In the throes of a conservative takeover of the courts and a retrenchment on civil rights, former NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund attorneys, Constance L. Rice, Penda Hair, and Molly Munger, along with attorney Stephen R. English, established Advancement Project in 1999. Knowing the limits of litigation, they sought to employ cutting-edge strategies to achieve social change. For more than 20 years, Advancement Project National Office and Advancement Project California have operated as co-equal offices linked by a shared vision of a multiracial, just democracy. The substantial impact of the two offices since their inception is undeniable. With racial justice issues front and center in society, the significant roles the National and California offices have played, our organizational strength, and extraordinary leadership in both offices, now is the opportune time for them to become separate and complementary institutions to continue the fight for racial and economic justice: Advancement Project and Catalyst California. The next chapter will mean more innovation, and we’ve got a plan – join us! 

Advancement Project will continue to build power in local communities by supporting campaigns to dismantle structural racism using law and policy, while shifting harmful narratives. With the collective impact of community, data, and policy, Catalyst California will work with our partners to redesign public systems for equity.