by Kevin Epps
The Governor’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) launched its California Connects: Regional Convenings series this week, beginning with a gathering in San Francisco that brought together more than 100 nonprofit, community, and government partners. The event marks the start of a statewide initiative designed to foster collaboration and improve access to state resources for organizations serving California’s most vulnerable populations.
Building Stronger Regional Connections
“This is all about bringing partners together,” said Aubrey Fong, Acting Executive Director of OCPSC. She shared, “We’re really focused on regional collaboration, better access to government resources, and understanding how organizations are supporting communities in the San Francisco region.”
The San Francisco convening is the first of eight events scheduled across California in the coming weeks. The next stops will include Los Angeles, Anaheim, Sacramento, Riverside, Oxnard, and Fresno.
Fong explained that OCPSC—alongside California Volunteers and the Youth Empowerment Commission—operates under the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve), which was established in 2024 to expand public service, volunteerism, and civic engagement.
An “All Hands on Deck” Moment
California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday addressed attendees, highlighting the collective responsibility of government, community groups, and citizens to tackle today’s challenges together. Josh affirmed, “We will improve this state of California. We will improve our communities, our organizations, our neighborhoods—and we will do it together.”
He continued, “This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. We need everyone if we’re going to solve the big challenges our communities face.”
Empowering the Next Generation
The convening also emphasized the importance of youth engagement in civic life. Thomisha Wallace, Executive Director of the Youth Empowerment Commission, spoke about efforts to bring young people into policy conversations and leadership spaces. Thomisha explained, “It’s essential that we connect with young people who are actually experiencing these policies in real time,” Wallace said. “When we listen to young people, we empower them to lead, restore their hope, and remind them that their voices matter.”
The Youth Empowerment Commission hosts monthly meetings and community listening forums, partnering with youth-led organizations across the state to make policy discussions more inclusive and equitable.
Connecting Communities Across California
The mission of the Governor’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) focuses on ensuring that public information campaigns reach historically underserved populations. By bringing diverse stakeholders together, the California Connects convenings aim to foster collaboration, expand access to funding, and support local solutions to statewide challenges.
With each stop, the initiative hopes to strengthen partnerships between state agencies, nonprofits, and community leaders—building a network of service and engagement that reflects the diversity and resilience of California’s communities.
Kevin Epps is a Dad, award-winning filmmaker, community activist, author, executive editor of the SF Bay View “National Black Newspaper” and a board member for the SF Bay View Foundation. Reach him at kevin@sfbayview.com or on Instagram: kevinepps1.
