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Possibility Lab

@ucpossibility

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Californians want a government that listens, learns, and responds. In an era of declining trust and growing polarization, what bold steps can state government take to better engage residents and incorporate their voices into decision-making?

That question was the focus at UC Berkeley last Friday as more than 100 leaders from government, philanthropy, community organizations, media, and academia gathered for the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab’s Engaging with Possibility Summit.

Thank you to our speakers:
🔹 UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons
🔹 Office of Governor Gavin Newsom Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary Lila Mirrashidi
🔹 CalEPA Secretary Yana Garcia
🔹 CHHS Secretary Kim Johnson
🔹 BSCH Secretary Tomiquia Moss
🔹 LA TACO Director of Engagement and multimedia journalist Memo Torres
🔹 Cal Matters CEO Neil Chase
🔹 LA Local Executive Editor Kristen Muller
🔹 OCPSC Interim Director Aubrie Fong
🔹 Unity Council CEO Chris Iglesias
🔹 Silicon Valley Community Foundation EVP Moses Zapien
🔹 CalWellness Director of Government Relations Joseph Villela
🔹 Department of Angeles Director Christine Kwon
🔹 The James Irvine Foundation CEO and President Don Howard

We also launched our inaugural State of Engagement Fellowship at the Summit, which brings together practitioners who are positioned to study, test, and advance the ideas that surfaced throughout the day and are already leading within state government.

This conversation is just the beginning, and we are looking forward to the work ahead. by @ucpossibility

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4 months ago

The UC Berkeley Possibility Lab released a new report today detailing a collaborative research project to understand wellbeing from the perspective of people with lived experience of homelessness in the Bay Area. The report presents findings from a study using the Lab’s Firsthand Framework for Policy Innovation, which was funded by the Tipping Point Community Foundation and carried out in partnership with LifeMoves and Bay Area Community Services (BACS) - two leading community-based organizations providing housing and supportive services in the California Bay Area.

“Stability, emotional wellness, and safety are universal indicators of wellbeing, including for people who have experienced homelessness,” said Dr. Naomi Levy, Faculty Affiliate at the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab and professor of Political Science at Santa Clara University. “By centering clients’ lived experiences, the Firsthand Framework makes visible aspects of wellbeing that are often overlooked, including early signals of progress or challenges that emerge well before longer-term outcomes like housing stability are realized.”

🔗Visit the link in our bio to read the report and watch the video by @ucpossibility

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5 months ago

We’re excited to celebrate the inaugural cohort of the State of Engagement Fellows — a group of leaders from across California state government working to advance civic engagement, participatory policymaking, and community outreach.

This new fellowship brings together mid-to-senior-level leaders to:
✨ Build stronger cross-agency relationships
📊 Learn evidence-based engagement practices
💡 Pilot innovative models to better serve Californians

We’re proud to share that three LCI and SGC team members are part of this cohort:
🌱 Phoenix Armenta, Policy Innovation Team Lead, Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
🌱Fabián Pérez-Gove, Health and Equity Program Manager
🌱 Anna Jane Jones, Program Manager, Community Resilience Centers, California Strategic Growth Council

The 17 fellows represent a wide range of expertise — from health and environment to education, workforce, justice, and Tribal relations — all working toward more inclusive, responsive governance.

📅 The fellowship runs May 2026 – May 2027 and will support fellows through workshops, mentorship, and collaboration, culminating in a Sacramento showcase.

🔗Learn more about the fellowship here: live-possibility-lab.pantheon.berkeley.edu/announcing-the-uc-berkeley-possibility-labs/

At LCI, we know meaningful engagement is key to building resilient, equitable communities across California.

#CivicEngagement #CaliforniaLeadership #EquityInAction #PublicService #LCI taken in California by @ucpossibility

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5 months ago

The UC Berkeley Possibility Lab is thrilled to welcome our inaugural class of State of Engagement Fellows! The program is bringing together mid-to-senior-level leaders from California state departments and agencies who oversee civic engagement, participatory policymaking, and community outreach.

🔗Learn more about the State of Engagement Fellows at the link in our bio! by @ucpossibility

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5 months ago

📍Thank you to everyone who joined us today at @ucmerced for the San Joaquin Valley Catalyst Convening!

🫱🏼‍🫲🏾 Hosted by LCI and the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), this full-day convening brought together regional leaders, Tribal representatives, community-based organizations, and state partners to move forward community-driven climate and land use solutions.

💡 Through interactive workshops and discussions guided by @ucpossibility I.M.P.A.C.T. model, participants shared regional priorities, explored resources and funding opportunities, and helped co-create actionable strategies to strengthen climate resilience across the San Joaquin Valley.

🌱 From highlighting local case studies to advancing insights from California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment, this convening is part of a statewide effort to turn collaboration into impact—shaping real regionally tailored solutions that will inform future work.

🔗For updates on future Catalyst Convenings, visit: https://sgc.ca.gov/meetings-events/catalyst-convenings/

✨ Big thanks to the California Climate and Energy Collaborative, Farallon Strategies, Centric and the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab for your partnership!

🙌 We’re grateful to all who contributed their time, expertise, and vision to help build a more resilient and equitable California.

#CatalystConvening #SanJoaquinValley #ClimateActionCA #CommunityDriven A graphic with two photos from today’s Catalyst Convening in Merced thanking people for coming. taken in Merced, California by @ucpossibility

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5 months ago

The UC Berkeley Possibility Lab is participating in the KQED Night of Ideas on Saturday, April 11, in San Francisco at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch + Asian Art Museum 100 + 200 Larkin Street – and you’re invited!

Step into The Possibility Zone from 9pm-11pm (2nd floor at the Braille Center) to participate in a drop-in game about how we make decisions and who shapes our collective future. The event is free and open to the public.

Learn more about Night of Ideas here: https://lnkd.in/gRQFmKsN by @ucpossibility

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6 months ago

Amy E. Lerman, Executive Director of the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab and Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley was featured in a recent POLITICO article on the UC Berkeley Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research-POLITICO poll of California voters.

🔗Read more at the link in our bio by @ucpossibility

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7 months ago

Today, the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab’s Abundance Accelerator released its final set of reports authored by members of its Abundance Policy Research Consortium focused on the care economy across California. Here, we present reports from three policy experts: Anna Powell (on childcare), Leif Wellington Haase (on healthcare), and Mireille Jacobson (on eldercare). by @ucpossibility

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7 months ago

Today, the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab’s Abundance Accelerator released the third set of reports authored by members of its Abundance Policy Research Consortium focused on economic opportunity.

These reports feature perspectives from three experts: Carrie Hahnel (on education), Anibel Ferus-Comelo (on employment), and Edward Helderop (on digital connectivity).

Read more at the link in our bio. by @ucpossibility

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8 months ago

Last week, our Lab’s Abundance Accelerator released the second set of reports authored by members of its Abundance Policy Research Consortium focused on the supply of basic needs.

These reports feature perspectives from three experts on water, food, and public safety: Nicola Ulibarri (water), Anastasia Telesetsky (food), and Mikaela Rabinowitz (public safety).

Read more at the link in our bio! by @ucpossibility

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8 months ago

Applications are now OPEN for the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab’s California State of Engagement Fellowship.

The fellowship will bring together mid-to-senior-level leaders from California state departments and agencies who oversee civic engagement, participatory policymaking, and community outreach.

This one year, zero-cost commitment will include one in-person orientation and quarterly online workshops, as well as development trainings and 1:1 lab support from May 2026 to May 2027.

To apply and for more information, visit our website the link in our bio, the deadline to submit an application is Sunday, February 15 at 5pm PST. by @ucpossibility

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8 months ago

This is year four for us at the Possibility Lab and it has been our most defining yet. Like any young organization, our early years were about laying a foundation: testing, learning, and iterating. Along the way, we built new partnerships, established new processes, and refined our approach.

This year, our focus has sharpened: we continue working with phenomenal partners who, like us, are committed to bridging the gap between government and community to advance policy impact. That’s our new tagline – and I think it clearly describes our mission. That’s also why we’re calling this end of year report A Year of Impact & People-Powered Possibility. Our work is made possible by such a wide range of brilliant colleagues, talented and passionate partners and, above all, inspired by the people of California who are coming together across the state to help solve our most pressing social problems.

We invite you to view our end of year report below and look forward to continued partnership into 2026! by @ucpossibility

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10 months ago