Community Listening Session Support for the California Task Force on Reparations

Community Listening Sessions and the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans

The California Reparations Task Force (CA Senate Bill AB 3121) is charged with studying the institution of slavery and its lingering negative effects on living African Americans. As part of this effort, a series of Listening Sessions will be held to support the Task Force in collecting information from communities across California on how laws and policies, including through personal stories and accounts, negatively affect African Americans and perpetuate the lingering material and psychosocial effects of slavery, and how they can be eliminated.

To learn more about upcoming and past California Reparations Task Force meetings, visit the AB 3121 Task Force Calendar. To receive notifications and additional information concerning the task force, subscribe to AB 3121 Task Force Mailing List.

To read the California Reparations Task Force’s latest report, click below.

Executive Summary

Key Findings

Preliminary Recommendations

Full Interim Report

Testimony

In addition to participating in a community listening session, individuals are invited to give a personal testimony about their experiences. Below is a link to a portal to share your testimony. Please record a short three to five-minute account and upload your stores to the portal.

To help guide you in this effort, in the audio or video you record, please:

  • Provide your name and location, or you can remain anonymous
  • Provide your connection to California
  • Provide testimony on issues on which the Task Force is focused. These includes:
    • The harm experienced
    • What reparations should entail
    • Who should be eligible

Provide any additional points relevant to the Task Force’s mission.

Reparations Task Force Community Listening Session Testimony Portal

Anchor Organizations Conducting Community Listening Sessions

Seven community-based groups were selected as the official anchor organizations for this statewide project. Each organization will hold community listening sessions, many of which are an open invitation to all Californians to participate. Additional information about the mission and institutional work of each group is available via the organizational website links below.

Listening Session Facilitation

The community listening sessions will be facilitated by Good Influence.

Anchor Organizations Listening Session Dates:

Below is a list of community listening session details including dates, locations, and times. All sessions will be offered one of three methods: LIVE In-person, Virtually via Zoom, or Hybrid.  **Session logistics/details frequently updated

March 30th | 4:00pm-5:15pm

       – Anchor Organization: Repaired Nations

       – Location: LIVE In-person (Location TBD)

April 7th | 4:00pm-6:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Othering and Belonging Institute (UC Berkeley)

       – Location: Virtual via Zoom (This session was rescheduled for a later time)

April 14th | 4:00pm-6:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Othering and Belonging Institute (UC Berkeley)

       – Location: Virtual via Zoom (This session was rescheduled for a later time)

April 20th | 4:00pm-7:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: California Black Power Network

       – Location: Virtual via Zoom (This session was rescheduled for a later time)

May 10th | 4:00pm-5:15pm

       – Anchor Organization: Repaired Nations

       – Location: LIVE In-person (Location TBD)

May 12th | 6:30pm-8:30pm

       – Anchor Organization: Othering and Belonging Institute (UC Berkley)

       – Location:  LIVE In-person (Northern California)

May 25th | 4:00pm-5:30pm

       – Anchor Organization: Black Equity Collective

       – Location: Virtual via Zoom

May 28th | 1:00pm-4:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Coalition for a Just and Equitable California

       – Location: LIVE In-Person (Oakland, California)

June 6th | 5:00pm-7:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Black Equity Initiative

       – Location: LIVE In-Person (Inland Empire and Faith-Based)

June 18th | 11:00am-6:00pm

– Anchor Organization: Repaired Nations

– Location: Scaper Bike Way, 90th Ave (Holly Street – Birch Street) 

June 18th | 12:00 (noon)-6:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Coalition for a Just and Equitable California

       – Location: LIVE In-Person (Hot and Cool Cafe)

June 19th | 12:00 (noon)-6:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Coalition for a Just and Equitable California

       – Location: Pullman Community Art Center

June 20th | 1:30pm-3:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Repaired Nations

– Location: Castlemont High School

July 14th | 6:30pm-8:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Black Power Network

       – Location: Virtual via Zoom

July 15th | 7:00pm-8:00pm

       – Anchor Organization: Repaired Nations

       – Location: Radio Station KPFA 94.1

July 28th | 6:00pm-7:30pm

       – Anchor Organization: Othering and Belonging Institute

       – Location: Virtual via Zoom

For more events please visit the community listening session calendar.  

Calendar Links to Listening Session Events

Below please find a link that shows the event information for the community listening sessions on a calendar. Event information will be updated regularly.

Community Listening Session Calendar

University of California Los Angeles – Bunche Center Listening Session Research Team

Director: Prof. Michael A. Stoll mstoll@ucla.edu

Graduate Student Researchers: