Last week, CAMEO Network held our 2026 California Advocacy Day in Sacramento. We are grateful to our partners, speakers, legislative staff, and — of course — all of our members who came to advocate for small business priorities alongside us. Your enthusiasm, readiness, and commitment to your mission were on full display. We owe this event’s success to you.
We kicked off Day 1 with an evening reception sponsored by the Latino Community Foundation. The inviting weather was only outmatched by the ambiance at La Cosecha restaurant, complete with festive decorations, a delicious taquiza, refreshing cocktails, and a collection of Latin American hits rendered beautifully by singer Esteban Izya.
In between mingling and eating, we heard poignant remarks from Sylvia Perez Cash of the Latino Community Foundation, Carolina Martinez of CAMEO Network, Max Vargas of The Greenlining Institute, and Daniela Pardo of Senator Monique Limón’s Office of Public Affairs. Their words reminded us of the important role that Latino Californians play in our society, economy, and culture — and the work that lies ahead in our efforts to uplift this community.
The next morning, we welcomed attendees to the UC Student and Policy Center, just steps from the Capitol in the heart of the city. After opening remarks from CAMEO Network Board Chair Hilda Kennedy, we were honored to welcome California State Senator Tim Grayson and California State Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo. Senator Grayson shared heartfelt reflections on his longstanding commitment to uplifting underserved communities and his positive vision for a future where leaders work together to help all Californians thrive. Assemblymember Schiavo, for her part, shared her story as the daughter of a small business owner — a story that fuels her fight to pass AB 2116 and protect small business borrowers.
We were also joined by Jonathan Verhoef of GoGreen Financing and David Teykarts of CalSavers. These two programs, run by the State Treasurer’s Office, help small business owners make energy-efficient renovations and provide their employees with access to retirement savings accounts. We closed the morning program with an advocacy training led by CAMEO Network’s Heidi Pickman and Policy Works California’s Toni Symonds.
From there we headed to the Swing Space where all legislative offices are located. Armed with Heidi and Toni’s training and our comprehensive legislative packets, advocates met with Senate and Assembly staff. In total, we held more than 40 scheduled meetings and over a dozen drop-in conversations. These in-person discussions are essential to moving the needle on our legislative priorities:
- Promote investments and policy that support and strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Protect small businesses from predatory behavior
- Increase opportunities and reduce barriers for entrepreneurs
We capped off the day with a happy hour at JuJu’s, where attendees continued to connect, reflect, and celebrate a productive day of advocacy. We left Sacramento energized by your passion and united in our commitment to building a more equitable small business landscape in California. Your voices truly make a difference. See you next year!
