|
Central Valley Funders' Tour: March 2-3, 2009
The Central Valley Funders' tour gave the nation's leading funders an opportunity to meet diverse grassroots, community-based organizations leading innovation and change in the fastest growing region of California. The tour was a collaboration between the Women's Foundation and other partner grantmaking organizations and it is just the beginning of a movement to increase the visibiliy of grassroots leaders in the Central Valley and increse the investments made in this region.
The tour showcased model practices in building healthy communities within a diverse physical, social and economic landscape that spans mega-dairies, labor camps and prisons. The successful work highlighted includes: development of strategic partnerships among unlikely allies, grassroots leadership and networking, community-driven advocacy and small business innovation to improve community health.
Low-income, underserved communities in the Central Valley are collaborating across the region to create innovative policy and systems change solutions to a range of issues including:
| extreme asthma and poverty rates | hazardous waste disposal | pesticide exposure|
| obesity | poor water and air quality | inequitable distribution of public funds|
| substandard housing | environmental impacts on reproductive health |
Central Valley Funders' Tour Stops
Day 1: March 2, 2009
Bakersfield, CA
Overview of the tour and introduction to the Central Valley
Greenfield, East Bakersfield
Walking tour of the community to highlight environmental approach to obesity prevention
Presenters: California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.; Central CA Regional Obesity Prevention
Lamont, Weedpatch and Arvin
Stops will feature issues faced by under resourced, unincorporated towns (‘colonias’) in the Central Valley, including community-driven efforts to secure regional equity, labor camps and air quality and access to health services including reproductive health services and family planning
Presenters: Dolores Huerta Foundation; California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.; Central Valley Air Quality Coalition
Wasco (via Shafter)
Stops to highlight complex issues impacting the region, including exporting sewage sludge from LA, impact of mega-dairies, prison industrial complex in the Central Valley and proposed new ethanol plants
Presenters: Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment; Association of Irritated Residents; California Prison Moratorium Project
Delano
Evening Panel and Reception at 40 Acres and Agbayani Village
Speakers: Dolores Huerta (confirmed) and Hugo Morales/Radio Bilingue (invited)
Day 2: March 3, 2009
Kettleman City via Alpaugh
Stops featured communities where the environmental justice movement was launched in California, particularly ongoing battles with siting of hazardous waste facilities
Presenters: Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment; Greenaction; El Pueblo
Tooleville
Stop will highlight a range of issues, including water crises in rural communities, pesticides, environmental impacts to reproductive health, and substandard housing conditions
Presenters: Community Water Center; California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.; El Quinto Sol; Californians for Pesticide Reform
Plainview
Celebration of recent win regarding pesticide drift, the role of biomonitoring and community-based research to move policy
Presenters: El Quinto Sol, Californians for Pesticide Reform
Bakersfield
Tour Advisory Committee Members
Bradley Angel, Greenaction
Camila Chavez, Dolores Huerta Foundation
Susana DeAnda, Community Water Center
Teresa DeAnda, Californians for Pesticide Reform
Caroline Farrell, Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment
Debbie Reyes, Central California Environmental Justice Network and California Prison Moratorium Project
Phoebe Seaton, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
Supporters
The California Endowment
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
The California Wellness Foundation
Fresno Regional Foundation
Health and Environmental Funders Network
Grantmakers Concerned With Immigrants and Refugees
Hispanics in Philanthropy
Southern California Grantmakers
Northern California Grantmakers
| 
.jpg)