greatvalleycenter

San Joaquin Valley Regional Broadband Consortium receives funding approval

2011-12-01T13:32:00.001-08:00

The San Joaquin Valley Regional Broadband Consortium(SJVRBC) has received final approval for funding from the California PublicUtilities Commission (CPUC). After CPUC finished its initial review of the 15regional consortia grant applications filed in August, seven consortia,including the SJVRBC, not only met the grant qualifications but earned thehighest scores. The full commission voted to approve a formal funding resolutionon December 1, 2011.

The SJVRBC is under the umbrella of the CaliforniaPartnership for the San Joaquin Valley and is being administered by the Office ofCommunity and Economic Development at FresnoState, with assistance from the Great Valley Center. The SJVRBC willbe working diligently during the next three years to focus on accelerating thedeployment, accessibility, and adoption of broadband within the eight countiesof the San Joaquin Valley.

The SJVRBC requested California Advanced Services Fundconsortia funding of $150,000 in Year 1 with an intention to renew for the sameamount in Years 2 and 3. The San Joaquin Valley Regional BroadbandConsortium represents Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, SanJoaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare Counties.

SJVRBC's goals are:

Expedite the provision of broadband access in all areasof the San Joaquin Valley;
Promote accessibility and adoption of broadband intargeted underserved communities and populations (e.g., develop and implement aplan to ensure high school students graduate with basic computer literacyskills);
Expand and replicate successful model programs toincrease broadband access and bridge the digital divide;
Accelerate deployment of broadband infrastructure throughTelemedicine and Telehealth technology (e.g., develop and implement a plan toconnect health clinics with medical centers); and
Work with neighboring regional consortia to ensure thedevelopment of cohesive infrastructure.

The SJVRBC is represented by members of the public-privatesectors including telecommunications providers and industry associations;government, economic development corporations, and business developmentcenters; local educational agencies and institutions of higher education;health delivery organizations, community-based and nonprofit organizations; andaccessibility advocates. The consortium membership brings years of experiencein a variety of areas that will enhance the ability of the SJVRBC to meet itsgoals. Namely, that have successfully increased utilization by residentsthrough digital literacy programs, pursued funding for deployment, built uponexisting infrastructure for Telemedicine/Telehealth, and expanded digitalliteracy programming.

The Consortium will convene in December to discussnext steps, goals of the work groups, and develop a meeting schedule for thenext year.

For additional information on the SJVRBC, contactChristine Nutting, Associate Director for the Office of Community and EconomicDevelopment, California State University,Fresno, at(559) 294-2230 or cnutting@csufresno.edu.

GVC is seeking bilingual trainers for Merced and Stanislaus Counties

2011-11-22T12:34:00.001-08:00

The Great Valley Center is seeking bilingual applicants for two California Connects community trainer positions which have just opened up. A trainer is needed for Merced County, as well as an additional trainer for Stanislaus County.

These are full time positions that pay $15 per hour and applicants must be able to speak and write fluently in both Spanish and English. Trainers provide free Internet classes targeted at area residents who are not currently connected online and Spanish is the primary language for many of these community members.

Trainers positions are still available in several other counties covered by the program grant. A California Connects community trainer job description is available on GVC's website.

California Connects' hands-on trainings cover basic use of Internet search engines, email, Facebook and broadband access. The training helps participants understand how they can use the Internet as a valuable tool to search for a job, get health information, learn English, apply for college, or connect to friends and family. The goal of the three-year, federally funded California Connects program is to provide Internet understanding and broadband access to over 61,000 California residents.

The Vida en el Valle newspaper featured the California Connects training being conducted in Riverbank on the front page of the November 16th Modesto edition, with the article appearing on their website in both Spanish and English as well. The Riverbank News also covered these training opportunities in October.

The success of the classes in Stanislaus County has been made possible though a partnership with CASA Del Rio Family Resource Center and Riverbank Unified School District. Stanislaus County community trainer Jose Urzua, pictured here with participants Maria Uristu (L) and Dora Fierro (R), has completed several classes with more scheduled in December and January.

Additional information on California Connects is available online or email Desiree Cervantes Holden, Program Manager.

Green Communities program concludes successful first round

2011-11-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

The Great Valley Center’sGreen Communities program, a collaborative effort with Pacific Gas and ElectricCompany (PG&E) and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability USA, hascompleted greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories for ten local governmentsin Stanislaus and Merced Counties. During thefirst round of the program, Great Valley Center (GVC) staff and interns weretrained and sent to local governments to essentially measure the “carbonfootprint” of each government. Results were delivered individually to theparticipating local governments as a starting-point for reducing GHG emissionsin future operations.

Green Communities is funded by California utility customers andadministered by PG&E under the auspices of the California Public UtilitiesCommission. The program is intended to provide support to local governments and communities in pursuing their energy efficiency and GHG emission reduction goals. It is clear that many local governments find it difficult or impossible to achieve such goals alone.

Donna Kenney, Community Development Director at the City of Livingston stated, "As the only Planner employed by the City of Livingston, I had neither the training nor the time to conduct a local government operations (LGO) greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the city."

The Green Communities program provided the City of Livingston with the tools, training, and resources necessary to complete the inventory, as well as GVC staff and intern support to limit impacts on city staff-time.

"The experience was painless and cost-free and I would recommend it to all cities in the Central Valley," Donna Kenney concluded.

The nine local governments from Stanislaus Countythat partnered with the GVC during this first round of the Green Communities program have since obtained funding through Proposition 84 to continue with GHGemission reduction efforts at a regional level. Proposition 84, also known asthe Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, authorizes over $5 billion in generalobligation bonds to fund a variety of environmental and infrastructureimprovements in California, including a Sustainable Communities and ClimateChange Reduction element.

Government partners sought for second round of GreenCommunities

Of course, with the successful close of this round of theprogram, GVC is now actively looking for other local governments to assist overthe next several months. You can expect to see us working in the followingCentral Valley regions in the near-future: San JoaquinCounty area, MercedCounty area, and west Kern Countyarea.

To learn more about the Green Communities program accomplishments or how to get involved
please contact Bryce Dias, ProgramAssociate, at bryce@greatvalley.org.

California Connects offers community trainer job opportunities!

2011-10-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

The Great Valley Center is seeking full time, bilingual trainers for the California Connects program. A community trainer is needed for each of the following counties:

Amador
Colusa
El Dorado
Mariposa
Nevada
Placer
San Joaquin
Tulare
Yuba

Please help us spread the word onthese job openings!

The full time positions are paid $15 per hour. Applicants must be able to writeand speak fluently in Spanish. Specifically targeting the Spanish-speakingcommunity, trainers provide hands-on training on how to use the Internet. Thiscan dramatically impact the lives of those they train, opening their eyes tothe world of learning and services available through use of the Internet. Thisfree training can help members of the community learn to search for a job, gethealth information, apply for college, or connect to friends and family.

To viewa job announcement click here.

For more information on the CA Connects program and community partnership opportunities visit www.greatvalley.org/caconnects or www.caconnects.org.

The Great Valley Center looks forward tobringing you additional news on California Connects in the near future!

California Connects is underway!

2011-10-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

The implementation of California Connects is well underway. California Connects is a program to increase Internet use for California residents not yet connected. The goal of this three-year program is to provide internet understanding and broadband access to over 61,000 California residents!

The program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

The Great Valley Center is responsible for the implementation of community trainers on the ground in 18 counties: Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Nevada, Placer, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare, Tuolumne and Yuba.

We are accomplishing this through hiring, preparing and equipping each for success. These trainers work in their designated county, showing residents how to use the Internet and set up an email account. They explain broadband and where to find public access computers.

Additional community partnerships are still available!

The success of this program is dependent upon leveraging existing resources in the Valley and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships. We are seeking community agencies, educational institutions and governmental organizations to partner with in this initiative. Partnership may consist of providing a location with computers for holding trainings, helping us reach targeted audiences or publicizing the digital literacy training opportunities. For more information on community partnerships contact Desiree Holden, at (209) 522-5103, ext. 136 or desiree@greatvalley.org

For more information visit www.caconnects.org and www.greatvalley.org/caconnects

The Great Valley Center looks forward to bringing you additional news on California Connects in the near future!

Video: UC Merced's National Parks Institute Executive Leadership Seminar - 2011

2011-05-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

Twenty seven executives in park and protected area management from around the world convened in April 2011 for the second National Parks Institute, a 12-day intensive seminar on leadership, innovation, and organizational renewal.

View a video created by UC Merced about the 2011 National Parks Institute.

The National Parks Institute was created by University of California, Merced, with help from the Great Valley Center the National Park Service.

Video: CA Connects Launch, March 23, 2011

2011-04-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

The official launch of California Connects was held March 23, 2011 at American River College. The launch also streamed live online and was viewed by community partners in the Central Valley and California community college Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program students throughout the state.

Watch the Video

California Connects is a three-year program that will increase digital literacy and broadband access in underserved communities throughout the state by deploying community college Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program students and representatives from the Great Valley Center to teach members of the community how to access and navigate the Internet for educational, health, and economic purposes. Funded by a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), California Connects is administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges.

For more information visit www.caconnects.org

Job Opportunity: Community Trainers for Digital Literacy Outreach and Training

2011-04-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

We are looking for candidates to hire as community trainers for California Connects program. Trainers will conduct digital literacy outreach and training for Central Valley residents who currently do not have access to broadband technology. There are several full positions available, paying $11.50 per hour including full benefits, in Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Kern, Nevada, Placer, Sutter, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties.

Download the Job Description (PDF)

Application Deadline
Open until filled

Application ProcessPlease submit a letter of interest and resume as Word or PDF documents by email to desiree@greatvalley.org. Please include in the subject line: Community Trainer, California Connects Program.

About California Connects

California Connects is a new program that will increase digital literacy and expand broadband Internet access to underserved populations throughout the state. Funded by a $10.9 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, California Connects
provides intensive outreach and hands-on training to students, who will, in turn, educate 61,120 new broadband users and influence 9,168 new broadband adopters over three years.

For more information visit:
http://www.foundationccc.org/CAconnects

Helping Central Valley Cities Reduce Greenhouse Gasses

2011-03-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

HealthyCal
March 24, 2011
by Derek Walte

California cities face a daunting deadline. Within nine years they must make a significant reduction in the pollutants that create the state’s carbon footprint. The target of 2020 to make a 15 percent cut in greenhouse emissions may seem a long way off. Yet the Great Valley Center, a Modesto-based not-for-profit, wants to help cities take action now.

They recently launched the Green Communities program, which helps city governments create plans to reduce their emissions and increase energy efficiency. The initiative, funded by PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission, will help cities and counties acquire a detailed list of greenhouse gas emissions and identify ways to reduce them.

“We recognize the smaller cities don’t have the money, the staff or the resources to say, ‘Hey we want to look at climate change’ and start addressing this issue,” said Stacey Shepard, the program coordinator.

Many smaller municipalities do not have the kind of resources or personnel available to undertake a large-scale inventory of their energy usage, Shepard said. Finding solutions often takes years of research and changes to city operations, something that smaller communities don’t necessarily have the staff power to handle.

The legislation that is driving this initiative is known as the Global Warming Solutions Act (also referred to as AB 32). Its aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California back to 1990 levels. The California Air Resources Board includes a broad definition of emissions targeted for reduction, such as electricity generation, large industrial sources, transportation fuels, and both residential and commercial use of natural gas.

Read more: http://www.healthycal.org/helping-central-valley-cities-reduce-greenhouse-gasses.html

Join us for the CA Connects Program Launch on March 23 in Sacramento

2011-03-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

The Great Valley Center and the Foundation for California Community Colleges cordially invites you to the official launch of California Connects on March 23 at the American River College in Sacramento.

California Connects is a three-year program that will increase digital literacy and broadband access in underserved communities throughout the state by deploying community college Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program students and representatives from the Great Valley Center to teach members of the community how to access and navigate the Internet for educational, health, and economic purposes.

Please join us and our participating local colleges, partners, and students on March 23 for this historic event. The launch will also be broadcast live via the Internet to California Community College MESA program students throughout the state and community partners in the Central Valley.

Our keynote speaker is Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonillas, representing California's 11th Assembly District.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Time: 10–11 a.m.

Location: American River College Theatre
(Fine & Applied Arts building)
4700 College Oak Drive, Sacramento, CA 95841

Watch the live broadcast

RSVP by Friday, March 18, 2011

Please con firm your attendance by emailing CAconnects@foundationccc.org or

contacting Sally Vue at 916.498.6705.

The program is funded by a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Offi ce and the Great Valley Center. Additional details about California Connects are available at www.CAconnects.org.

Be a part of the CA Connects community on Facebook

GVC leads Central Valley component of California Connects, new statewide digital literacy initiative

2011-03-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

GVC is leading the Central Valley component of California Connects, a statewide initiative that offers a multi-pronged approach to increasing digital literacy and broadband access for underserved communities. We will recruit individuals into libraries and public computing centers in 18 Central Valley counties to provide in-person training on basic digital literacy skills.

California Connects is a three-year program that will increase digital literacy and broadband access in underserved communities throughout the state by deploying community college Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program students and representatives from the Great Valley Center to teach members of the community how to access and navigate the Internet for educational, health, and economic purposes.

Be a part of the CA Connects community on Facebook

Population gain mostly Hispanics; group makes up 42% in Stanislaus

2011-03-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Modesto Bee
March 8, 2011
by John Holland and Amy Taxin

The population grew 19 percent in the Northern San Joaquin Valley from 2000 to 2010 despite a sour economy in the latter part of the decade, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday.

The gains came mostly from Hispanics, who increased from 32 percent to 42 percent of Stanislaus County's population and gained in Merced and San Joaquin counties.

Non-Hispanic whites made up 47 percent of Stanislaus' population of 514,453 in 2010, the bureau reported. It was the first time this group slipped below majority status in the once-a-decade tally.

The figures are from a home-by-home count of the population as of April 1, 2010. They provide far less detail than the bureau's more frequent surveys of social and economic conditions, but they are important nonetheless. The results will be used to distribute certain federal funds and to redraw legislative districts.

The increased number of people brings challenges for schools and other public bodies, said Dejeuné Shelton, interim executive director of the Great Valley Center in Modesto.

"It pulls on the services we have available at a time when all of our services are being reduced because of budget cuts," she said.

But the numbers also show that the region attracts people despite its poor rankings on variousnational lists, Shelton said.

"If you look at the population, you can see that they are coming for a reason," she said.

National Parks Institute Executive Leadership Seminar Convenes April 2-16, 2011

2011-03-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

National Parks, Reserved Lands the Focus of Leadership Seminar

MERCED, Calif. — From California's Sierra foothills to Sweden's Tyresta forest, the problems facing the world's national parks and reserved lands are immense and require a new way of thinking.

Park leaders from across the globe are being brought together in April for an intensive, 12-day leadership program to address central issues like climate change, habitat loss, encroachment, budget constraints and rapidly changing leadership.

The program is hosted by the University of California, Merced, the National Park Service, the Institute at the Golden Gate, the Great Valley Center and the National Parks Conservation Association's Center for Park Management.

Quick Facts

More than two dozen park leaders from across the globe will take part in UC Merced's second National Parks Institute Executive Leadership Seminar.
Participants will discuss effective leadership training for stewarding the world's natural and cultural heritage.
Pulitzer Prize-winning scientist E.O. Wilson and National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis will be among those presenting.

Press Release: http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/03092011_national_parks_reserved_lands.asp

Learn more: http://parkleadership.ucmerced.edu

Valley Futures Forum 3/17: "Sustainable Communities Initiative: A New Direction for America"

2011-03-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Communities Initiative: A New Direction for America with Shelley Poticha, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Ms Poticha will describe what it means to be sustainable and why sustainability is important for Valley communities. Then she will explain why the Sustainable Communities Initiative was developed and what HUD, DOT, and EPA expect the program to achieve. Among the regions that received a Sustainable Communities Initiative grant is the San Joaquin Valley represented by 14 co-grantee cities.

March 17, 2011
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)

Register online: http://events.greatvalley.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=6

For more information, please visit our new website at www.valleyfuturesforum.org or email nuplanner@gmail.com

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The VFF is held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:00pm, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Great Valley Center Highlights, February 2011

2011-02-14T10:01:00.000-08:00

Now in its second decade, the Great Valley Center continues to address the challenges of our special place on this earth. We continue to operate programs that seek out potential leaders and lift them to higher levels. We also work to overcome the digital divide as our Pixley Connect program now expands to two other communities. Sustainability continues to be a key theme as we work to implement energy retrofit strategies. All of this and much more would not be possible without the generous support of our funders, some of whom have been with us for many years. We extend our appreciation to all our donors for their confidence in us and for their support.

A few highlights for the coming year:

We are excited to announce our involvement with California Connects, a new statewide digital literacy initiative headed by the California Community College Foundation and the California Community College Technology Center.

GVC is leading the Central Valley component of California Connects, and will recruit individuals into libraries and public computing centers in 18 Central Valley counties to provide in-person training on basic digital literacy skills. We will focus on reaching populations for whom computer and internet use is still a challenge yet necessary to enhance their lifelong learning ability, improve their economic status and advance their quality of life.

California Connects is funded by a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The three-year program will ultimately provide access to more than 61,000 broadband users in California.

Read the CA Connects Fact Sheet →
The Great Valley Center Energy Program has developed Green Communities, a new program that will train local government staff in the Central Valley to plan for climate change over the next three years. The program, funded by PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission, will help cities and counties develop a detailed list of greenhouse gas emission sources and levels, and identify ways those emissions can be reduced.

Working with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), paid university interns will provide hands-on assistance to develop the inventory. Green Communities will allow many local governments to at least begin the process of analyzing local emissions data. Eventually, the baseline data will be used to set emissions reduction goals and develop strategies to achieve these goals.

This effort could help cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as mandated by Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which is set to take effect in 2020. Cities must start this year to show how they will meet reduction measures by the 2020 target.

Visit www.gvc-energy.org/green-communities.html →
Class II of the American Leadership Forum Great Valley Chapter is expected to graduate in May 2011 where they will join the Senior Fellows from Class I. Recruitment for Class III is underway.

The American Leadership Forum is dedicated to joining and strengthening established leaders in order to serve the public good. The Great Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum serves the 3-county region of the Northern San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

ALF Fellows participate in a yearlong intensive leadership development program, which includes monthly seminars and a five day wilderness experience. Upon graduation, these Senior Fellows join an active network of over 1,000 graduates nationwide, and continue to work together on regional problems.

Visit www.greatvalley.org/alf →

Highlights from Fiscal Year 09-10

The National Parks Institute: Leading Strategic Change Seminar graduated its inaugural class, which included 15 U.S. National Park Service leaders and 11 international participants.
We launched Great Valley TV, a new public affairs television series that aired 30 half-hour episodes weekly in Sacramento, Fresno, and Redding.
18 leaders graduated from the inaugural class of the American Leadership Forum Great Valley Chapter.
20 leaders graduated from the 2010 Class of the Institute for the Development of Emerging Area Leaders (IDEAL).
11 leaders graduated from the Great Valley Leadership Institute (GVLI).

Download our Year-at-a-glance timeline of activities (PDF) to see all our accomplishments during Fiscal Year 09-10.

While our challenges may be great, we continue to feel that the future of our Valley is alive with possibilities. All of us working together, cultivating leadership and a more collaborative spirit, are needed to transform these possibilities into reality.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you at one of our events in 2011!

Sincerely,

Dejeune M. Shelton, Interim Executive Director
Kathy McKim, Board Chair

New Resource: Directory of Conservation Organizations in the Central Valley

2011-02-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

We pleased to provide this compilation of conservation organizations operating in the Central Valley of California as a resource to other groups and individuals who may find it useful.

Download Conservation Organizations in the Central Valley (PDF)

Changes, additions and deletions should be emailed to info@greatvalley.org.

Valley Futures Forum: "Growth and Change in the Central Valley--New Opportunities" on February 17

2011-02-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

Growth and Change in the Central Valley--New Opportunities with Elizabeth Deakin, UCBerkeley City and Regional Planning

This presentation will discuss the opportunities that growth in the Central Valley presents. By managing growth strategically, the Central Valley can improve its cities, reduce environmental damage, increase economic opportunities, and produce a better quality of life for residents. Planning and design strategies will be discussed and illustrated.

February 17, 2011
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)

For more information, please visit our new website at www.valleyfuturesforum.org or email nuplanner@gmail.com

About Elizabeth Deakin:
Elizabeth Deakin is Professor of City and Regional Planning and Urban Design at the University of California, Berkeley, where she teaches courses on transportation and land use planning and does research on strategies for sustainable development. She served two terms as Director of the UC Transportation Center and also directed the Berkeley Global Metropolitan Studies program for a number of years. She has been appointed to a variety of boards and commissions at the federal, state and local levels and has consulted with city governments world-wide.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The VFF is held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:00pm, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Job Opportunity: Community Trainers for Digital Literacy Outreach and Training

2011-01-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

We are recruiting community trainers for the Foundation for California Community Colleges “California Connect” program. There are several part time positions (20-22 hours a week) paying $15.00 per hour in Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Kings, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Madera, Nevada, Placer, Tuolumne, Tulare, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter and Yolo counties. Community Trainers will be hired to conduct digital literacy training for Central Valley residents who currently do not have access to broadband technology.

Job Purpose: Digital Literacy Outreach and Training
Under the direction of the program director and staff at the Great Valley Center, support digital literacy outreach and training functions of the Foundation’s California Connects program, currently funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The incumbent is accountable for supporting the execution of program implementation, documentation and practices; and communicating with program partners for the California Connects Program.

Download the full Job Description (PDF)

Filing deadline for this position is February 15, 2011

For more information contact:
Manuel Alvarado, Program Director
Great Valley Center
(209) 522-5103
manuel@greatvalley.org

About California Connects

California Connects is a new program that will increase digital literacy and expand broadband Internet access to underserved populations throughout the state. Funded by a $10.9 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, California Connects
provides intensive outreach and hands-on training to students, who will, in turn, educate 61,120 new broadband users and influence 9,168 new broadband adopters over three years.

For more information visit:
http://www.foundationccc.org/WhatWeDo/CaliforniaConnects/tabid/771/Default.aspx

Program offers cities a plan to address emissions, energy use

2011-01-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

Patterson Irrigator
January 13, 2011
by Kendall Septon

The San Joaquin Valley has gained notoriety over the years as one of the worst air-pollution basins in the nation. Moving forward, though, a new sustainability outreach that ends later this month could help Patterson and other cities throughout Stanislaus County change that image.

The Green Communities Program, organized by the Great Valley Center and funded by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and the California Public Utilities Commission, will help cities, free of charge, to develop a detailed list of greenhouse gas emission sources and levels. In the end, with the help of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’ Local Governments for Sustainability, paid university interns will work with city staff to recommend how each city can reduce the energy it uses each day.

“Hopefully, this will help the city make better decisions, in a cost-effective manner, about how we decide to operate in the future,” said Joel Andrews, interim community development director for the city of Patterson. “We are always looking for ways to do things better, become more efficient.”

Advocates say the effort could help cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as mandated by Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which is set to take effect in 2020. Cities must start this year to show how they will meet reduction measures by the 2020 target.

Valley Futures Forum: "A New Perspective on Ag Land in the San Joaquin Valley" on January 20

2011-01-19T14:25:00.000-08:00

A New Perspective on Agricultural Land in the San Joaquin Valley with Ed Thompson, American Farmland Trust

American Farmland Trust has been working with the Information Center for the Environment at U.C. Davis to map physical characteristics of agricultural land in the San Joaquin Valley as they relate to its future economic viability and pressures from urban and rural development. This information can help guide planners and officials as they do a rural "greenprint" to complement the region's Blueprint for urban growth. This will be the first presentation of the maps and data from this project.

January 20, 2011
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)

For more information, please visit our new website at www.valleyfuturesforum.org or email nuplanner@gmail.com

About Edward Thompson:
Since 2003, Edward Thompson, Jr., has been California Director of American Farmland Trust, a national conservation organization he has also served as general counsel, policy director and senior vice president. He is the author of several groundbreaking publications on California agriculture, including Alternatives for Future Urban Growth in California’s Central Valley: The Bottom Line for Agriculture and Taxpayers; Water Policy and Farmland Protection: A New Approach to Saving California’s Best Agricultural Lands (with Marc Reisner); and, most recently, California Agricultural Vision: Strategies for Sustainability. He earned his B.A. in government from Cornell and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The VFF is held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:00pm, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Valley has 6 of nation's 10 metro areas with worst rate for joblessness

2011-01-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

Modesto Bee
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
By Marijke Rowland

The San Joaquin Valley continues to be at the heart of the nation's unemployment problem.

A report released this week by the U.S. Labor Department shows that the valley accounts for six of the 10 metropolitan areas with the worst unemployment rates in the country.

The valley cities stretch from Stockton to Visalia-Porterville and also include Modesto, Merced, Fresno and Hanford-Corcoran.

Two other California metro areas also made the bottom 10: No. 1 El Centro in Imperial County and No. 2 Yuba City in Sutter County.

"It's one of those perfect storm situations," said University of California at Merced economics Professor Shawn Kantor. "So it will take a very long time for this area to recover."

Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/05/1499504/valley-at-the-heart-of-the-problem.html#storylink=omni_popular#ixzz1AHaBV2cA

(Photo Credit: DEBBIE NODA/dnoda@modbee.com)

San Joaquin Valley utilities and firms work to meet green energy mandates

2011-01-04T11:48:00.000-08:00

Modesto Bee
Monday, January 3, 2011
By John Holland

The sun performed as promised at Jim Jasper's business near Newman.

He installed about 4,000 panels that capture solar energy for use in processing almonds at Stewart & Jasper Orchards.

Jasper said he expects to save as much as $250,000 on his Pacific Gas & Electric Co. bill each year. But he said something else that gets to the crux of the renewable energy debate:

"It doesn't pencil out without the subsidies."

Solar, wind and other renewable sources may have finally come of age, after four decades of promise from their promoters. But the technologies still tend to cost more than conventional sources such as hydroelectric, natural gas and coal.

The extra cost is covered in part by utility rate increases, including the one that took effect Saturday in the Modesto Irrigation District.

And the federal government helps with up to 30 percent of the cost with income tax credits for homes and businesses. Those lost taxes add to the national debt.

Advocates say renewable sources are worth the cost because they reduce the need for fossil fuels, which pollute the planet and mire the nation in messy foreign affairs.

Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/02/1495066/green-energy-gets-real.html#ixzz1A67BL3CC

Season's Greetings & Holiday Open House Dec. 23

2010-12-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

We invite you to attend a Holiday Open House and Coffee.

This will be a time to connect with neighbors and friends of the Center and celebrate the season. Coffee and seasonal refreshments will be served.

Join Us

Thursday, December 23
from 9:00 AM to 11:AM
at the Great Valley Center
201 Needham Street
Modesto, CA

For more information or to RSVP, call 209-522-5103.

Hope to see you next Thursday morning!

Watch our latest health documentary online

2010-12-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

Digital Doctors: The Future of Health Care, a collaboration between the Great Valley Center and KVIE Public Television, is now available to watch online.

This half-hour program explores how technology and medical experts are teaming up and saving lives outside the traditional hospital or doctor's office.

The program is part of the Great Valley Center's Health Initiative, which aims to engage public dialog on issues impacting community health in the Central Valley. For more information or to RSVP for this event, click here.

Watch the full episode. See more ViewFinder.

The Great Valley Center's Health Initiative is made possible with funding from the California HealthCare Foundation.

Tulare County grew fastest in Valley

2010-12-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Visalia Times-Delta
Saturday, December 11, 2010
By Valerie Gibbons

Tulare County's population grew 1.3 percent last year, making it the fastest-growing county in the Valley — and among the fastest-growing in the state, state data released this week show.

The county added 5,796 people from July 1, 2009 to July 1, 2010, according to the California Department of Finance data.

Almost all of that increase this year — 95 percent — is a result of births within the county. State figures say 1,412 people moved into the county, while another 1,168 people left.

Those figures include all legal and illegal foreign immigrants, residents who left the state to live abroad and the balance of hundreds of people moving within the United States both to and from the county.

Nearby counties had similar growth rates, with Fresno County's population rising 0.9 percent, Kings County expanding 0.95 percent and Kern County's population going up 1.25 percent. Counties along the Valley floor grew much faster than other regions of California by percentage.

It's one of many recent surveys to find that the Valley clout may be rising across the state.

Those new population figures will play an important role in redistributing federal dollars within the state and redrawing legislative districts. If the population of the Valley is found to be larger than expected — and it might after an aggressive campaign by the U.S. Census Bureau to count under-represented groups last year — that could mean more money for local programs and more clout in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
But those numbers may also be a mixed blessing.

"When it comes to transportation and infrastructure, the Valley isn't prepared for an increase in population," said Amy Moffat, the director of research and communications for the Great Valley Center, the Modesto-based nonprofit group that studies the Central Valley economy and demographics.

"If the economy comes back, this is really going to become an issue," she added. "Truck traffic on the highways will increase, more people will move here, there will be more children in the schools."

Read full article →

Great Valley News: Fall 2010

2010-12-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

Get your Fall update on all things GVC. Learn about the California Connects, our new digital literacy initiative, the migrant farmworker housing bus tour for GVC staff, a solar thermal energy company started by three UC Merced graduate students, our newest board member, a recap of the Sacramento Valley Forum, and updates on our leadership programs.

Download Great Valley News: Fall 2010 →

Listen Now - Health Insurance Town Hall

2010-11-30T14:15:00.000-08:00

How will new federal and state laws affect the way we pay for medical care?

Valley Public Radio hosted a Health Insurance town hall meeting in collaboration with The Great Valley Center. We invited a panel of guest experts to explain the changes. This two-hour event was recorded in front of an audience at College of the Sequoias in Visalia on Nov. 9, 2010.

Listen to MP3

Panelists include: Dr. Len Finocchio (Ph.D.), Senior Program Officer at the California HealthCare Foundation; Verla Oliver, Director of Consulting at Single-Point Outsourcing; Dr. John Capitman (Ph.D.), Professor of Public Health at California State University, Fresno; Norma Forbes, Executive Director at Fresno Healthy Community Access Partners; Greg Hund, CEO of CalViva Health; Dr. Michelle Quiogue (M.D.), President of California Academy of Family Physicians.

Our debaters are investment broker Tom Fife and attorney Joe Altschule.

Our correspondent Shellie Branco revisits a family with an autistic daughter and their changing insurance challenges.

Special funding for this program comes from the California Health Care Foundation

UC Merced and Great Valley Center to offer free help to local governments about greenhouse gas emissions

2010-11-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

Sacramento Bee
Monday, November 8, 2010
By Staff Writers

Flickr/Creative Commons:
Ian Britton

UC Merced said a new program organized by its partner, the Great Valley Center, will offer free assistance to local governments in the San Joaquin Valley to help them develop an inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions.

Eventually, the program will offer recommendations on how each city can reduce the amount of energy used in its own operations.

The Green Communities Program, funded by PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission and implemented with the help of ICLEI: Local Governments for Sustainability, will pay interns from UC Merced, University of the Pacific and CSU Stanislaus to work with staff members in participating cities, UC Merced said in a news release.

So far, cities that have signed on to participate in the Green Communities Program are Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Patterson, Oakdale, Riverbank, Hughson, Waterford, Newman and Livingston. Stanislaus County and the cities of Los Banos and Sanger are also looking into the program.

The Great Valley Center interns will use meter information to assess energy use while also interviewing city staff members about solid waste management, sewage treatment, landfill emissions and even commuting practices. They will then offer customized recommendations based on the findings.

“The Green Communities Program works to equip local governments with information to make better decisions about reducing greenhouse gas emissions as they reduce energy consumption,” said Dejeune Shelton, interim executive director of the Great Valley Center, in the news release. “The cities that are a part of this program will be able to use the data to implement their greenhouse gas reduction goals effectively, which will have a positive effect on their community’s quality of life.”

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/11/07/3170333/uc-merced-and-great-valley-center.html#ixzz15SwisfL3

Valley Futures Forum: "Removing Roadblocks To Infill Development"

2010-11-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

Removing Roadblocks To Infill Development with David Mogavero

Automobile use is the prime culprit in nearly every economic, social and environmental challenge facing California. Growing our communities with infill development is the only sustainable long-term solution to auto dependency, but the roadblocks are formidable especially in the Central Valley. David will discuss the reasons infill is important and what the primary barriers are to its implementation in California.

November 18, 2010
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)

For more information, please visit our new website at www.valleyfuturesforum.org or email nuplanner@gmail.com

About David Mogavero:
David Mogavero is the Senior Principal of Mogavero Notestine Associates, a 17-person architecture, urban planning and development firm in Sacramento. His practice embraces the full range of community design, such as high density mixed use urban infill and holistic building systems.

Through his professional practice, writings, and lectures, and as board member of several advocacy organizations, he has promoted the widespread adoption of sustainable building and smart growth practices and policies.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The VFF is held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:00pm, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Sacramento Valley Forum - In the News

2010-10-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Conference speakers share their local food promotion experiences

Chico Enterprise Record
Thursday, October 28, 2010
By Heather Hacking - Staff Writer

CHICO — The promotion of locally-grown food has been under way for years, with the Buy Fresh Buy Local slogan becoming more common.

Locally, during summer months, people can go to a farmers market several times a week. But expanding local buying opportunities and breaking into the larger distribution markets still has its hurdles.

Three panelists shared their experiences with local food promotion Wednesday during the Sacramento Valley Forum, hosted in Chico by the Great Valley Center.

Read the full article →

Hey, We’re Better Than Placer County

A News Café
Thursday, October 28, 2010
By Paul Shigley

Regular visitors to A News Café know that we’re strong promoters of locally sourced food. A session during the Great Valley Center’s Sacramento Valley Forum on Wednesday reminded me just how far Shasta County has to go with its local food movement. But the session also hinted at the possibilities.

Much of the focus of the panel discussion, conducted at Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, was on “Placer Grown.” The nonprofit organization of the same name does innumerable things to boost the Placer Grown brand, to educate consumers about the benefits of eating locally, and to connect growers with distributors, retailers and restaurants.

Read the full article →

Thursday, Dec. 2, Preview Screening of Digital Doctors: The Future of Health Care

2010-10-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

Please join us Dec. 2 in Sacramento for a preview of Digital Doctors: The Future of Health Care, a collaboration between the Great Valley Center and KVIE Public Television.

This half-hour program is part of the Great Valley Center's Health Initiative, which aims to engage public dialog on issues impacting community health in the Central Valley. For more information or to RSVP for this event, click here.

The Great Valley Center's Health Initiative is made possible with funding from the California HealthCare Foundation.

Nov. 9 Town Hall in Visalia -- How Will Health Care Reform Affect You?

2010-10-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Great Valley Center and KVPR’s Quality of Life to hold public town hall on health care reform Nov. 9 in Visalia

You’ve heard the political opinions on health care reform but what will the changes really mean for you? How will they affect the way you pay for and receive health services? And when will all these changes take place?

The Great Valley Center and Valley Public Radio’s Quality of Life program will host a public town hall on the provisions of the recently passed federal health care reform at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Ponderosa Hall at College of the Sequoias in Visalia.

During this two-hour event, a panel of guest experts will explain the details and timing of specific changes in the legislation and answer questions from the audience. This non-partisan event is free and open to the general public. The program will be recorded and broadcast Nov. 16 on Valley Public Radio which reaches listeners in Fresno, Bakersfield, Visalia, Madera, Tulare, Clovis, Merced, and Hanford.

If you can’t attend the event but would like to submit a question about health care reform, please contact Stacey Shepard at the Great Valley Center, stacey@greatvalley.org.

The event is made possible with funding from the California HealthCare Foundation, www.chcf.org

QUALITY OF LIFE, hosted by Terry Phillips, is a public forum on the air that looks at people and issues affecting the Central Valley. Listeners are invited to call in and participate. The programs are heard Tuesday mornings from 9am to 10am, and are rebroadcast on Tuesday evenings at 7pm.

THE GREAT VALLEY CENTER, founded in 1997, is a private, non-profit organization that supports organizations and activities working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California’s Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced.

UC Merced reckons its economic contributions to the Valley at more than $500M since 2000

2010-10-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Merced Sun-Star
Monday, Oct. 18, 2010

by Sun-Star Staff

UC Merced declared Monday that in the past decade it has contributed more than $1.1 billion to the state's economy -- $550 million of that in the San Joaquin Valley.

Fresno and Merced counties were the two local communities that shared most of the the campus' economic largess. That's money UC Merced spent on employee wages, construction contracts and goods and services.

"Despite one of the most difficult economic climates in decades, UC Merced continues to invest heavily in the future of the Valley," Chancellor Steve Kang said. "The university's rapid growth is creating quality jobs, stimulating secondary investments, increasing tax revenues and helping to offset recessionary declines in other sectors of the regional economy. We are extremely pleased to be pumping sustainable value back into the region at a time when unemployment and poverty are creating so much financial hardship for so many Valley residents."

Lovelace completes government leadership course

2010-10-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

The Times-Standard

October 15, 2010

The Great Valley Center in Modesto announced Wednesday that Humboldt County Supervisor Mark Lovelace has completed the Great Valley Leadership Institute, a five-day leadership course for local elected officials in California.

This is the eighth year for the course, which is taught by Marty Linsky of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The curriculum, using a case study method, covers negotiation and shared decision making, ethics and coalition building, managing role challenges, self-assessment and leadership and other subjects relating to effective governance.

The course involved 11 members of school boards, city councils and county boards of supervisors meeting in Modesto.

Building a Future: Planning experts share wisdom at summit

2010-10-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

The Modesto Bee
Sunday, October 10, 2010
by Garth Stapley

Standing alone may have served a romantic image of the great American West in years past. But for today's San Joaquin Valley, isolationism is death.

That's what planning experts said over and over when asked how the historically undervalued valley can expect to climb out of California's center rut and into a bright, vibrant future.

"The most important thing is coalition building," lobbyist Mark MacDonald said last week at a summit in Modesto, where planning specialists from near and far gathered to ponder valley strategy for hitting up money powerbrokers. "All your battles (must be) internal, before you get up to Sacramento."

No county is an island, these growth gurus said, urging hands to join from Stockton to Modesto to Bakersfield and all points between to create strong coalitions, develop sound land-use plans and build efficient transportation systems.

"We are a family. And just like in a family, we may have arguments and disagreements, but when you walk outside, usually a family tries to put on a face that's acceptable."

— Dejeuné Shelton, interim executive director, Great Valley Center (Modesto)

Valley Futures Forum: "Re-imagining Our Cities" on October 21

2010-09-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

Re-imagining Our Cities: To increase choice, encourage better health, and reduce public and private expenses with Martin Dreiling

Most California cities have two development patterns: pre-World War II and post-World War II. These development types look and function differently. Pre-War development is usually more compact, better integrated, walkable and includes tree lined streets, lower traffic speeds and a variety of attractive houses
and commercial buildings that serve needs at the neighborhood and community scale.

Post-War development often demands car use via wide streets with speeding traffic. Residents and customers feel less safe, experience block after block of similar houses and commercial and retail resources located in seas of parking.

As we sprawl ever outward are we missing development opportunities within our cities that could make our lives better and our economy stronger? Is it possible that the growth we anticipate could occur on streets we have already built and in neighborhoods we already love? Is there a future where we build more neighborhoods and fewer strip malls?

October 21, 2010
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)

For more information, please visit our new website at www.valleyfuturesforum.org or email nuplanner@gmail.com

About Martin Dreiling:
Martin Dreiling is an architect, planner and president of Dreiling Terrones Architecture, with offices in Burlingame and Healdsburg. DTA provides Program Management, Architecture and
Construction Management services to public agencies. Martin is also cofounder of Townworks,
assisting public agencies with strategic planning, climate action plans, and resilient town planning.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The VFF is held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:00pm, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Register Now for the Sacramento Valley Forum - Oct. 27 in Chico

2010-09-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

GROW YOUR OWN: Home grown solutions for the Sacramento Valley, focuses on tapping local resources to find solutions and new ways to tell the story of Sacramento Valley’s assets, amenities and natural beauty.

Date and Time:
October 27, 2010
9am to 3pm

Location:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California

COST:
Early Registration $45
thru Oct. 15 (includes sessions, exhibits and buffet lunch)

Topics include: Developing the Sacramento Valley food culture, Developing future health care leaders, and a Preview of the Environmental Indicators Report (State of the Great Central Valley Indicators Series)

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Don Hilty, University of California Davis Medical School, Rural-PRIME
Producing physician leaders who are trained and committed to caring for rural and underserved communities
Ben Ratto, Thumbs Up Farms
A growers collaborative connecting local farmers to regional distribution

About the event
The Sacramento Valley Forum is an annual event focused on the issues and interests of California's Sacramento Valley. Learn more

New book takes a look at the future of the Central Valley

2010-09-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

The Turlock Journal
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
By Alex Cantatore

In 2009, the Great Valley Center pulled out a crystal ball and asked five notable speakers to take a look into the future.

The Great Valley Center asked, where would the Valley be in the year 2020? What could be done to create a better, more sustainable future?

The speakers’ responses at the 2009 annual conference in Sacramento – looking forward to the future of transportation, agriculture, and water – were nothing short of groundbreaking; chock full of ideas to lead the Valley forward. The new book “2020: Visions for the Central Valley,” edited by Amy Moffat, gathers the transcripts of those visionary speeches.

“The stakes are enormously high for the Central Valley,” said Moffat, who serves as Great Valley Center director of Research and Communications. “While all five speakers point out serious challenges and discouraging concerns, they are also deeply optimistic that any action taken today will lead the Central Valley toward a better future.”

The speakers whose presentations are included in the book are nothing short of experts in their respective fields.

The book opens with a transcript of “The Sustainability Imperative,” a speech delivered by L. Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions. The speech lays the groundwork for the rest of the book, explaining the Valley’s need to reach a sustainable balance between growth and agriculture.

A. G. Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, goes on to address the future of farming in greater detail through his speech “A Thriving Agriculture in the Twenty-First Century.” Water, crucial to farmers, residents, and wildlife alike, is discussed by Jeff Mount, director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, in a section called “The Delta’s Age of Reason.”

Quentin Kopp, the former chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, addresses the Valley’s aging transportation infrastructure and “Designing the Transportation of the Future.” The Valley’s dire lack of health care is taken up by Richard Pan, pediatrician at the UC Davis Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care.

Following each transcript, the book lists ways readers can help make the Valley sustainable. The book also includes resources for readers interested in locating additional information on the topics, along with discussion questions encouraging discussion on everyday choices that can drastically affect the valley.

According to the Great Valley Center, the texts included in “2020: Visions for the Central Valley” will help local governments, non-profits, business leaders, and academics plan for another decade of unprecedented growth in a sustainable manner.

“2020: Visions for the Central Valley” is available through bookstores or online at www.heydaybooks.com.

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.

Migrant Farmworker Housing Bus Tour

2010-09-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

You are invited to join the CA Office of Migrant Services and the Great Valley Center as we tour the current state of migrant farm worker housing on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Thanks to a generous grant from CITI there is no charge, but seating is limited. RSVP Now!

Mexican and Mexican American migrant farm workers expected conditions like those pictured above as they sought farm work in California and other states in the early 1900s. At that time, the Mexican Revolution and the series of Mexican civil wars that followed pushed many Mexicans to flee to the United States. Many U.S. farm owners recruited Mexicans and Mexican Americans because they believed that
these desperate workers would tolerate living conditions that other workers would not. Over time, conditions have changed considerably for these hard working families.

Date & Time
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Location
The bus will depart from and return to the Great Valley Center at 201 Needham Street in Modesto, CA. The trip includes a tour of Patterson, Los Banos and Atwater.

Cost
FREE (seating is limited)

RSVP to Lori Smith at the Great Valley Center by email at lori@greatvalley.org or call (209) 522-5103

Download flyer

Great Valley Center leader leaving; interim head named

2010-09-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

Modesto Bee
Friday, Sep. 03, 2010
Bee Staff Reports

The president of the Great Valley Center is stepping down to focus on his responsibilities for the University of California at Merced.

David Hosley has been carrying out two sets of job duties, as UC Merced's vice chancellor of university relations and as the leader of the Great Valley Center, for the past six months, the Great Valley Center said in its announcement Thursday.

Dejeuné M. Shelton is to take Hosley's position as interim president of the Great Valley Center, a Modesto-based think tank that advocates for the Central Valley. It was founded as an independent nonprofit, but now operates in a partnership with UC Merced.

Shelton is a Patterson city councilwoman and a senior program manager at the Great Valley Center.

"We're looking forward to Dejeuné stepping into this role for this valleywide organization" said Great Valley Center board President Kathy McKim, who also is vice president of external affairs for AT&T in the Central Valley. "She has been the senior program manager for two years now, and her enthusiasm and leadership skills will help us as the Great Valley Center meet its mission to help improve the quality of life in our region."

Hosley joined the Great Valley Center in early 2008 after former Modesto Mayor Carol Whiteside's decision to retire from the organization she founded in 1997. Previously, Hosley was general manager of Sacramento PBS affiliate KVIE-TV.

Read the full article →

More Coverage:

New leader named for Great Valley Center - (9/2/10, Central Valley Business Times)
Great Valley Center leader leaving; interim head named - (9/2/10, Sacramento Bee)
Nonprofit names councilwoman as interim leader - (9/9/10, Patterson Irrigator)

Valley still scores less federal cash

2010-09-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

Modesto Bee
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
By Michael Doyle

WASHINGTON — The San Joaquin Valley still lags behind the rest of the country when it comes to getting a piece of the federal pie, spending reports show.

Thanks largely to the big stimulus package, federal spending in the valley increased by about 6 percent between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009. Nationwide, federal domestic spending increased 16 percent.

"The valley is growing at a much faster rate than other areas, but the federal funding is not reflecting that," John Lehn, president of the Kings County Economic Development Corp., said Tuesday.

The news is consistent with past reports, despite leaders stepping up efforts to bring the valley more money, said David Hosley, president of the Modesto-based Great Valley Center.

"I think we are getting better at asking," Hosley said. But he acknowledged that valley applications for large foundation funding are not as competitive as those from metropolitan regions.

Read the full article →

New Interim Great Valley Center Leader

2010-09-02T16:04:00.000-07:00

Dejeuné Shelton New Interim Great Valley Center Leader

Modesto, CA (September 1, 2010) – Dejeuné M. Shelton has been named interim President of the Great Valley Center, a Valley-wide nonprofit organization devoted to regional planning and action. She begins her new responsibilities September 1.

“We’re looking forward to Dejeuné stepping into this role for this Valley-wide organization” says Great Valley Center Board President Kathy McKim, VP of External Affairs for AT&T in the Central Valley. “She has been the senior program manager for two years now, and her enthusiasm and leadership skills will help us as the Great Valley Center meet its mission to help improve the quality of life in our region.”

Shelton steps in for Dr. David Hosley, who has been serving as both the GVC President as well as interim Vice Chancellor for University Relations at UC Merced for the past six months. Having joined the center in early 2008, Dr. Hosley will now focus full-time on his university relations duties.

Prior to joining the Great Valley Center, Shelton was president of the Westside Community Alliance, a community resource center in Patterson, where she is currently a member of the City Council. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from California State University, Stanislaus and is a graduate student at CSU Stanislaus in Public Administration.

The Great Valley Center is in partnership with UC Merced, and puts on a number of annual conferences to bring Valley residents together to discuss economic and social issues in the region. The organization also collects data about the Valley, and issues annual reports on key issues having to do with growth and the changing demographics of the region. The primary program areas of the center include leadership, community health, access to technology, renewable energy and sustainable land use. Shelton will oversee a staff of 15.

Shelton has particular familiarity with the GVC’s leadership programs. A graduate of the Great Valley Leadership Institute for elected officials in 2007, she also attended the Center’s IDEAL program for emerging Valley leaders in 2005 and currently is participating in the year-long American Leadership Forum program.

About the Great Valley Center: Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the University of California, Merced to support organizations and activities working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California’s Great Central Valley.

###

MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Moffat
(209) 522-5103
amy@greatvalley.org

UOP President Elected to Great Valley Center Board

2010-09-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

THE UNIVERSITY OF PACIFIC PRESIDENT ELECTED TO
GREAT VALLEY CENTER BOARD

Modesto, CA (September 1, 2010) – The University of Pacific President Pamela A. Eibeck has been elected to the board of the Great Valley Center, a regional planning and action nonprofit serving the Central Valley.

The Great Valley Center, which is in partnership with UC Merced, works with community organizations and local governments to improve the quality of life for residents of the 19 counties in the region. Its 12-member board is composed of business, government and education leaders.

Kathy McKim, Vice President of AT&T External Affairs for the Central Valley, and chair of the Great Valley Center board, announced the election. “President Eibeck's strong leadership in the San Joaquin Valley and her commitment to the community will be a great addition to the GVC board.”

Now in her second year as president at Pacific, Eibeck made community engagement a priority. She launched a series of public forums called “Beyond Our Gates,” to explore ways to better connect the University with its community. Eibeck leads a University of nine schools and colleges enrolling 6,500 students on three campuses in Stockton, Sacramento and San Francisco. She is the former dean of engineering at Texas Tech University and held academic posts at Northern Arizona University and UC Berkeley. Eibeck holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering from Stanford, and is the first woman president at the university.

“I admire the Great Valley Center for the leading role it has played in shaping thought, policy and planning for major issues in the Central Valley,” said Eibeck. “University of the Pacific is eager to be a part of that discussion, and it is an honor for me to become involved in this important work as we prepare our communities to thrive in the 21st century.”

In addition to conferences and briefings on regional growth issues, the Great Valley Center is a resource for information about the Valley, including a daily e-letter on renewable energy and a weekly public television program seen throughout the region. The Modesto-based center, in cooperation with Heyday Books, recently published a book on Valley trends over the next decade, titled 2020: Visions for the Central Valley. University of the Pacific has joined with the Great Valley Center and other organizations in starting a new network for leaders in the northern San Joaquin Valley called the American Leadership Forum Great Valley Chapter.

About the Great Valley Center: Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the University of California, Merced to support organizations and activities working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California’s Great Central Valley.

###

MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Moffat
(209) 522-5103
amy@greatvalley.org

More Coverage:

UOP Leader Joins Great Valley - (9/3/10, Sacramento Bee)
UOP Leader Joins Great Valley - (9/3/10, Modesto Bee)

Teens Assisiting The San Joaquin Valley Partnership

2010-08-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

The San Joaquin Valley Partnership is working with Pixley Connect to promote jobs and education for adults in the San Joaquin Valley. With the support of Great Valley Center and the Pixley Foundation the Teen Tech Squad has been assisting with the recruitment in Kern County Delano, CA and hands on technologically documenting progress.

Check out a Video produced by the Teen Tech Squad

New program aims to increase digital literacy and Internet usage in underserved California communities

2010-08-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

GVC's work on digital literacy in under-served communities will continue and expand under a new grant.

(Sacramento, California - August 20, 2010) - The Foundation for California Community Colleges is proud to announce California Connects, a new program that will increase digital literacy and expand broadband Internet access to underserved populations throughout the state. The program is funded by a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

The three-year program will provide outreach, training and educational support in key communities throughout the state, and will ultimately provide access to more than 61,000 broadband users in California through three primary components:

In collaboration with the California Community College Technology Center housed at Butte Community College, an online digital literacy program will be made available to provide the educational support and tools needed to help enhance the online aptitude of individuals for whom computer and Internet use is still a challenge.

Support will be provided to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office in its statewide efforts to provide laptop computers to community college Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) students who participate in community service.

In partnership with the Great Valley Center, an affiliate of UC Merced, efforts will be made to expand the access of broadband technology and conduct outreach to promote digital literacy with an emphasis on serving low-income residents in the Central Valley region.

“In this digital age, having the tools and ability to connect to the Internet is vastly important, but even today is not always feasible in many communities,” said Dr. Paul Lanning, President of the Foundation for California Community Colleges. “California Connects will provide real lifelong incentives to individuals who have not previously had access or resources to learn digital literacy skills, acquire computers, or connect to the Internet. This program will provide a direct, tangible, and long-lasting benefit to underserved populations.”

“This program will help to close the digital divide that still exists in many communities and will provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation for decades to come,” said Dr. Barry Russell, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for the California Community Colleges. “What’s more, the collaborative nature of this program transcends the boundaries of any one specific educational system; California Connects will help to ensure students at all three systems of higher education in California, along with other segments of the population, have access to the digital education and training that is necessary in today’s economy.”
California Connects represents a collaboration of numerous organizations, including the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the California STEM Learning Network (CSLNet), the California Community College Technology Center housed at Butte College, and the Great Valley Center affiliated with UC Merced.

Funded as part of more than $200 million in recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants specifically supporting California projects, California Connects is expected to fully launch later this fall. Additional details, along with program contacts, will be made available at the Foundation for California Community Colleges’ Web site at www.foundationccc.org.

#####

The Foundation for California Community Colleges is the official non-profit foundation to the California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors and Chancellor’s Office. The Foundation’s mission is to benefit, support, and enhance the missions of the California Community College system, the largest higher education system in the nation. Incorporated in 1998, the Foundation works with Community Colleges and partner organizations to manage donations, grants, programs, and services that drive excellence in education while saving millions of dollars for colleges each year. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit corporation and receives no direct state or public support.

Valley Futures Forum: "Housing the Future" on September 16

2010-08-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Housing the Future: Can our children afford to live in the Valley? with Darryl Rutherford

The Valley’s housing picture is changing constantly. We’ve gone from “go-go” to “no-go” to “very slow go” in the past five years. Join Darryl Rutherford, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Regional Manager for Community Development for the San Joaquin Valley, as he discusses the Valley’s housing mix today, and what is needed to achieve affordable housing for all as the Valley grows rapidly. How are regional planning efforts moving communities forward and what’s missing from the equation? Bring your ideas about the new housing reality for the San Joaquin Valley.

September 16, 2010
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)

For more information, please visit our new website at www.valleyfuturesforum.org or email nuplanner@gmail.com

About Darryl Rutherford:
Darryl joined the Federal Reserve Bank’s Community Development Department in 2008 as the Regional Manager for the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. He provides technical assistance and training on community development initiatives and programs. His primary initiatives include rural community development, affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, asset building, small business development and access to financial services.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The VFF is held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:00pm, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Great Valley Center Releases New Fundraising Guide for Valley Nonprofits

2010-08-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

Funding is a challenge for every organization but there are special challenges for Central Valley nonprofits. Many are “small shop” operations with staff spread thin among the many tasks required to run programs as well as operations. And while their programs are in demand, the services offered don’t always grab the attention of big funders.

With so many tasks pulling on the attention of staff members is it worth it to compete for larger grants from major foundations and corporations?

This paper explores the value of big grants and how Valley nonprofits can reposition their programs and organizations to improve their chances of winning big grants.

Download Breaking Through to Big Foundations →

About the Author
Claire Thomas has devoted 17 years to planning, creating, writing, and delivering communications that connect with audiences and motivate action—especially giving. During her fundraising career, she raised over $23 million for local, national and international nonprofits. Claire is now a consultant and writer specializing donor communications; web and online marketing; grants, direct mail; and branding. She designs and delivers workshops on the topics of integrated communications, impact stories, and winning grants.

About the Great Valley Center
The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization working in partnership with the University of California, Merced to improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of California’s Great Central Valley.

Regional Food Hub Launches in San Francisco

2010-08-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

3BLMedia
August 16, 2010
San Francisco, CA

(Photo © Flickr/Creative Commons Wally Gobetz)

After eight months of planning, the San Francisco Foodshed Project launched in the SF Bay Area thanks to a grant from the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), administered by Great Valley Center. The project was born out of a recent Urban-Rural Roundtable coordinated by advocacy group Roots of Change, SF Mayor Gavin Newsom, and CDFA.

The project is being executed by both nonprofit and for-profit businesses working together to establish how to set up and grow regional food distribution hubs. This collaborative effort, sometimes called “business clusters”, has proven to be crucial for other regional food programs. Nonprofit organizations handle most of the coordination and outreach, and conventional distributors can handle the heavy-lifting of distribution. Everyone focuses on what they do best.

This SF Foodshed program is no different. FarmsReach is the overall project manager and provides the online system for buyers to track current and upcoming availability. California Alliance with Family Farms (CAFF) identified producers who could meet the needs of larger institutional buyers. Growers Collaborative serves as an aggregation hub for the farms. Finally, conventional distributors FreshPoint SF, SF Specialty and VegiWorks deliver the goods to the eight participating buyers: Living Room Events, Palace Hotel, Paula LeDuc Catering, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, SF Juvenile Hall, St Regis Hotel, Taste Catering, and W Hotel.
Actual deliveries have been running for a few weeks now, and it has already proven to be a learning process for all. Kate Seely of FarmsReach explains, “Our goal is to increase access to fresh foods, help the logistics flow more smoothly, and ultimately enable farms to get a higher return on every dollar. It’s no easy task. But, it’s exciting to see everyone engaged and committed to make this work.”

Scott Davis of FreshPoint SF shares the same commitment: “Many of our customers are requesting to purchase local produce. Partnering with [this project] enables us to expand our local offerings. We believe in the mission and are excited to help make it a success.”

In the coming months, more farms will join the program with the help of other grant recipients Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust (BALT) and Marin Organic. More buyers will be invited to join as well, likely in the Fall.

As the demand for regional food systems grows amidst concerns about the health and safety of our food supply, the SF Foodshed Project is notable in that best practices are all being documented, so others may replicate similar models in other regions.

To see a full list of SF Foodshed grantees and participants, go to www.zerofoodprint.com.

About FarmsReach: FarmsReach works to facilitate regional food systems by fostering collaboration and building tools to serve farmers, aggregators, distributors, and end buyers.

About ROC’s Urban-Rural Roundtable: http://rootsofchange.org/projects/

Recent article highlighting concepts in the regional food hub model:
http://organicconnectmag.com/wp/2010/06/going-mainstream-with-locally-grown-food/

FR8389

Contact Information:

www.farmsreach.com

Kasi Boyd

kasib@farmsreach.com

617.515.4097

Valley Futures Forum: August 19

2010-08-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

Innovations in Designing for Pedestrians: Revitalizing Communities Through Increased Walkability with Paul Zykofsky

Many communities in California and the rest of the nation are recognizing that creating walkable communities is a great way to revitalize downtowns and neighborhoods while achieving broader community goals of reducing vehicle miles traveled, greenhouse gas emissions, and improving health by supporting routine physical activity. This presentation will look at some of the innovative techniques and strategies that communities are using to create complete streets and design safer and more enticing environments for pedestrians.

August 19, 2010
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)

For more information, please visit our new website at www.valleyfuturesforum.org or email nuplanner@gmail.com

About Paul Zykofsky:
Paul Zykofsky is Associate Director at the Local Government Commission in charge of community design, climate change, and health programs. During the past 10 years, he has facilitated over 30 community design charrettes focused on improving conditions for infill development, walking, bicycling, and transit. He conducts workshops on Complete Streets (for APBP), designing for pedestrian safety (for FHWA), Safe Routes to School (for the National Center for SRTS), and Walkable Communities. Mr Zykofsky is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Congress for the New Urbanism. He was born and raised in Mexico and is fluent in Spanish.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The VFF is held on the third Thursday of each month at 5:00pm, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Great Valley Center August 2010 Media Advisory

2010-08-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

Great Valley Center Monthly Media Advisory, August 2010
What’s going on in the Central Valley?

Regional Story Ideas:

The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley will discuss the Valley’s application for federal Sustainable Communities grant funding in a conference call Aug. 6 at 8 a.m. The Partnership is helping to reconcile differences between Valley COGS and a compact of nine large cities in the valley, which both intended to apply for funding. For more information, click here.

Universities and community colleges are experiencing a dire situation. During a time of decreased resources and funding, enrollment is increasing due to high unemployment. How is your local university, college or community college coping?

Two groups of regional leaders in the Central Valley head for the Sierra this month in an experience which can be life changing. The Mountain Valley and Great Valley chapters of the American Leadership Forum are taking their new classes to the Sierra Buttes for five day wilderness experiences, part of a year-long effort to build stronger networks of leaders in the Sacramento and Northern San Joaquin Valleys and improve quality of life for their regions. Contact Bonnie Ferreira of Mountain Valley at (916) 920-5669 or mail@alf-mvc.org and Manuel Alvarado of Great Valley at (209) 522-5103 or malvarado3@ucmerced.edu.
San Joaquin Valley Blueprint award nominations. The Blueprint Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in quality development while celebrating projects that reflect the Blueprint principles. The program is open to all San Joaquin Valley jurisdictions in the counties of Kern, Kings, Tulare, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus & San Joaquin. Nomination deadline is Aug. 27. For more info, visit http://www.valleyblueprint.org/feature/2010/06/2010-blueprint-awards.html.
The California Exposition and State Fair wraps up Aug. 1. How did the new timing of the fair affect your local fair? This year, the state fair was held at the end of July instead of the usual time at the end of August. The change was made to accommodate school districts that moved their first day of class to the last week of August. Some local fairs changed their dates to occur before the State Fair.

New at the Great Valley Center

The Great Valley Center will hold its Great Valley Leadership Institute Sept. 29 to Oct. 3 in Modesto. The Institute is an intensive, 4 ½-day experience that provides key insights to help newly elected officials reach their full leadership potential. GVLI provides an unmatched opportunity to access world-renowned faculty from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Considered for participation are bright, motivated elected officials, serving on boards of supervisors, city councils, and school boards, who have been in office at least one year. For more information on participating in this program, contact Angelina Ceja (209) 522-5103 or email angelina@greatvalley.org.

Upcoming Events:

Valley Futures Forum, Innovations in Designing for Pedestrians: Revitalizing Communities Through Increased Walkability, with Paul Zykofsky, associate director at the Local Government Commission in charge of community design, climate change and health programs. From 5:00 to 6:45 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 19 at the Great Valley Center, 201 Needham St., Modesto. Communities in California and the rest of the nation are recognizing that creating walkable communities is a great way to revitalize downtowns and neighborhoods while achieving broader community goals of reducing vehicle miles traveled, greenhouse gas emissions, and improving health by supporting routine physical activity. This presentation will look at some of the innovative techniques and strategies that communities are using to create complete streets and design safer and more enticing environments for pedestrians.

Interviews:

The staff at the Great Valley Center has many areas of expertise; take a look at our staff page here: www.greatvalley.org/about_us/ staff.aspx. GVC staff members are available for interviews about any of the topics listed in this advisory or other regional trends and happenings in the Central Valley. GVC staff members are also available for live interviews and presentations. If you are interested in speaking with or scheduling GVC staff to come to your television or radio studio, give us a call.

About Us:

The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization working in partnership with the University of California, Merced to improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of California’s Great Central Valley.

Don’t forget the Great Valley Center’s website www.greatvalley.org and blog greatvalley.blogspot.com for story ideas, sound bites, and more.

Watch GVC President David Hosley on Comcast Newsmakers

2010-07-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

Great Valley Center President David Hosley talks about the work of the center with Comcast's Jack Hanson.

Visit the Great Valley Center YouTube Channel for more videos →

GVC Monthly Media Advisory, July 2010

2010-07-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

The Great Valley Center's July 2010 media advisory is now available. This monthly resource for members of the media and others in the community features information on what's happening with the Great Valley Center and throughout the Central Valley during the month.

July's advisory includes briefs on:

* Regional story ideas
* GVC and regional events during the month
* Programs that are new to the Great Valley Center
* Reports, Publications, and Resources Currently Available

Download the July 2010 media advisory →

Great Valley News: Summer 2010

2010-07-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Get your Summer update on all things GVC with the new edition of our quarterly newsletter. In this issue: Highlights from our Annual Conference, our new book release, an update on leadership programs, and more.

Download Great Valley News: Summer 2010 →

Telemedicine Struggles in Central Valley Amid Hope, Hardship

2010-07-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

California Healthline
Monday, June 07, 2010
by Diana Marcum

KERMAN – Just getting to a clinic in the San Joaquin Valley is difficult for patients who come from surrounding far-flung farm towns. There are no city buses where there are no cities. Agricultural fields stretch far, poverty runs deep and extended families often share one unreliable car.

"So many of our patients struggle with transportation. We send a van out twice a week, but when it comes to getting them to a specialist we're at a complete loss," said Jenny Mendez, clinic manager of United Health Center in Kerman which serves many people who live 40 or 50 miles away.

It's this kind of need that makes telemedicine a tantalizing hope to the challenged region. But, despite grants, partnerships, and federal and state mandates, the San Joaquin Valley is lagging behind the rest of the state in linking patients to doctors in other locales. In many cases the equipment and the broadband is there, but the nitty-gritty details are foiling healthcare providers.

Read the full article →

Reporting back: 2010 Blueprint Executive Forum

2010-06-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

Eighty local elected officials and managers of transportation planning organizations in the San Joaquin Valley gathered in Fresno on June 25, 2010 to be briefed on the implementation of the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint adopted in 2009 as a framework for growth in the Valley as its population doubles over the next 40 years.

The growth principles and housing density and transportation mix targets adopted in the blueprint are now guiding cities and counties in the Valley as general plans are updated. Attendees from Kern County to San Joaquin County heard details about a "toolkit" being developed to help local planners access more than two dozen resources, including model ordinances and other examples of ways in which communities can grow while improving quality of life for residents. Plans are also being made to raise the profile of the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint to those whose work will be impacted by implementation, including developers and agribusiness.

The new chair of the San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council, Mayor Bill Spriggs of Merced, was introduced along with the new chair of the San Joaquin Valley COG Directors, Tony Boren, executive director of the Council of Fresno County Governments.

Martin Tuttle, Deputy Director of Planning and Modal Programs for the California Department of Transportation, reported that 17 of the 18 regional transportation planning organizations in the state have completed blueprint planning projects, and suggested that a new era is being entered that will integrate the regional plans into a blueprint for all of California. Tuttle expects the California Interregional Blueprint to be in draft form by September.

Robert Grow, chair of Envision Utah, drew comparisons between the San Joaquin Valley transportation and land use planning and other regional planning efforts across the country, including the one he led more than a decade ago in Utah. He pointed out that the San Joaquin Valley will continue to grow rapidly because it is a good place to live, and sits between the "NorCal" region and the "SoCal" region in discussions about the United States becoming a collection of "mega regions." One trend he presented is the observation that transportation, land use, energy and water planning are now inseparable in America, and further integration of planning will challenge regions and organizations that have focused narrowly to this point.

Forum participants formed round table discussion groups based on city size, and identified challenges to implementation of the blueprint along with resources needed to realize the benefits of a regional approach to growth. Feedback from the groups will be incorporated over the next few months in the implementation strategy that is being coordinated by the Mintier Harnish firm under the direction of the San Joaquin Valley Councils of Government.

San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Roadmap Summary
(Public Review Draft Report - June 2010)

For more information please contact: Dejeuné Shelton at the Great Valley Center by phone at 209-522-5103 or email dejeune@greatvalley.org.

About the Event:
The Blueprint Executive Forum is an opportunity for local elected officials, Public Department Heads, and Valley Planners to come together and discuss how the Blueprint will be implemented at the local level.

This event is sponsored by the Council of Fresno County Governments, Kern Council of Governments, Kings County Association of Governments, Madera County Transportation Commission, Merced County Association of Governments, San Joaquin Council of Governments, Stanislaus Council of Governments, and the Tulare County Association of Governments.

2010 Blueprint Executive Forum: June 25 in Fresno, CA

2010-06-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Blueprint Executive Forum is an opportunity for local elected officials, Public Department Heads, and Valley Planners to come together and discuss how the Blueprint will be implemented at the local level.

EVENT DETAILS

Friday, June 25, 2010
11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Grand Occasions
4584 West Jacquelyn Avenue
Fresno, CA 93722
(559) 277-3663
Map & Directions

→ Download Event Agenda

REGISTER NOW

Download the Registration Form and return to Dejeune Shelton by email to dejeune@greatvalley.org, by fax to (209) 522-5116, OR by mail to 201 Needham Street, Modesto, CA 95354

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Robert J. Grow, Envision Utah

Robert J. Grow holds degrees in engineering and law and is the founding chair of emeritus of Envision Utah, a private/public quality growth partnership founded in 1997. Envision Utah is widely recognized as one of the country’s most successful public involvement efforts for the development of a broad-based, long-term growth strategy for a major metropolitan area.

JOIN US TO

Lend you voice and vision to the process as we work together to integrate the Valley Blueprint principles into your local planning process with the goal of achieving the necessary outcomes for an improved quality of life for all who live here
Learn about possible funding sources for implementation
See new implementation tools for planners

For more information please contact: Dejeuné Shelton at the Great Valley Center by phone at 209-522-5103 or email dejeune@greatvalley.org.

Additional details, event agenda, directions, and registration are available at www.valleyblueprint.org

About the Event:
This event is sponsored by the Council of Fresno County Governments, Kern Council of Governments, Kings County Association of Governments, Madera County Transportation Commission, Merced County Association of Governments, San Joaquin Council of Governments, Stanislaus Council of Governments, and the Tulare County Association of Governments.

GVC Monthly Media Advisory, June 2010

2010-06-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

The Great Valley Center's June 2010 media advisory is now available. This monthly resource for members of the media and others in the community features information on what's happening with the Great Valley Center and throughout the Central Valley during the month.

June's advisory includes briefs on:

* Regional story ideas
* GVC and regional events during the month
* Programs that are new to the Great Valley Center
* Reports, Publications, and Resources Currently Available

→ Download the June 2010 media advisory

Valley's poor die younger, report finds

2010-05-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Fresno Bee Article
By Barbara Anderson
May 26, 2010

When it comes to health and length of life, it matters where you live in the San Joaquin Valley.

That was the conclusion of a report issued Wednesday in Fresno. Researchers with the Central Valley Health Policy Institute found that depending on where people live, they can have fewer productive years of life on average.

And it's worse in the Valley than in California as a whole, the researchers said.

Great Valley Chapter of American Leadership Forum Graduates Inaugural Class

2010-05-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

Modesto, CA (May 20, 2010)— The Great Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum will graduate its inaugural class at 3 p.m., Friday, May 21, at the Great Valley Center.

“I think the new American Leadership Forum is a difference maker for the northern San Joaquin Valley,” said Great Valley Center President David Hosley. “A network of regional leaders who know how to build consensus on solutions to tough issues facing this region can accelerate positive change in a big way. These pioneers in the first class are a great foundation on which to build.”

Recognizing that the dynamic of leadership is changing in our rapidly growing and diversifying region, the Great Valley Center took the bold step in 2009 to be a catalyst for the development of regional leadership capacity by inaugurating the Great Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum.

The American Leadership Forum (ALF) is a non-profit organization, national in scope, dedicated to joining and strengthening established leaders in order to serve the public good. It enhances leadership by building on the strengths of diversity and by promoting collaborative problem-solving within and among communities. The Great Valley chapter serves San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties and joins 14 chapters across the country.

Each month during the first year, ALF Fellows met for seminars and dialogues led by highly skilled faculty. These sessions focused on developing an understanding of and skills for collaborative leadership. Before the year ended, Fellows designed and implemented a civic engagement initiative, addressing an actual regional need. The project provides a real-time collaborative experience, using the skills learned in dialogue, consensus building, negotiation and conflict resolution.

Graduates, known as Senior Fellows, continue to work together in a regional network built on real and enduring relationships across all sectors.

“The graduates of this inaugural class will bring about significant capacity for change in our communities,” said Manuel Alvarado, manager of leadership programs at the Great Valley Center. “Cultural, social and ethnic barriers are dismissed through this program. ALF is creating the next generation of leaders who will have the tools necessary to best serve the region.”

The Great Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum is good for the Fellows, and good for the region. While the yearlong experience is life-changing for participants, the true value of the chapter is the building of a critical mass of leaders who are committed to serving the public good and who have learned the new dynamics of collaborative leadership.

Inaugural class members include:

Steve Arounsack, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock

Debra Brady, First United Methodist Church, Modesto

Debra Brown, Kaiser Permanente, Ripon

Wendy Byrd, Modesto Junior College, Modesto

Ben Duran, Merced College, Merced

Lisa Finer, Wells Fargo, Modesto

Ron Foster, Foster Farms, Livingston

John Garamendi, Jr., The Professional Evaluation Group, Walnut Grove

Kathy Halsey, AT&T, Turlock

Flip Hassett, United Way of Merced County, Merced

Dennis Lee, Central Valley Asian Chamber of Commerce, Stockton

Linda Lopez, Office of Congressman Cardoza, Merced

Noah Lor, Merced City Council, Merced

Virginia Madueno, Imagen Public Relations, Riverbank

Marian Martino, Martino Graphics, Modesto

Pat Patrick, Lodi District Chamber of Commerce, Lodi

Robert Santos, Monte Vista Small Animal Hospital, Turlock

Cynthia Wagner-Weick, University of the Pacific, Stockton

Media Coverage:

→ Great Valley Chapter of American Leadership forum to graduate first class today (Merced Sun-Star, May. 21, 2010)

Fresno State President is 2010 Sequoia Award Recipient

2010-05-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

Modesto, CA (May 7, 2010)— For his years of sustained effort to uplift the Valley through education and leadership, Dr. John D. Welty, President of California State University, Fresno, was awarded the 10th annual Sequoia, Giant of the Valley Award today at the Great Valley Center’s annual conference, Valley Up: Ideas, Innovation, and Inspiration, in Modesto.

The award recognizes Dr. Welty’s long-standing role as a pivotal leader actively involved in addressing issues in Central California and engaging himself and California State University, Fresno, with the entire region.

“Compared to 19 years ago, there’s greater commitment of leadership in the Valley today to collaborate and work together,” Dr. Welty said after accepting the award. “While we still face incredible issues, there’s evidence we’re coming together to address those issues.”

The Sequoia Award is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to increasing understanding of the Central Valley, improving the well-being of the region, or enhancing Valley residents’ quality of life. It is not designed to focus on a single act; rather it is intended to recognize efforts made over time.

“Through his leadership of Fresno State and his forward-thinking vision for our region, Dr. Welty has fostered solidarity throughout the Valley, and created new opportunities for tens of thousands of its residents,” said Great Valley Center President David Hosley.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” Dr. Welty said. “I have always believed Fresno State is a crucial player in the life of Central California and I have made every effort to keep the university engaged with our region as we prepare the next generation of leaders.”

Under Welty’s leadership since 1991, Fresno State has expanded minority enrollment, created an Honors College, and added new academic programs and facilities, including the new $105 million Henry Madden Library, the largest research library in the San Joaquin Valley. Fresno State’s students, faculty and staff volunteer nearly 1 million hours each year in the region.

In the community, Dr. Welty had a hand in establishing the Fresno Business Council and is its current chair, and the Central Valley Business Incubator, resulting in the creation of over 1,000 jobs. He was key in the creation of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, committed to increasing the number of students who participate and succeed in higher education, the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute, focused on increasing citizen participation and elected leadership in government,
and the Regional Jobs Initiative, aimed at establishing a “built to last” economy in the Fresno region. He established the Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State, and it serves as the administrative home of the San Joaquin Valley Partnership created by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Dr. Welty is also recognized for his contributions in athletics. During his tenure, Fresno State entered the Western Athletic Conference in 1992, expanded intercollegiate athletic opportunities and facilities for women and led the effort to build the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State is now famous for putting the letter ‘V’ on their football teams’ helmets, signifying their unity with the whole Valley. The university mascot also proudly wears the emblem on its collar.

About the Sequoia Award
The Sequoia Award has been presented to outstanding individuals in the valley since 2001. Award recipients are selected by members of the Great Valley Center President’s Circle, a group of individuals representing agriculture, business and the environment who grasp the challenges of our region, think creatively and understand the need to provide leadership to ensure a strong future for
many generations to come in the Valley. Their private and visible support of the Great Valley Center shows their commitment to strengthening the process that shapes the region’s future.

Past Sequoia Award recipients include:
2001, James G. Boswell, The Boswell Company
2002, James McClatchy, The McClatchy Company
2003, Gerald Haslam, Central Valley author
2004, Bob Mathias, Olympic Decathlon winner
2005, Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
2006, Earl Smittcamp, Summer Prize Fruit Company
2007, Mike Chrisman, California Secretary for Natural Resources
2008, Carol Whiteside, founder and president emeritus of the Great Valley Center
2009, Stewart Resnick, chairman and owner of Roll International Corp.

About the Great Valley Center
The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization working to improve the economic,
social and environmental well-being of California's Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. www.greatvalley.org

For more information, contact:
Stacey Shepard
Great Valley Center
Cell: (661) 246-8480

Great Valley Center Releases New Urban Forestry Guide for San Joaquin Valley Communities

2010-05-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Modesto, CA (May 6, 2010) – The Great Valley Center today released a new urban forestry guidebook for San Joaquin Valley communities during its annual conference, Valley Up: Ideas, Innovation and Inspiration, at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. “Urban. Forest. Tree” provides practical information on how to establish or improve a community tree program, including key principles and strategies for care and maintenance of trees and possible sources of funding for tree programs.

Click here to view the online version of the book.

Just as streets, sidewalks, sewers, public buildings and recreational facilities are part of a community’s infrastructure, so are publicly owned trees. Trees have myriad community benefits when properly selected, planted in the right locations and appropriately cared for and maintained.

“We hope that anyone who cares about the quality of life in their community will get excited about how trees can make a difference and then do something about it,” said Amy Moffat, director of research at the Great Valley Center.

In addition to creating shade, neighborhood character and green space, a well maintained urban forest can improve air quality, combat climate change, reduce energy consumption in buildings and provide habitat for wildlife.

In fact, planting 1 million trees in the San Joaquin Valley would achieve $10 million in energy savings. Planting 4 million trees would save the region $20 million in annual pollution cleanup costs.

The Great Valley Center hopes this guidebook will empower residents and community groups to work with elected officials to foster support and funding for urban forest initiatives.

The guidebook was funded by a grant to the Great Valley Center from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) and the U.S.D.A. National Forest Service.

For more information, contact:
Amy Moffat
(209) 522-5103
cell (209) 564-7308
amy@greatvalley.org

About Great Valley Center
Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center is a private, non-profit organization that supports organizations and activities working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California’s Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. For more information visit www.greatvalley.org.

New Book Tackles Central Valley Challenges

2010-05-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Modesto, CA (May 7, 2010) – California’s Central Valley is undergoing immense
change. A dramatically expanding population is encroaching on some of the world’s
richest farmland, putting increased strain on water, clean air, roadways, and health.
What must the Valley do to create a livable, perhaps even abundant future?

Answers to this question are addressed in the Great Valley Center’s latest book, “2020: Visions for the Central Valley,” released today at the organization’s annual conference, Valley Up: Ideas, Innovation and Inspiration, at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto.

"2020: Visions for the Central Valley" is available through bookstores, major book distributors including Ingram, Baker and Taylor, and other distribution centers, or by visiting the Heyday website at www.heydaybooks.com.

The book features transcripts of five keynote speeches made one year ago at the Center’s 2009 conference, during which five leading experts in the fields of transportation, agriculture, sustainability and health shared visionary and thought-provoking ideas on how to drive the Valley toward a more sustainable state by the year 2020.

The book includes transcripts of the following speeches:

The Sustainability Imperative, L. Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions
Designing the Transportation of the Future, Quentin Kopp, chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority
A Thriving Agriculture in the Twenty-First Century, A. G. Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
The Delta’s Age of Reason, Jeff Mount, director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences
A Community Approach to Health and Health Care, Richard Pan, pediatrician at the UC Davis Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care

“The stakes are enormously high for the Central Valley,” said Amy Moffat, editor of the book. “While all five speakers point out serious challenges and discouraging concerns, they are also deeply optimistic that any action taken today—some as simple as planting a seed or walking with a friend—will lead the Central Valley toward a better future.”

The book also includes a list of ways people can contribute to a sustainable region at the end of each chapter, along with additional resources and discussion questions that encourage readers to consider how everyday choices affect the surrounding environment.

Courtesy copies of the book will be provided to media upon request. Please contact:

Amy Moffat
(209) 522-5103
cell (209) 564-7308
amy@greatvalley.org

Order information
2020: Visions of the Central Valley is available through bookstores, major book distributors including Ingram, Baker and Taylor, and other distribution centers, or by visiting the Heyday website at www.heydaybooks.com.

2020: Visions for the Central Valley
Edited by Amy Moffat
Trade Paper • 6 x 9 • 112 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59714-133-8 • $12.95
Politics / Environmental Studies
Available Now!

San Joaquin Valley growth woes intrigue scholars elsewhere

2010-05-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

Modesto Bee
Sunday, May 16, 2010
By Garth Stapley

(Photo © Copyright 2010 Bart Ah You)

Fascinating growth issues around Modesto are capturing the fancy of scholars in places such as Illinois, New York and even Paris.

Interest in rampant sprawl before the recession has evolved into morbid curiosity at the valley's subsequent foreclosure scourge. Other nonvalley academics are drawn by misery and lack of representation in poor neighborhoods resulting from past land-use decisions.

"The valley is a great laboratory," said David Hosley, president of the Great Valley Center based in Modesto. "Because the Central Valley is so large and is growing so quickly, we are a great place to study what works and what doesn't when it comes to development."

Read full article →

Valley Futures Forum: April 15

2010-04-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

Is Bigger and Wider Really Sustainable with Bryan Jones

Many changes have occurred to the built environment and operations that have had resulting impacts on sustainability, mobility, and health. Discover changes that have occurred in Fresno, interactions between public agencies, and resulting challenges as we move forward to discover new ways of providing services in the 21st Century with the mantra "doing more with less."

April 15, 2010
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)
For more information e-mail nuplanner@gmail.com

About Bryan Jones:
Mr. Jones is the City of Fresno’s City Traffic Engineer. He is responsible for the roadways, signs, traffic signals, traffic control construction plans, roundabouts, traffic circles, street lights, transportation planning, bicycle/pedestrian transportation, safe route to schools program, and the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS signal synchronization). Bryan is managing the comprehensive and progressive Bicycle Master Plan for the City of Fresno to Transform the city into a Bicycle Friendly Community.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The forum takes place at 5:00pm on the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Register Now for the Central Valley Land Trust Summit on May 5 in Modesto

2010-04-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Land Trust Summit 2010

Join us for this one-day event that will bring together land trusts and conservation-oriented organizations to explore and discuss issues that are impacting the future of conservation in and near the Central Valley of California.

Event Details:

May 5, 2010
9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Great Valley Center
Modesto, CA

Download the Event Agenda (PDF)

Join us this year to:

Learn about the issues that will drive the future of conservation in the Central Valley, including legislation, regional planning efforts, and the future of mitigation policy.
Network and connect with other conservation professional and learn about successes occurring during these challenging times.
Participate in a facilitated visioning and planning session to determine how a regional Council can best support conservation efforts in the Central Valley.

For more information please contact:
Lila McIver at the Great Valley Center by phone at (209) 522-5103 or email lila@greatvalley.org

About the Central Valley Land Trust Council:

The Central Valley Land Trust Council is a coalition of Central Valley land trusts and conservation-oriented organizations working to increase the professionalism, representation and sustainability of dedicated conservation entities and individuals working in and near the Central Valley of California.

GVC Monthly Media Advisory, April 2010

2010-04-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

The Great Valley Center's April 2010 media advisory is now available. This monthly resource for members of the media and others in the community features information on what's happening with the Great Valley Center and throughout the Central Valley during the month.

April's advisory includes briefs on:

* Regional story ideas
* GVC and regional events during the month
* Programs that are new to the Great Valley Center
* Reports, Publications, and Resources Currently Available

→ Download the April 2010 Media Advisory

News Release: GVC’s Annual Conference

2010-03-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Heidi Arno, heidi@greatvalley.org (209) 522-5103

Valley Up: Ideas, Innovation, Inspiration

GVC’s Annual Conference

Breakthrough Leaders and Organizations Tell How They Overcame Recession at Great Valley Center Annual Conference in Modesto on May 6 & 7, 2010

Modesto, CA (March 29, 2010)—Facing the most challenging economic environment in our lifetimes, a number of people have found a way to have uncommon success in the Central Valley. They will talk about how they joined together with others to raise up our region at the Great Valley Center’s annual conference May 6 & 7, 2010 at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto.

Under the theme, Valley Up: Ideas, Innovation, Inspiration, presentations and activities will focus on the Central Valley as a region and highlight interests of Central Valley residents including new resources for renewable energy, improving air quality, the role of value added marketing in agriculture, and structuring education and creating jobs of the future.

Among the keynote speakers, Lynda Resnick will tell how research positioned pomegranates grown in the Valley as a health food, and astute marketing made her company’s juice a national sensation, while Luis Santana will reveal the path that caused his Fresno youth literacy program to become a statewide model for at-risk students to excel at reading. Conference attendees will find out what led to the Valley’s cleanest air in decades, and how the gap in broadband access has been significantly narrowed in the last few years, leading to thousands more residents gaining access to the Internet.

The conference keynote and breakout sessions and interactive activities are meant to give attendees a framework of successes and innovative solutions that they can bring back to their own communities. Registration is $315 and includes lunch both days, a networking reception, all conference sessions and a free copy of the newly released book 2020: The Valley in a Decade. Register online now at www.greatvalley.org/conference. For sponsorship and exhibit information contact Heidi Arno at (209) 522-5103 or heidi@greatvalley.org.

The Great Valley Center presents the only regional conference of its kind, highlighting the unique qualities of California’s Central Valley, the 19-county region from Bakersfield to Redding. The conference provides a forum for the discussion of Valley issues as well as a platform for networking with Valley policy makers, elected officials, business leaders and heads of nonprofit and community organizations.

Sponsoring organizations include AT&T, Comcast, KVIE Public Television, the Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District, Delta Sierra Beverage Company and the Sierra Health Foundation.

About the Great Valley Center

The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California’s Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. www.greatvalley.org

###

President Jimmy Carter to Visit UC Merced Campus on May 3

2010-03-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

Nation’s 39th Chief Executive and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Will Deliver

Keynote Address at Seminar on Management of Parks and Protected Lands

MERCED – President Jimmy Carter will visit the campus of the University of California, Merced, on May 3 to deliver the keynote address at a National Parks Institute seminar on the management of parks and protected lands, the university announced today.

Carter will speak as part of an intensive, 11-day leadership program for senior executives in the field of park and public land management from around the world. His talk will focus on critical federal legislation (the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act) that he signed into law during his presidency in 1980.

"The opportunity for park leaders from around the world to hear from President Carter on the establishment of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act offers a spectacular learning opportunity," said Steve Shackelton, former Yosemite National Park chief ranger and National Park Service associate director for Visitor and Resource Protection. "His vision in setting aside almost 80 million acres of public lands in 1980 offers a unique case study about organizational change within the National Park Service."

In the 29 years since the end of his presidential service, Carter has been active in a wide variety of national and global issues dealing with conservation, public policy, human rights and conflict resolution. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his lifetime achievements in the areas of international peace, human rights, democracy and economic and social development.

"UC Merced is deeply honored to welcome President Carter to our campus in May," said Steve Kang, UC Merced chancellor. "In his attitude and in his actions, he exemplifies extraordinary human qualities of compassion, determination, leadership and humility that are critically needed in our global society. This will be a great day for a young campus that strives to teach these same qualities to the future leaders of our state, our nation and the world."

The National Parks Institute is a collaborative venture of UC Merced and the National Park Service that provides management development curriculum for park and public land managers, promotes scientific research in parks, fosters stewardship, and promotes and develops environmentally sustainable resource management practices. It was introduced by Congress in 2003 under legislation (HR 1289) sponsored by California congressmen George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) and Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced). The Great Valley Center is coordinating planning for the Institute, and will staff the multi-site seminar.

The NPI Executive Leadership Seminar begins April 27 at the Institute of the Golden Gate in San Francisco, moves to UC Merced on May 3 and concludes with several days in Yosemite National Park. Limited to 30 participants from around the world, the seminar will improve attendees’ ability to anticipate change, innovate and manage strategically. (The sessions are not open to the public.)

In addition to Carter, confirmed speakers for the seminar include:

Roger C. Bales, director, UC Merced Sierra Nevada Research Institute
Ruth Coleman, director of California State Parks
Jack Dangermond, founder, Environmental Systems Research Institute
Roger Kennedy, director, National Parks Service (1993-1997)
Charles A. O’Reilly, professor, Stanford Graduate School of Business
David Sibbet, president and founder, Grove Consultants International
Sam Traina, vice chancellor for research and dean of graduate studies, UC Merced
UC Merced professors Maurizio Forte, Teenie Matlock and Anthony Westerling

Carter is the second major figure with White House connections to visit the newest campus in the University of California system. In May 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama delivered the keynote address at commencement exercises for UC Merced’s first four-year class of graduates.

###

UC Merced opened Sept. 5, 2005, as the 10th campus in the University of California system and the first American research university of the 21st century. The campus significantly expands access to the UC system for students throughout the state, with a special mission to increase college-going rates among students in the San Joaquin Valley. It also serves as a major base of advanced research and as a stimulus to economic growth and diversification throughout the region. Situated near Yosemite National Park, the university is expected to grow rapidly, topping out at about 25,000 students within 30 years.

www.ucmerced.edu

http://communications.ucmerced.edu/

http://facultyexperts.ucmerced.edu

Valley Futures Forum: March 18

2010-03-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

Passenger Rail: Beyond the Pipe Dream with Stacey Mortenson

Great Things = Hard Work. And they aren’t free. To have a fast, reliable train system connecting the Valley to the metropolitan areas around the state, we will have to take an active role in building the momentum, making space in and through our communities, compromising for the success of the system, and yes . . . contributing financially to making it a reality.

March 18, 2010
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
Community Room
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)
For more information e-mail nuplanner@gmail.com

About Stacey Mortenson:
Ms. Mortensen is executive director of the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE). She is also a traffic engineer and graduate of the University of California, Davis.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The forum takes place at 5:00pm on the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer

Chamber discusses transport strategy

2010-03-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

Colusa Sun-Herald
Friday, March 5, 2010
by Susan Meeker

(Photo © Copyright 2010 Susan Meeker)

Colusa County Chamber of Commerce officials met with representatives of the Great Valley Center Wednesday to discuss a strategy to move people, goods and services in, around and through the county.
Unlike the strategic plan or road map Colusa, Williams and Colusa County officials are putting together to identify what industry the county wants to encourage for economic development, this new "blueprint" plan would focus on transportation.

Transportation and logistics would center upon Interstate 5, Old Highway 99W, Highway 20, the railroad
service and airport.

David Hosley, president of the Great Valley Center in Sacramento, said the purpose of a transportation blueprint is to improve mobility in an effort to foster economic vitality.

Read full article →

Great Valley News: Spring 2010

2010-03-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

Get your Spring update on all things GVC with the new edition of our quarterly newsletter. Learn about the Great Valley TV series, Climate Assistance for local governments, the National Parks Institute, our upcoming Annual Conference, and more.

→ Download the newsletter: Great Valley News: Spring 2010

Poll finds Shasta County residents among unhappiest in nation

2010-02-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

Redding Record Searchlight
Thursday, February 18, 2010
by Scott Mobley

Shasta County residents are among the unhappiest and unhealthiest in the United States, according to a Gallup poll conducted last year.

The greater Redding metropolitan statistical area - which includes all of Shasta County - ranked 159th out of 185 metros on a nationwide well-being index developed by Gallup and Healthways, a Tennessee-based firm.
Shasta County scored low across the board on a half-dozen well-being measures, with one striking exception - healthy lifestyle habits, according to the Gallup poll.

Dejeune M. Shelton, senior program manager for the Great Valley Center in Modesto, said Shasta County's low score on the well-being index is not a surprise. Other Central Valley areas scored low, too, reflecting the area's chronic economic malaise, she said.

"The valley continues to have issues we have had for many years," Shelton said. "Now with the new economy, a lot of people have been displaced from their homes, and that adds to the stress. The foreclosures are a serious factor, along with a lot of unemployment and poverty."

Read the full article →

Valley Futures Forum: February 18

2010-02-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

New Models for Land Development in the San Joaquin Valley: Fresno's Southeast Growth Area
With Keith Bergthold

February 18, 2010
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)
For more information e-mail nuplanner@gmail.com

About Keith Bergthold:
Keith Bergthold is the Assistant Director of Planning and Development for the City of Fresno and has served as the Assistant Director since February 2007. Keith holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Behavior from the School of Professional Psychology in Fresno and a BA Degree in Sociology from California State University, Fresno. Keith was born in Fresno, is proud of it, and believes that the San Joaquin Valley is a gift from God, ordained to be sagaciously developed, or woe be to us and our heirs. He also loves BMW motorcycles and long rides to Canada, and gratefully travels each day down Highway 168 to explore the possibilities germinating from his current day job.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The forum takes place at 5:00pm on the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer here

Faculty wanting to focus research in the Central Valley

2010-02-09T13:17:00.001-08:00

Discussions regarding Community Engaged Scholarship are getting off the ground.

Take a look at this article from the Merced Sun-Star (and reprinted in the Fresno Bee):

→ Local community the focus of UC Merced task force - (2/8/10, Merced Sun Star)

GVC Monthly Media Advisory, February 2010

2010-02-01T10:37:00.000-08:00

The Great Valley Center's February 2010 media advisory is now available. This monthly resource for members of the media and others in the community features information on what's happening with the Great Valley Center and throughout the Central Valley during the month.

February's advisory includes briefs on:

* Regional story ideas
* GVC and regional events during the month
* Programs that are new to the Great Valley Center
* Reports, Publications, and Resources Currently Available

→Download the February 2010 Media Advisory

KVPT Airs Great Valley Public Affairs TV Series Premeries Feb. 5

2010-01-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

KVPT and Great Valley Center (GVC) recognize the need to raise awareness and promote solutions to the economic, social and environmental challenges facing California’s fastest growing region, the Central Valley. In an effort to improve the area in which we live, encourage informed decision making and help our communities plan for the future, GREAT VALLEY is designed to provide reliable information to public television audiences, including active/engaged citizens, policymakers and businesses. Topics will range from population growth to healthcare, land use to environmental care, education to employment, civic to social engagement and agriculture to the arts.

Series premieres Friday, February 5, 2010 at 7:30 pm on KVPT.

Hosted by David Hosley, President of the Great Valley Center.

More Coverage:
→ KVPT joins Great Valley Center in new public affairs series - (1/21/10, Merced Sun Star)

The Appalachia of the West: California’s agricultural heartland threatens to become a wasteland

2010-01-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

The following article was printed in the The Economist on January 21, 2010:

MIKE CHRISMAN looks out from his SUV as he drives through seemingly endless rows of walnut trees on his property near Visalia, in central California. “I have to be optimistic, I’m so tied to this land,” he says. His great-grandfather, after trying his luck in the Gold Rush, settled in Visalia in the 1850s, and the family has been there ever since. But as California’s secretary for natural resources—a job at the intersection of the environmental and farming lobbies, perennially at loggerheads over the state’s scarcest resource, water—Mr Chrisman also knows that optimism has become a minority view.

His land is in California’s Central Valley, a region that covers 19 counties and stretches for 450 miles (725km) from the Cascade mountains in the north to the Tehachapis in the south, and is bounded in the east by the Sierra Nevada and the west by California’s Coast Ranges. Much of it was an inland sea in its geological past, and its alluvial soils and Mediterranean climate make parts of it, particularly the San Joaquin valley in the south, about the most fertile agricultural region in the world.

→ Read the full article

Modesto Bee: UC Merced taps Hosley as interim vice chancellor

2010-01-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

Modesto Bee
Friday, January 8, 2010

The University of California at Merced on Thursday announced the appointment of David H. Hosley as interim vice chancellor for university relations, effective Feb. 1. Hosley has served as president of UC Merced's Modesto-based Great Valley Center since February 2008.

Previously, he was president and general manager of KVIE Public Television in Sacramento for 10 years. Hosley succeeds John Garamendi Jr., who in December announced his intention to leave the university to start a consulting business. Garamendi officially resigned Jan. 4.

Hosley will oversee all aspects of university development, including fund raising and trustee relations, as well as government relations and communications. Hosley's interim appointment is for one year. He will continue as president of the Great Valley Center during this time.

→ Read the full article

→ Read the UC Merced Press Release

More Coverage:
Hosley named interim vice chancellor at UC Merced (January 8, 2010 in Merced Sun-Star)

Fundamentals of Nonprofit Board Leadership Training on January 23 in Bakersfield

2009-12-18T15:40:00.000-08:00

Presented by the United Way of Kern County and the Great Valley Center.

Thinking about becoming a nonprofit board member? Wonder what you’re supposed to be doing as a board member? Designed for new and current board members, this 6-hour workshop offers an overview of responsible board governance. Join a group of your peers to learn effective approaches to bring to your role as a board member.

Date: Saturday, January 23, 2009
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location:
UC Merced Bakersfield Center
2000 K Street, Bakersfield, CA

Registration: $50; register online at www.uwkern.org

→ Download Workshop Flyer (PDF)

Discover what board members are supposed to do. In this workshop, you will learn:

Your roles and responsibilities
Legal and fiduciary responsibilities
How to be a “prudent” director
Traditionally-defined board and staff roles
Problem-solving techniques you can use
Different types of nonprofits and their board
Introduction to fundraising strategies
How to evaluate a financial statement

Presenters:

Della Hodson has served as president of United Way of Kern County since July 2008. She previously served as director of communication and vice president of community impact for UWKC. Before joining United Way, she served as a board member and chair of the boards of Habitat for Humanity – Golden Empire and the American Red Cross Kern Chapter.

Dejeuné Shelton is senior program manager for the Great Valley Center. She has managed a grassroots nonprofit in Patterson, and currently serves on several nonprofit boards. In her work with GVC, Dejeuné often works with community-based organizations on health and economic development.

David Hosley is president of the Great Valley Center. He has managed nonprofits in the Bay Area and Valley for more than two decades, and taught Strategic Management in the Nonprofit Environment at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. David has served on more than two dozen nonprofit boards.

KVPT Filming on Dec.14: Planning for the Future of Health Care in the Central Valley

2009-12-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

The Great Valley Center, the California HealthCare Foundation, and Valley Public Television invite you to the filming of the television program:

Planning for the Future of Health Care
in the Central Valley
Monday, December 14th, 2009
1:45PM-2:45PM
A reception with the panelists will follow

Valley Public Television Studio
1544 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93721

About this filming:
The Valley is growing three times as fast as the U.S. and our health care organizations are sprinting to catch up. The region is already behind when in it comes to measurements of good health but are we in danger of falling even further behind? Is it possible to plan for a health system in the Valley that will accommodate the growing needs of all people?

Join us as our panel of experts discusses what factors will dominate the decision making and who will be leading the way. Questions from the audience will be taken during the show.

Panelist for the show will include:

John Capitman, Ph.D., Executive Director, Central Valley Health Policy Institute
Frederick Meyers, MD, Executive Director of Medical Education and Academic Planning, University of California, Merced
Stephen Schilling, Chief Executive Officer, Clinica Sierra Vista

To RSVP:
Contact Lila McIver, lila@greatvalley.org or (209) 522-5103. All are welcome to attend.

Top 11 Good Things for the Central Valley in 2009

2009-12-01T15:52:00.000-08:00

Water Package of 2009
San Joaquin Valley Blueprint
Shasta Forward
Regional Waste Water Agreement between Modesto & Ceres
Altamont Corridor Partnership Work Group
California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley
Project Inspire
Grants to bring broadband internet to underserved areas
Ag Vision 2030
Rural-Urban Connection
Ag Biomass Council

The Great Valley Center's December 2009 media advisory is now available. This monthly resource for members of the media and others in the community features information on what's happening with the Great Valley Center and throughout the Central Valley during the month.

December's advisory includes briefs on:

* Top 11 Good Things That Have Happened in 2009 in the Central Valley
* GVC and regional events during the month
* Reports, Publications, and Resources Currently Available

Download the December 2009 Media Advisory

Great Valley News: Fall 2009

2009-11-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

Get your Fall update on all things GVC with the new edition of our quarterly newsletter. Learn about the Sacramento Valley Forum, the release of the 2009 Economic Indicators Report, and updates on recent grants received by the Great Valley Center.

Click on the following link to read and download for free: http://www.greatvalley.org/artman2/publish/greatvallyenews/pub_Great_Valley_News_Fall_2009.aspx.

Splitting the state down the middle

2009-11-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles Times
Sunday, November 15, 2009
by Cathleen Decker

(Photo © Copyright 2010 Roy Tennant)

Last week's Los Angeles Times/USC poll spilled a flood of pessimism from California voters about their state: They're troubled by its direction, upset at its politicians and sure that nothing will wrest California from the abyss.

That was about it, when it came to agreement. One always presumes a fair amount of communal thought in a state, even one this large. But apart from a shared disdain for the governor and the Legislature, there is hardly anything communal anymore in California politics . . .

Although the state is reliably Democratic at the moment, California's growth is now largely coming from the inland areas and from the Central Valley in particular, making the area noteworthy for the long term. According to a Field Poll report on California voters, 55% hailed from Los Angeles or the Bay Area in 1978. Now, 46% do. Almost three in 10 voters now reside inland, on a path winding north from the Inland Empire through the state's agricultural fields.

The conservative tendencies inland are colliding, however, with the urban problems bedeviling their residents. Air quality and health issues are profound, and shortcomings involving education and the economy have come into sharp relief during the recession.

California's inland counties have unemployment rates far higher than the state overall. In September, both Fresno and Kern counties hovered near 14%; Los Angeles, in contrast, was at 12.7% and San Francisco was below 10%.

As troubling to Central Valley analysts are education statistics. The region's teenagers are more likely than Californians overall to drop out of high school and less likely to head to a UC school or other four-year college.

"This is a recipe for disaster," said David Hosley, president of the Great Valley Center, a nonprofit think tank that studies Central Valley issues. If it's not altered swiftly, he said, "we will be in a downward spiral that will be hard to turn around."

→ Read the full article

Modesto Bee: Great Valley Center conference moving

2009-11-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

Think tank tries hometown of Modesto for a change

Modesto Bee
Saturday, November 7, 2009
By Garth Stapley
gstapley@modbee.com

After 12 years in Sacramento, the Great Valley Center's annual conference is moving to Modesto. "The Gallo Arts Center is one of the jewels in the valley," said David Hosley, who succeeded Carol Whiteside as the center's president in early 2008. "And we thought it would be exciting for people to see our headquarter in Modesto."

→Read the entire article here

Save the Dates:
May 6 & 7, 2010
Great Valley Center's Annual Conference
Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto

November Media Advisory Available Now

2009-11-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

The Great Valley Center's November 2009 media advisory is now available. This monthly resource for members of the media and others in the community features information on what's happening with the Great Valley Center and throughout the Central Valley during the month.

November's advisory includes briefs on:

* Regional story ideas
* GVC and regional events during the month
* Programs that are new to the Great Valley Center
* Reports, Publications, and Resources Currently Available

→Download the November 2009 Media Advisory

CPR: Feature News Story | Senators Hear From Top Sac Region Transportation Official on Climate BIll

2009-11-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

Capitol Public Radio featured a great story on how Sacramento's transportation planning may impact federal legislation:

"After a week of getting yelled at by Republicans, Senator Barbara Boxer was relieved to hear from an ally. As Chairwoman of the environment committee she’s incorporated some of what Sacramento has done in her federal climate bill..."

→ Listen to the entire story here: CPR: Feature News Story | Senators Hear From Top Sac Region Transportation Official on Climate BIll

Pictures From GVC's Sacramento Valley Forum

2009-10-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of people gathered at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico on October 28th for the Great Valley Center's annual Sacramento Valley Forum. This year's topic Water: More Than a Peripheral Issue covered issues that are currently relevant to water use, conservation and economics.

"If we can bring people and interests from the Sacramento Valley together to start talking about the many complexities of this issues, we can establsih a dialogue for positive change," said David Hosley, President of the Great Valley Center.

Check out pictures from the day here:

GVC's Sacramento Valley Forum in the News

2009-10-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Chico Enterprise-Record ran two stories on this week's Sacramento Valley Forum. The articles are a great briefing on the issues Tim Quinn and Robert Glennon spoke about during their keynote addresses. Check out the articles here:

→ Author: Water not as plentiful as many think

→ Water crisis called worst in state's history

Indicators Report 'The Economy' 3rd Edition -- In the News

2009-10-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

On October 28, 2009 the Great Valley Center released its newest report: The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (Third Edition). The report is part of the State of the Great Central Valley Indicators Series, an ongoing regional initiative tracking conditions in one of California’s fastest growing regions: the 19-county Great Central Valley. The data presented in the report are a snapshot of information providing tools for measuring the community well-being of the Valley. The reports offer data, analysis, and structure which can be used as a benchmark for assessing the progress of the Central Valley, providing valuable comparative information at the county, subregional, regional, and state levels.

The report tracks economic indicators as they relate to population, income and housing; business vitality; agriculture; transportation; commerce and mobility; and federal and nonprofit spending. The report features a centerpiece essay written by Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers and member of the State Board of Food and Agriculture, on the future of agriculture and the efforts of the California Ag Vision 2030 to plan for a vibrant agricultural future for the Central Valley and throughout California.

The report is currently available to be downloaded for free at www.greatvalley.org.

Check out coverage on the findings of the report:

→ Industry diversification, job training are keys to recover, Bakersfield Observer

→ Central Valley's slump within a slump, KQED's The California Report

→ New Report details Central Valley recession -- and recovery, Central Valley Business Times

→ Report: Central Valley still struggling, Hanford Sentinel

→ Valley faces unique set of challenges, Merced Sun-Star

→ Nonprofit recommends changes based on study of Central Valley economy, Modesto Bee

→ Report says Valley needs stimulus funds, Stockton Record

→ Report from Great Valley Center paints grim picture, Visalia Times-Delta

The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (Third Edition) Released

2009-10-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

News Release
-For Immediate Release-

Media Contact
Amy Moffat
amy@greatvalley.org
(209) 522-5103

VALLEY CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND STATE IN SIGNIFICANT INDICATORS OF ECONOMIC HEALTH

Findings: Nation and state remain reliant on the agricultural products of the Central Valley, but measurements of the region’s economic vitality fail to advance

Modesto, CA (October 28, 2009) – According to a new report released today, if the Central Valley itself were considered a state, its agricultural value would rank higher than all other states in the country, yet the region’s per capita income would rank a dismal 48th in the country.

These findings are part of the 21 indicators of regional economic vitality compiled by the Great Valley Center in its latest report The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (Third Edition).

In the report the Great Valley Center unveiled its recommendations for the Central Valley during the economic challenges that continue to disproportionately impact the 19-county Central Valley region stretching from Redding to Bakersfield. Among the five recommendations is the need to improve the quality of the Valley’s workforce through education, and the need to capitalize on the momentum surrounding the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"These challenging economic times have hit the state and nation hard, but regions like the Central Valley that were struggling prior to the economic downturn have been hit even harder by it,” said Amy Moffat, director of research and communications at the Great Valley Center. “What is unclear is how the region will rebound from these challenging times. We know that educational outcomes, as well as the region’s agricultural sector, are closely tied to our economy here in the Central Valley.”

The report also reveals that although the Valley’s unemployment is higher than other areas of the state, the labor force continues to grow, especially since the regions housing costs have remained low. However, job growth is not growing as fast as the labor force, meaning that as the state recovers unemployment could remain a significant problem for the Central Valley.

Positive findings of the report include a decline in traffic congestion; a decline in the percentage of semi-trucks traveling on highways; and a steady increase in air travel passengers. Despite some positive trends in the report, federal spending and nonprofit revenue in the Central Valley remain at a significantly lower rate than national averages.

The report tracks economic indicators as they relate to population, income and housing; business vitality; agriculture; transportation; commerce and mobility; and federal and nonprofit spending. The report features a centerpiece essay written by Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers and member of the State Board of Food and Agriculture, on the future of agriculture and the efforts of the California Ag Vision 2030 to plan for a vibrant agricultural future for the Central Valley and throughout California.

The report is currently available to be downloaded for free at www.greatvalley.org.

The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (Third Edition) is sponsored by Citi and Kaiser Permanente, and is part of the State of the Great Central Valley Indicators Series, an ongoing regional initiative tracking conditions in one of California’s fastest growing regions: the 19-county Great Central Valley. The data presented in the report are a snapshot of information providing tools for measuring the community well-being of the Valley. The reports offer data, analysis, and structure which can be used as a benchmark for assessing the progress of the Central Valley, providing valuable comparative information at the county, subregional, regional, and state levels.

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About Great Valley Center: Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center is a private, non-profit organization that supports organizations and activities working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California’s Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. For more information visit www.greatvalley.org.

About Citi: Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

About Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. They are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, their mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of their members and the communities they serve. For more information, go to: www.kp.org.

Video: IDEAL Class of 2009 Reflects on Their Experience

2009-10-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Applications Sought For Park and Public Land Managers Executive Leadership Seminar

2009-10-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

International leaders in park, protected area and cultural resource management from governments and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for an Executive Leadership Seminar being offered by UC Merced, the National Park Service, the Institute at the Golden Gate, the Great Valley Center and the National Parks Conservation Association’s Center for Park Management.

The 11-day intensive management seminar on leadership, innovation and organization renewal runs April 27 through May 7, 2010. Participants will have the opportunity to meet industry leaders and innovative thinkers with expertise in leadership and park management, and will be able to form a network of global public land management leaders.

The seminar has been made possible by generous gifts from NPCA’s Center for Park Management, Toyota USA Foundation and The Yosemite Fund.

→ Read the entire press release here

→ More about the program: http://parkleadership.ucmerced.edu.

→ Program contact: Angelina Ceja, angelina@greatvalley.org or (209) 522-5103

News Advisory

2009-10-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Conference Call Media Briefing on new report “The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (3rd Edition)”

The Great Valley Center will hold a conference call Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM to discuss the findings and recommendations of the soon to be released report "The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (3rd Edition)"

Media Contact:
Amy Moffat
Great Valley Center
(209) 522-5103
amy@greatvalley.org

About the State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy: Indicators highlighted in the report include: unemployment, foreclosure rates, growth in the labor force, agricultural land converted to urban development, and work commute times for county residents. The report presents a unique comparison of the data for the Valley to other regions in the state and national averages. During the media briefing, the Great Valley Center will unveil the findings of the report and the recommendations for the region based on these findings.

With a total of almost two dozen indicators, the report is a comprehensive revisit of data first tracked by the Great Valley Center in 1999 as part of the State of the Great Central Valley Indicators Series, an ongoing regional initiative tracking conditions in the 19-county Great Central Valley. The Great Valley Center produces an annual indicator report in the five-part State of the Great Central Valley series. The data presented are a snapshot of information providing tools for measuring the community well-being of the Valley. The reports offer data, analysis, and structure which can be used as a benchmark for assessing the progress of the Central Valley. The report is sponsored by Citi and Kaiser Permanente.

Those who RSVP prior to the call will receive an embargo copy of the report. The report is embargoed until 12:01 am, Saturday, October 24, 2009. Participants must RSVP to amy@greatvalley.org to receive call in information.

What: Media briefing via conference call to reveal the findings and recommendations of new Great Valley Center Report “The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (3rd Edition)”

When: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 10:00 - 10:45 A.M.

Who: Great Valley Center Director of Research and Communications, and report author Amy Moffat will talk about the report findings, recommendations and answer questions

Participants must RSVP prior to the call to Amy Moffat amy@greatvalley.org to receive an embargo copy of the report and call in information.

Valley Futures Forum: November 19

2009-10-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

Smart Growth and the Pesky Realities of Building in California
with John Anderson

November 19, 2009
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)
For more information e-mail nuplanner@gmail.com

About John Anderson:
John is a builder, developer, planner, and urbanist. He has worked for the past ten years as the director of planning and design for New Urban Builders in Chico and Redding, where the firm has demonstrated that sustainable neighborhoods can be built by California production builders. He is the principal author of the TND Code a form-based zoning code adopted by the City of Chico as part of the entitlement of Meriam Park, a 200-acre LEED-ND Pilot Project in southeast Chico. John is a principal with Anderson|Kim Architecture + Urban Design in Chico.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The forum takes place at 5:00pm on the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer here

→ Visit the New Urban Builders website here to learn about the sustainable developments John has designed

Great Valley Leadership Institute, Class X

2009-10-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

In the fast-changing Central Valley, our leaders need to make wise decision about our communities, resources and infrastructure. The Great Valley Leadership Institute (GVLI) equips elected officials with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration they need to guide the Valley to the best possible future.

GVLI is a 4 1/2 day program that allows elected officials the opportunity to spend time with expert faculty on topics such as community building, effective negotiations, thinking ethically, creating coalitions, and working with the media. This year's Institute took place earlier this month at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, CA. 18 members of school boards, city councils and county boards of supervisors participated.

Here's what participants of GVLI Class X had to say about their experience:

"Eye opening experience that will help me find the best in me and stimulate me to dig deep and find all that I have to offer."

"Empowered me and has given me increased awareness of the need to create change and accomplish my purpose for being an elected."

"The dynamic scholars and GVLI staff are an exceptional asset to this program. Thank you for making such a difference in my life."

GVLI was underwritten by the California State Association of Counties, League of California Cities, Comcast, and Southern California Edison.

Check out the pictures from this year's class below:

Register Today For GVC's Sacramento Valley Forum

2009-10-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

News Release
-For Immediate Release-

Media Contact
Amy Moffat
amy@greatvalley.org
(209) 522-5103

REGIONAL FORUM WILL EXPLORE CURRENT WATER ISSUES IN SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND BEYOND

Great Valley Center will host 10th Annual Sacramento Valley Forum in Chico on October 28, 2009

Modesto, CA (September 22, 2009) - Robert Glennon, nationally-known author of the book Unquenchable, will speak about America's water crisis and what we can do about it at the 10th annual Sacramento Valley Forum, October 28 in Chico.

The Forum, titled Water, More than a Peripheral Issue is presented by the Great Valley Center and takes place at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Business and community leaders, governmental officials, farmers, environmentalists and individuals who have an interest in the future of the region will convene to learn about and discuss issues currently relevant to water use, conservation and economics in the 10-county Sacramento Valley Region and beyond.

“The Sacramento Valley’s water supply nourishes our region and the rest of the state and we cannot conserve our way out of this problem,” said David Hosley, President of the Great Valley Center. “If we can bring people and interests from the Sacramento Valley together today to start talking about the many complexities of this issue, we can establish a dialogue for positive change.”

In addition to Glennon, Tim Quinn, Executive Director of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) opens the program with background on how we got to where we are today. Panel sessions will discuss Sacramento River flows, risks and management; current research on the affects of climate change, precipitation and conveyance; infrastructure innovations that make greater conservation possible; and the economics of water, recreation and tourism in the Sacramento River Valley.

The complete program for the day and online registration are now available at www.greatvalley.org/svforum. The cost for the one-day event is $50 through October 1; $60 after.

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About the Great Valley Center
The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California's Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. www.greatvalley.org

Steve Newvine: A legacy that endures

2009-10-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

The following opinion piece was printed in the Merced Sun-Star October 13, 2009:

Carol Tomlinson-Keasey will be remembered for her tenaciousness, her intense focus on mission, and her passion for UC Merced.

I first met her in 2004 at a reception for UC Merced held at a community room in Grizzlies Stadium in Fresno.

The school would open in another year; I believe the purpose of the reception was to introduce the reality of a new institution of higher learning to the Fresno business community. She was gracious, full of pride, and intent on telling the story of the effort to start UC Merced. I was impressed.

Having moved to California that year from upstate New York, I had no idea about the scope of the work she and other Valley leaders had invested to build the campus.

I would soon learn of the many years she and others would endure to make the campus a reality.

In 2006, I made it my first priority to schedule a meeting with Dr. Tomlinson-Keasey once I settled in as CEO of the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce.

We had a productive visit with me sharing my thoughts about the future of our community, while she shared her deep pride for what the community did to get the campus built.

That intense focus was there, although this time I encountered another characteristic that I would come to remember about her: grace.

She would announce her retirement shortly after that visit.

No doubt, she had already made up her mind long before I met with her at the campus office. We understood her explanation that it was time for a new leader to take the new campus to the next step.

Many knew of her struggle with cancer and we believed she had won the battle. We wished her well in retirement.

All my memories of Carol can be summed up in one special day in May 2006.

That first commencement at UC Merced was a wonderful day for the community and especially for Dr. Tomlinson-Keasey. With only a handful of students graduating, the ceremony was held in a small auditorium on campus.

But the sense of pride could have filled the entire Central Valley.

The students, our true trailblazers, were smiling in their caps and gowns. The faculty, administration, and other staff were gleaming with satisfaction.

But who would forget Dr. Tomlinson-Keasey; she had the biggest smile, the most touching speech, and that sense of grace. Her work was done.

She would walk away knowing her accomplishments personified the work, stress and emotions of an entire community. She would leave knowing that her legacy rested with those graduates, and the many who continue to follow them.

And she left behind an institution that will endure for many generations.

Steve Newvine is the former CEO of the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce and now works for a California public utility. He lives in Merced.

→ Read this opinion piece online
→ Visit UC Merced's website

October Media Advisory Available Now

2009-10-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

The Great Valley Center's October 2009 media advisory is now available. This monthly resource for members of the media and others in the community features information on what's happening with the Great Valley Center and throughout the Central Valley during the month.

October's advisory includes briefs on:

* Regional story ideas
* GVC and regional events during the month
* Reports, Publications, and Resources Available

→Download the October 2009 Media Advisory

Turlock Journal article: IDEAL program training leaders, taking applications

2009-09-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

By Alex Cantatore

September 23, 2009

The full article is available here on the Turlock Journal website

The Institute for the Development of Emerging Area Leaders Fellowship isn’t just another local leadership program. As developed by Modesto’s Great Valley Center, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 on the belief that “the Valley’s social, economic and environmental future depends on a balanced approach to public policy and the development of strong, diverse leaders,” the IDEAL Fellowship looks to provide much-needed leadership development for those who want to make a difference in their communities. “The program is designed for those who see a need in their community that is going unfilled,” said Manuel Alvarado, programs manager with the Great Valley Center. “People who are truly passionate about what they want to do.”

→ Read the rest of the article here

Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley: 2009 Annual Summit

2009-09-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

Serving the Valley. Shaping Our Future.

Friday, October 23, 2009
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
At the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center
848 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721

Governor Schwarzenegger (invited) morning keynote speaker.
Luncheon panel: California Needs a Water Plan Now

Breakout sessions:

A Thirsty Valley & A Regional Water Plan
Cradle to Career: Issues in Education and Workforce
How Blue is the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint?
A green Light for A green Valley
Connecting Air Quality, Energy, & the Valley's Economy
Health Care Reform: A Prescription for Tomorrow

The day will conclude with A Taste of the Valley social, providing an opportunity to sample the region's best wine and produce.

→ Additional program and registration information available here