETYS.
Santa Cruz, The Least Affordable Place For Teachers, Is Trying To Make It More Livable
- Nov. 6, 2019
- Erika Mahoney / KAZU Public Radio
At least three of 10 school districts in Santa Cruz County are exploring the option of building below-market homes for teachers and staff on school district property. In neighboring Monterey County, at least two districts out of 34 are also looking into the idea.
From Tikka Masala To Mexican BBQ, Home Kitchens Set To Expand Across State
- Nov. 6, 2019
- Scott Rodd/Capital Public Radio
Riverside County first to allow amateur chefs to welcome diners into their homes or offer take-out foods.
Housing The Homeless Cuts State's Health Care Burden
- Nov. 5, 2019
- Matt Tinoco / KPCC
As more than 100,000 people find homes on California’s sidewalks, roadways and parks, the costs mount for local and state governments.
Can Factory-Built Apartments Solve California’s Housing Woes?
- Oct. 30, 2019
- Matt Levin / CALmatters
The checkered past and promising future of pre-fab housing.
PG&E; Blasted For Not Being More Like SDG&E; In Managing Power Shutoffs, But Is The Comparison Fair?
- Oct. 24, 2019
- By Claire Trageser
A few weeks ago, PG&E cut power to more than 700,000 customers. At the time, politicians and pundits pointed to SDG&E, which shut off electricity to about 500 customers, as a better example of wildfire preparedness.
Amador County Builds Community College Pipeline For Mental Health Workers
- Oct. 21, 2019
- Sammy Caiola / Capital Public Radio
Amador is one of six California counties without a physical community college. It also struggles to recruit mental health providers. A small online learning program could offer a solution to both problems.
Income Experiment Offers Stockton Residents A Glimpse At The California Dream
- Oct. 4, 2019
- Sammy Caiola / Capital Public Radio
Stockton is halfway through an 18-month program that provides $500 a month to 125 people from low-income ZIP codes. Proponents say the program is a step toward economic equality, opponents say it’s unrealistic and enabling.
For Homeless Californians, The Doctor Is Often The ER — Street Medicine Aims To Change That
- Sept. 30, 2019
- Matt Tinoco / KPCC
Instead of trying to powerwash the problem away, California’s hospitals, public health departments, and homeless service organizations are increasingly sending trained health practitioners into homeless encampments in a quest to improve health outcomes for individual homeless people.
About
The California Dream project is a statewide nonprofit media collaboration focused on issues of economic opportunity, quality-of-life, and the future of the California Dream. Partner organizations include CalMatters, Capital Public Radio, KPBS, KPCC, and KQED.
The California Dream series
is made possible by:
Share your California dream. On Twitter, use the hashtag #CADream.
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