California libraries support their communities during wildfire response and recovery
As wildfires force evacuations throughout Northern California, libraries are once again providing vital assistance to their communities. For the past three years, Common Knowledge has supported the members of the NorthNet Library System as they provide aid to their counties and each other, with resources we’ve helped them capture at LibraryRecovery.org. In addition to safe spaces, internet and connection to [...]
Constructive engagement about rental housing policies in Redwood City
For communities throughout California, the question of how to meet affordable housing needs is a perennial challenge. And the pandemic has heightened tensions around landlords and tenants. Through our work with Home for All and cities throughout San Mateo County, Common Knowledge has pioneered an approach that invites community members to share their hopes, values, ideas, and concerns before housing [...]
Research highlights need for New Resume resources
How do we make sense of the difficulty employers are having when looking for workers when there are so many people unemployed or underemployed hoping to get a job? One major factor is that the online resume screening that most companies use is deleting all kinds of people who could be strong candidates if the criteria were adjusted. We appreciated [...]
Equity in Action: Engaging the families of English language learners
Public agencies are on the receiving end of a lot of complaints. Some may be due to things that are within their control, but several complaints encompass larger challenges, beyond what an agency can impact with its programs and policies. As agencies grapple with how to address this negative input, often overlooked are the parts of a community that remain [...]
Peer-to-peer voter educators increase online participation
Adult students at California’s library literacy programs have long been some of our most valued co-creators and collaborators in designing accessible nonpartisan election information, such as the Easy Voter Guide. Last year, the California State Library supported a refresh of the Key to Community Voter Engagement Project. Adult learner leaders from around the state came to Sacramento to be trained [...]
Creating community in the time of COVID
As a mother of three daughters, ages 10 to 15, for many years Monica Cañas has been an active volunteer in Larkspur-Corte Madera School District’s Cove Elementary School and Hall Middle School in Marin County. Her sustained efforts led to her being appointed to serve on the school board in 2018. In addition to those official duties, Monica continues to [...]