California Local Explainers, Guides, Etc.

Founded as a business organization in 1915, the Kiwanis Club now serves millions of children worldwide.

In the wake of the First World War, a group of business leaders built an international organization of more than 1,000 local service clubs in less than a decade. It has grown to be one of the biggest philanthropic organizations …

What happens when a 19th century drinking club becomes an enduring force for good? We explain.

Seacliff State Beach was obliterated by storms in 2023. California State Parks is mobilizing the public to reimagine its future.

Thousands of square miles of ocean and coastal habitat are now preserved for future generations.

The organization responsible for the GI Bill and Veterans Day continues to help service members, veterans, and their families.

The first service club is over 100 years old and still doing good in the world.

Municipal bonds fund water systems, school buildings, parks, police stations and other public projects that require voter-approved money.

The decades of work to win the right to vote for women was only the beginning.

In more than 30 states, it’s harder than ever to vote this year. But in California, it’s never been easier.

Making a better world for women and preparing women to make a better world.

The legacy of ‘service clubs’ such as Soroptomists and Rotary lives on in a new generation of social clubs and volunteer organizations.

What does it mean when firefighters call a fire "contained?" Here's a brief guide to commonly used fire prevention terminology.

Learn what's getting into Californians’ lungs and why it matters.

The total combined revenues and expenditures of California's 58 counties are astronomical. And getting astronomicaler every year.

Local democracy is a complex, expensive process. We explain.

Civil Grand Juries are a powerful means by which ordinary citizens investigate local governments and provide recommendations for improvement.

General Plans, mandated by the state and carried out by local counties, cities, and other municipalities, serve as a locality’s ‘constitution'.

True stories about how, at its best, California has resisted and pushed back against anti-democratic forces. The histories and policies, deeply human characters, and controversies that have led us to where we are today.

California has been home to many Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have transcended barriers and reshaped society, from education to advocacy, art to sports, politics, and beyond.