How Does the Central Valley Harness Its Power?

Co-presented by Zócalo Public Square, Fresnoland, and Arte Américas, with generous support from The James B. McClatchy Foundation, Central Valley Community Foundation, and The James Irvine Foundation

Moderated by Danielle Bergstrom, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Fresnoland

As an economic powerhouse, California charges forward. The benefits, though, are distributed and felt unequally, especially in places like the Central Valley. Here, thousands of farmworkers feed the nation while facing food insecurity themselves, rural communities struggle to access adequate health care, the housing market is in an affordability crisis, and neighborhood inequality persists. But the region is changing: with steady population growth, reformed labor union legislation, the promise of California High-Speed Rail, and burgeoning arts and culture scenes. And it’s shifting California power dynamics with it, away from the coastal cities and into the Valley’s major cities like Fresno, Bakersfield, Merced, and Stockton.

How are leaders in Fresno harnessing these changes to transform their region for the better? And what does it mean for the Central Valley and for California? 

This panel conversation during Arte América’s “Arte, Pero Later” evening hours will be moderated by Fresnoland founder and editor-in-chief Danielle Bergstrom and will feature affordable housing developer Betsy McGovern-Garcia, Fresno County Public Health Director Joe Prado, and “Shaan Punjab Di” radio host and City of Fresno planning commissioner Gurdeep Shergill.

Stick around for a reception with light bites and beverages to continue the conversation with one another.

This program is part of California 175 — What Connects California?, a suite of free Zócalo events and essays, bringing together leaders and thinkers from all walks of life to envision California’s next 175 years.