Invisible to Visible: Changing the Lives of Those Impacted Through Community Organizing

In 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom passed Senate Bill 731 (SB731), landmark legislation that would allow individuals’ old convictions, or even an arrest without conviction, to be electronically sealed. Doing this would allow millions of people who fall into this category to not bear the burden of having limitations from their past lives. In understanding how transitional and pivotal this piece of legislation can be, the impact that it could have might be stifled due to various barriers. Understanding these truths, I take on the challenge of documenting my work with communities and community organizers to bridge the gap that is present so that we ensure that disenfranchised groups are aware and take advantage of legislation that has the potential to change their lives.