Power Shift began as a groundbreaking book highlighting the rise of Latino leadership in California. Today, it has grown into a broader initiative — connecting history, education, and community to inspire the next generation of leaders and change-makers.

Educational Impact

The Power Shift team collaborates with educators and administrators from California’s community colleges, UC, and CSU systems to review Power Shift for potential classroom use.

Power Shift can supplement course materials across disciplines, equipping students with tools to understand social inequalities and structural forces while providing tangible strategies to transform their communities.

An abridged version of the book is also under development — The Young Reader edition — designed for high school ethnic studies courses.

Legislative Context

Since 2020, Power Shift has gained significant attention as an educational resource aligned with new ethnic studies requirements in California:

  • AB 1460 (2020)
    Mandates that all 23 California State University campuses require an ethnic studies course as a baccalaureate degree requirement (effective academic year 2024–2025).

  • AB 101 (2021)
    Requires all California high schools to offer at least a one-semester ethnic studies course beginning with the class of 2029–2030, as a graduation requirement. The model curriculum includes African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans, as well as lessons on Jews, Arab Americans, Sikhs, and Armenian Americans.

  • AB 1040 (2022)
    Expands access to ethnic studies courses across community colleges, requiring at least one course in ethnic studies to obtain an associate’s degree beginning in 2024–2025.

Local Adoption

In early 2021, an ethnic studies curriculum was passed unanimously by the State Board of Education.

Districts like Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified have already integrated ethnic studies courses, and non-mandated ethnic studies continue to flourish in districts such as Los Alamitos and Sweetwater Union High.

Our Mission Moving Forward

Power Shift seeks early adopters and partners to innovate in ethnic studies education.

Our goal is to ensure that future generations of students, across diverse backgrounds, gain the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and civic awareness necessary to create lasting change in their communities.