A Funder’s Tour to Cultivate a Healthier Central Valley
September 21 – 23, 2010
$450
Register now!

What You Will Learn
Sponsors
Tour Program

Do you want to be a more strategic and innovative grantmaker whose investments have an impact today and on generations of Californians to come?

Then please join us for a two-day immersion in the challenges and opportunities of the California’s Central Valley.

As strategic funders, we can’t afford to ignore the Central Valley of California. With some of the world’s richest farmland supplying more than 25 percent of America’s food, this region is also undergoing immense change. Lightning-paced development and a ballooning population are putting a severe strain on an already fragile water, road and health infrastructures.

Furthermore, the promise of the Central Valley is not shared by all:

• Unemployment in the Central Valley is among the highest in the country.
• One in six children in the region has asthma—three times the national rate.
• The Central Valley has the highest infant mortality rate in the state.

Yet the region is often overlooked by federal and philanthropic dollars.

Despite the challenges, there is great possibility and potential in the Valley due to a flourishing grassroots movement.

Join legendary activist, Dolores Huerta, and the Women’s Foundation of California on September 21 through 23 and see for yourself. On Sowing Change 2010, you will:

• Meet dynamic community leaders.
• Participate in strategic conversation with funding colleagues.
• Share best practices for developing effective partnerships among unlikely allies to build grassroots leadership and fund community-driven advocacy and small business innovation that improves community health and economic well-being.

The result? You will gain the knowledge and connections that will help you make investments that advance social equity, improve health and promote authentic leadership in California.

Join the Women’s Foundation of California, colleagues in philanthropy, individual donors and grassroots advocates for this interactive exploration of California’s beautiful Central Valley.

What You Will Learn

The Sowing Change tour provides a unique opportunity to meet the region’s most influential community-based leaders who are developing innovative solutions and leading cutting-edge work on such interconnected issues as:

• Women’s leadership in community and policy settings
• Immigrant rights and civic participation
• Movement of goods, transportation and land use
• Sustainable agriculture 
• Healthy lifestyles and healthy communities
• A green economy appropriate for rural communities 
• Reproductive health and environmental toxins
• Safe and clean air and water
• Prison reform

"The Sowing Change 2009 tour was very useful for me as a public health researcher. The tour provided a new geographical orientation in the state of California, which enhanced my perception for location, organizations and recognizable issues and thereby is enhancing our grantmaking framework."
-Martha Soledad Vela Acosta
Program Officer
Kresge Foundation

"During Sowing Change 2009, we saw the evidence of solid investments in the San Joaquin Valley that includes the work of a new generation of grassroots leaders. I was impressed with and inspired by the young, smart, accomplished organizers, particularly Latinas. The Valley will be better for it."
- Hugo Morales
Director
The California Endowment

Sowing Change 2010
September 21 - 23
Price: $450
Fee includes meals and all tour stops. Hotel not included.

Sponsors

Fresno Regional Foundation Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrans and Refugees Rosenberg Foundation Southern California Edison

Tentative Tour Information and Program
Watch video from last year's tour.
Prior to the tour, a final program schedule will be sent to all registrants.

Program highlights include: 



Tuesday, September 21
Registration starts at 5:00 PM in Burbank
Community Event at 40 Acres (6-8:30 PM)

 







Wednesday, September 22,2010 
Full-day Tour (9AM - 6PM)
Stop 1: Shafter and/or Wasco:
Transforming the San Joaquin Valley's Economy: moving from traditional economic drivers (conventional agriculture and prisons) to explore the Green Economy through a rural lens.
Lunch
Stop 2: Pixley
Community-driven solutions to obesity and chronic disease.
En Route (crossing over from Tulare to Kings County)
Pollution as the by-product of goods movement and of industries geared to serve consumers mainly outside the Valley
Stop 4: Kettleman City
Immigrant mothers mobilizing to protect their families in the most visible environmental justice struggle in the country.

Night 2: Funder-only dinner and conversation
Drive to Visalia; overnight stay in local hotel.

Thursday, September 23
Half-day tour (8:30-3:00PM)
Visalia: Breakfast and Panel Discussion: Valley leaders reflect on current priorities and opportunities for investment.
Stop 1: Seville
Lack of visibility and voice of unincorporated communities results in dilapidated infrastructure and disparities in governmental services 
Stop 2: Arvin, Lamont and Weedpatch
Neighborhood organizing as primary strategy to build civic participation of immigrants

3:00 pm Bus departs for LAX

Register Online Now!
For more information, please contact Shailushi Ritchie at 415.321.2053 or shailushir@womensfoundca.org