Green Communities completes successful Round 2 of emissions inventories

24 Local Governments Served in the Central Valley!
The Great Valley Center has completed Round 2 of the Green Communities program, which to date has assisted 24 local governments in the Central Valley with the development of municipal Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventories.  The inventories help governments to assess their “carbon footprint” as a starting point for GHG emission reduction.

Coverage Map: Round 1 is blue, Round 2 is red       

The program is funded by California utility customers and administered by PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Green Communities provides local governments with the tools to begin reducing GHG emissions in response to statewide policies and recommendations, and provides fiscally strapped governments with the necessary resources to take the first step. A collaborative effort between Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA, and the Great Valley Center, the Green Communities Program provides support to local governments and communities in pursuing their GHG emission reduction goals.

"If it wasn’t for this program we would not have the resources to have completed this project," said Erika Durrer, Senior Planner for the City of Manteca.

Under the program, GVC staff and interns from local universities were sent to local government offices to collect data, calculate the data into emission figures, and report the results back to the local governments. The staff and interns received intense training by ICLEI representatives, who also provided the tools and software critical to the development of these inventories.

The inventories help governments analyze and track GHG emissions, transportation, fuel use and waste production, and identify opportunities to reduce local energy consumption. In addition to revising development patterns, city and county governments can identify ways to reduce GHG emissions from vehicle fleets, landfills, wastewater treatment plants and administrative buildings. As an added benefit, local governments that become more energy efficient tend to reduce operating costs associated with energy consumption.

"We were able to have our 2010 inventory done, which showed improvement,” stated Elisa Moberly, a Management Analyst II with San Joaquin County. “The inventories help us to see what areas need work, especially by department, which will be very helpful as we proceed."  

Program Accomplishments

Round 2 of the Green Communities program included participation by 11 cities and three counties, representing a 40% increase in outreach from Round 1. During the extent of Round 2, a total of 671,864 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) were inventoried, a tremendous increase from the 108,747 metric tons of CO2e inventoried in Round 1.

Government staff showed great support throughout the program. For instance, Round 2 employee commute survey responses were obtained from 3,778 current employees, more than 8 times the number of Round 1 employees participating in the survey.

A large portion of the program was performed by university interns who were offered training, tools, and resources to assist local government staff with the development of inventories. Throughout the process, interns were able to build green job skills and experiences, as well as establish professional relationships within local government organizations. Of the 13 interns retained through the entirety of the program, 100% rated the program above average, 92% indicated that their knowledge of GHG emissions had improved as a result of the program, 85% indicated that they expect this experience to help them pursue career goals, and 23% indicated that they obtained a job or promotion as a result of participating in this program.

“Having completed this internship, I continue to use the knowledge I learned in the classroom, and in my daily life,” reports Kyle Joel Sierra, a Round 2 intern from California State University, Bakersfield. “Although this internship is heavily focused on GHG emissions, it will show future employers and graduate programs my interest in the environment and my working knowledge regarding the matter.”

Next Steps

The Great Valley Center is planning to continue working with our partners to present energy efficiency and climate solutions to communities in the Central Valley. While astounding progress has been made over the last two years, there is still much work to be done. The GVC plans on expanding our focus from local government operations alone to working with local governments and community stakeholders to assess and address emissions at a community-wide scale.

The next step is to conduct community emissions inventories. Like the local government operations inventories, these will establish a baseline emissions level for each community. Taken together, the baseline inventories inform the target-setting and strategy stages by providing detailed information on sources and quantities of emissions. The long-term emissions monitoring strategy is simplified in the ICLEI Five Milestone Process model.

With continued support from our partners, Great Valley Center plans to continue offering GHG emissions inventory services in 2013, and to get local governments started on energy action plans, climate action plans and other projects to help communities take the next crucial steps in addressing emissions: setting targets and selecting strategies for reduction.

To get involved, contact your local government or visit the Green Community program's “How to Get Involved” page.

Great Valley Center hires new President/CEO

Great Valley Centeris pleased to announce that at the conclusion of an exhaustive search, it has selected Dr. Benjamin T. Duran as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We look forward to the outstanding leadership experience in the Central Valley Ben Duran brings to the Great Valley Center organization,” said Kathy McKim, GVC board chair and AT&T’s Vice President of External Affairs. ”We’re confident he will have tremendous impact on the region.”

Although Duran, a lifetime valley resident, officially begins his new position January 1, 2013, he has already begun meeting with GVC staff and helping the organization settle into its new offices in Modesto.

“The chance to lead the Great Valley Center came at the perfect time in my life," Duran said. He served as Superintendent/President of Merced Community College District from January 1998 until retiring in December 2011. "This new position gives me the opportunity to continue to serve communities in the Valley and to help create the next generation of leaders here in the Valley."

Duran says he was drawn to the position because of the work the Great Valley Center has done in the past and the quality of the team. “We look forward to joining Valley communities and local policy makers to bring positive change to our region,” he added.

Duran will lead the GVC at a pivotal time in the organization’s tenure. Going forward, the GVC has refined its mission to better focus its leadership programs on the needs of the Central Valley’s Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties.

Duran earned a BA degree from California State University, Stanislaus, an MA degree from Chapman University and a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California. He spent 40 years as an educator in Merced County, first as a high school teacher in Le Grand, before becoming vice principal of Le Grand High School from 1976 to 1980 and then assistant director of the county’s migrant education program. He returned to Le Grand in 1983 as superintendent of schools, a position he held until 1991 when he became vice president for administrative services at Merced College.

During his career at Merced College, he chaired the Community College League of California’s 2010 Commission on the Future, and served as president of both the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chief Executive Officers Board of Directors and the CCC Economic and Workforce Development Program Advisory Committee.

His community involvement has included serving on the Greater Merced High Speed Rail Committee, Merced County Regional Arts Council, Mercy Medical Center Board of Directors, Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, UC Merced Foundation Board of Directors, CSU Stanislaus Community Advisory Board, GVC Board of Directors, and the Center for Public Policy Studies.

Forum set to explore crucial role of education in the San Joaquin Valley

What is happening currently within the education community of the San Joaquin Valley? What are the challenges and opportunities? What does the future of higher education look like and how does it play a pivotal role in the Valley and in California?

An interactive forum on education and how it will shape the future of the San Joaquin Valley and the state as a whole will be held on Thursday, November 8. Topics will cover a broad range including life-long learning and professional development; the current state of K-12 education, and the future of and access to higher education.

The event is sponsored by California Watch (a project of the Center of Investigative Reporting); University of California, Merced; Campaign for College Opportunity; Merced Sun Star, and Merced College. All the conversations are open to the community and public engagement is encouraged.

The first panel discussions will be held 2 – 4:30 p.m. and will cover the state of K-12 education; developing pathways to sustainable futures and the role education plays in economic development in the San Joaquin Valley. These conversations will be held at Merced College’s Business Resource Business Center, 3600 M Street in Merced.

The second part of this event will begin with a reception held 5 – 6 p.m. at UC Merced’s California Room, 5200 Lake Road in Merced. The reception will be followed by two panel discussions held 6 – 7:30 p.m., beginning with a conversation on the return on investment for education in California and key findings from the report “California’s Economic Payoff: Investing in College Access & Completion.”

A second panel will follow with a discussion on the dynamics facing colleges in California and how UC Merced and other colleges in the San Joaquin Valley provide an opportunity to continue to invest in education as a key driver for the state.

Speakers will include Hans Johnson, a senior fellow and Bren policy fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, Phil Bronstein, executive chair of the board of the Center for Investigative Reporting, and Kim H. Tran, policy director for the Campaign for College Opportunity.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the changing face of education and how it is a deciding factor in our Valley’s future. To register to attend click here. More details, including maps and parking information, will follow your confirmation of attendance. Questions may directed to Kristin Crawford at kcrawford@cironline.org.

Blueprint Planners’ Toolkit to be discussed at next Valley Futures Forum

The next Valley Futures Forum will focus on the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Planners’ Toolkit, an online resource developed specifically to address strategic planning for long-range growth of Valley cities and counties.  The Forum will be held on Thursday, October 18, 5 – 6:30 p.m. in Forum 102 on the East Campus of Modesto Junior College. The Forum is free and open to the public.

The Toolkit was developed several years ago as part of the implementation of the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Planning Process. The Toolkit provides a comprehensive resource for Valley planners, community members, and decision-makers, and it includes tools to address planning challenges, and facilitate change by incorporating Blueprint principles and concepts into local plans, policies, ordinances, and processes. Used over time, the tools can promote patterns of growth and development that preserve open space and farmland, maintain resources for future generations, enhance distinct communities, and provide more travel choices.

The presenter will be Ted Holzem, Senior Project Manager with Mintier Harnish, who served as the principal design and content manager for the Planners’ Toolkit and is the current Toolkit administrator. Ted will provide guidance on how to use the Toolkit’s collective ideas, resources and planning tools and instigate change in community planning.

Ted has been a planner in both the public and private sectors since 2001. He specializes in land use planning, public policy, planning law, public outreach and meeting facilitation, and management of multi-disciplinary consulting teams. He has managed many types of planning projects, such as regional plans, general plans, specific plans, climate action plans, and municipal services reviews.

Ted has worked with a diverse array of clients, from rural agricultural counties and small rural communities to large urban cities. A native of Tulare County, he has focused on planning projects throughout the San Joaquin Valley for over a decade. Ted is also a specialist in climate change and sustainability policy, which he has addressed in planning documents and as a panelist at local, state, and national conferences.

You are invited to attend this informative presentation on October 18!

Connecting Californians for Reform summit offered at the Great Valley Center via Skype

The American Leadership Forum and Reviving California invite you to the 4th Annual Community Summit - Connecting Californians for Reform.  Join regional leaders, community members, students, journalist and elected officials across the state on Friday, October 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in on of seven locations statewide that are hosting the Summit simultaneously via Skype.

In Modesto, participants will gather in the Community Room at the Great Valley Center, 201 Needham Street, to hear topic experts discuss specific ballot measures and how their outcomes will affect democracy in California. Presentations will be followed by interactive small group dialogues with the opportunity to share highlights between venues. Dejeune Shelton, Senior Fellow with the Great Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum, will moderate the Modesto session.
“This is the second year we’ve incorporated Skype technology to connect disparate regions around the state,” said Anu Natarajan, Program Director for Reviving California. “Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype in the past year has enabled us to not only harness Skype technology, but also Microsoft’s evolving technology platforms for civic engagement.”

Featured Summit presenters include:

• Betty Yee, Board member, California Board of Equalization
• Joe Mathews, Contributing Writer, LA Times; Editor, Zócalo Public Square; Senior Fellow, New American Foundation; Co-author, California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It
• Yolie Flores, President & CEO, Communities for Teaching Excellence & former board member of the Los Angeles Unified School District
• Mike Genest, Chairman, Capitol Matrix Consulting & former Director,
• California Department of Finance
• Bob Brownstein, Policy Director, Working Partnerships USA & ALF Senior Fellow
• Michele Siqueiros, Executive Director, Campaign for College Opportunity

The Summit is free and open to the public. Although there is no charge, space is limited, so participants must pre-register. To register for the Modesto location, contact Linda Hoile at the Great Valley Center, 209-522-5103 ext. 140 or email linda@greatvalley.org. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m. and the program starts promptly at 9 a.m.

This year’s event features a social media sharing section in which the public is encouraged to use the Twitter hashtag #CALReform to Tweet questions and comments prior to the Summit. Day-of participants will be asked to do the same, in addition to sharing photos and highlights via twitter.com/revivingca and facebook.com/revivingca. For more information go to www.alfsv.org

Reviving California is a project of the Common Good Collaborative, powered by American Leadership Forum – Silicon Valley. Since 2008, Reviving California has played an active role in the state’s fiscal and governance reform efforts by focusing on educating and engaging the diverse population of Silicon Valley. The goal is to replace political rhetoric with authentic conversations, move beyond the blame game, reward integrity in the political process and create the conditions for individuals, networks and communities to engage in democracy. For more information, visit www.alfsv.org/revivingca

Summit Partners include the three American Leadership Forum chapters - Silicon Valley, Mountain Valley (Sacramento region) and Great Valley (Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties); Coro Center for Civic Leadership-San Francisco and University of San Francisco; Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good; Inland Empire Economic Partnership; San Diego Foundation and UC San Diego, and Southern California Leadership Network.

ALF’s “Hillside Garden Party” fundraiser set for October 6

The American Leadership Forum – Great Valley Chapter invites you to the 2012 Hillside Garden Party – an evening of captivating conversation, wonderful wines and brews, and delectable delights by Greens Catering. The fundraiser will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 6, and individual tickets are on sale for $75. It will be held at the same venue as last year’s party, in a beautiful, countryside garden setting in Modesto.

The focus of this year’s event is to raise scholarship funds for leaders of non-profits and smaller organizations who do not have the means to participate in ALF without financial support. Scholarship funds raised last year are currently supporting several participants in the ALF-Great Valley Chapter’s Class III, which began this year-long transformational leadership development program in June.

Multi-level sponsorship opportunities are also available, from $500 for a “Supporting” sponsorship” which includes admission of ten guests, up to a “Uniting” sponsorship for $10,000 that includes admission for 20 guests.

Purchase your tickets or sponsorship today and help us unite and strengthen our valley’s leaders to address our region’s challenges and serve the public good.

Click here to download information on sponsorships and purchasing tickets. For more information contact Kathy Halsey at kathy@greatvalley.org or (209) 522-5103, ext. 109.

Class III begins transformational leadership development journey

The challenges facing the San Joaquin Valley are daunting. We struggle with high rates of unemployment, housing foreclosures, obesity and asthma, as well as low average household income and low educational attainment levels. The rapid population expansion of the last decade has placed increasing pressures on transportation, air quality and water resources. We must address these challenges and many others to effect a positive outcome for our communities.

Solving these complex problems, however, is further complicated by diverse ways of thinking and approaches to dealing with issues. Our culture, how and where we are raised, and our life experiences all effect how we think and solve problems. Unfortunately, these differences many times get in the way of collaborative problem solving. The need for inclusive, effective and cooperative leadership between government, business, education and non-profit community leaders has never been greater.

To address these needs the Great Valley Center joined with community leaders in 2008 to begin the American Leadership Forum (ALF) Great Valley Chapter, understanding that ALF recognizes, respects and embraces these differences and uses them to promote collaborative problem solving within and among communities.

The chapter seeks to build a diverse network of leaders in San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties who are equipped and motivated to address our area’s pressing issues.

Over the course of a year, ALF Fellows come together for an intense, national-caliber training on how to solve problems and work together to tackle challenges facing our communities and region. Most participants say it is life-changing and the single best program for developing and refining their leadership skills.

A key factor in class selection is representation from a broad spectrum of organizations, backgrounds and cultures – involving a cross section of leaders who might not ordinarily interact. This builds understanding and valuing of diversity and creates bridges of relationship and trust within the network of leadership.

How does our region benefit?

Led by ALF national facilitators Kevin McCarthy and Kristen Jacobsen, the 22 leaders selected as Fellows for Class III began their year-long, leadership development journey in June. During their training they will establish relationships built on trust and cooperation; be armed with new skills in dialogue, systems thinking and community leadership for taking on complex issues; learn to appreciate diverse views, and identify resources to turn dialogue into action.

The ALF program strives to motivate “servant leaders” to a lifetime of active public engagement and to become catalysts for positive community change. In addition to their leadership positions on the job, the Senior Fellows serve as board members and as volunteers in a variety of community organizations – spreading their new insights and skills out to their communities.


The transformation that Fellows report taking place within them during the program eventually translates in to transformational change for our region.