Skip to Content

We Shall Not Be Moved

 

We are witnessing a brutal attempt to remake America under the Trump administration in 2025. This is not just a political shift; it is a moral test. This is where we take a stand.

The California Wellness Foundation stands firm in our belief that health is a human right, and that wellness requires social and racial justice. We believe all people deserve to live healthy and well. We believe equity is for everyone.

We will continue to exercise our legal right to pursue our mission unapologetically and without hesitation. We are clear that it is our moral obligation to do so as a philanthropic institution established to serve the people of our state. The needs of our diverse California communities are too urgent to set aside.

Our work as a health foundation is grounded in decades of sound, scientific research. Our work is informed by the painful experiences of too many Californians kept from the opportunities, resources, rights and recognition that we all deserve in order to live healthy and well. Our work is inspired by the resilience, hope and joy of people who find purpose in persevering, even through the worst of times, to realize a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.

We remain committed to using all our resources — grantmaking dollars, endowment assets, voice and influence — to work on behalf of California communities. We welcome opportunities to partner with others committed to advancing health, wellness and justice for all.

If you recognize yourself in these words, please stand firm in your beliefs. Know your rights. Take action, and pursue your mission with purpose and a sense of righteous freedom. We stand with you, and we shall not be moved.

“We're fighting for our freedom

We shall not be moved

Like a tree that's planted by the water

We shall not be moved.”

We Shall Not Be Moved,” as sung by Mavis Staples


Black and white still of the Freedom Singers on Washington
The History of "We Shall Not Be Moved"

Watch The Freedom Singers perform "We Shall Not Be Moved" at the March on Washington in 1963. Rooted in the religious hymn “I Shall Not Be Moved”—a song embraced by congregations in the early 20th century—this anthem evolved into a rallying cry for justice. In the 1930s, labor organizers and workers reworked the lyrics into “We Shall Not Be Moved.” By the 1950s and 60s, civil rights activists added verses of their own, lifting their voices in unison as they fought for dignity, equality, and racial justice.

Richard Tate Ana Homonnay Photographer 2023 14
President and CEO Richard Tate

Richard Tate is President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation, one of California’s largest philanthropic public health institutions. Tate leads the foundation in pursuing its mission to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California, with a core belief that access to quality health care is a human right.

Back to top