Assessing The Community Well-Being of The Great Valley Center - 2006

Great Val l e y Ce nte r
2 01 Ne e dham St re e t, Mode s to, CA 9535 4

Te l : 2 0 9 / 5 2 2 - 5103 Fax: 2 0 9 / 5 2 2 - 5116
www. g reatval l e y. org
i nf o@g reatval l e y. org
Supporting the economic, social, and environmental
well-being of Californias Great Central Valley
A s s e s s i n g t h e R e g i o n V i A i n d i c A t o R s
Community Wel l -Being
(Second Edition)
The State of the
Great central valley
of California
With a special centerpiece
essay by Harvard Univesity
Professor Charles Ogletree Jr.
ABOUT THE GREAT VALLEY CENTER
Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center is a nonprofit
organization working in partnership with the University of
California, Merced to support the economic, social and
environmental well-being of California's Great Central Valley.

WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS
The Great Valley Center
201 Needham Street
Modesto, California 95354
(209) 522-5103
info@greatvalley.org
www.greatvalley.org

REPORT AUTHORS
Jonathan K. London, Ph.D.
Center for the Study of Regional Change
Department of Human and Community Development
University of California, Davis
Samantha L. Sommer
Graduate Research Assistant
University of California, Davis

Dear Friends:
It is our pleasure to present the second edition of Assessing the Region Via Indicators Community
Well-Being, an update of a report first released in 2002.

This is the eighth report in a series of regional studies measuring conditions in Californias fastest grow-
ing region, the Great Central Valley. In annual installments, the Great Valley Center publishes a cycle
of five reports that assess five topic areas: The Economy; The Environment; Community Well-Being;
Public Health and Access to Care; and Education and Youth Preparedness.
"Community Well-Being" is a concept meant to recognize the social and cultural standing of Valley resi-
dents, their family, institutions and communities. It indicates a necessity to consider all the aspects that
shape quality of life beyond the usual focus on economic data. This edition of documents indicators
first introduced in 2002 and adds some new ones. These indicators, which underlie and correlate with
many of the other assessments of regional well-being, are grouped in sections describing civic engage-
ment, public safety, community participation, organizational capacity, and youth well-being.
Community Well-Being was written and researched by Univeristy of California, Davis' Jonathan K.
London, Ph. D. and Graduate Research Assistant Samantha Sommer. Their hard work and dedication to
detail can be seen throughout the report.
Special support for this edition was provided by Kaiser Permanente and Citibank. The Great Valley
Center thanks them for their ongoing support of this series of regional tracking and indices of progress.
Sincerely,
Carol Whiteside
President
Supporting the economic, social, and environmental
well-being of Californias Central Valley
201 Needham Street
Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: (209) 522-5103
Fax: (209) 522-5116
www.greatvalley.org
The STaTe of The GreaT CenTral Valley
Communi Ty Well-Bei nG
Assessing the Region Via Indicators
(Second Edition)
What ar e I ndi cat or s ?
Indicators are powerful tools for measuring and
tracking overall quality of life and for comparing
performance against goals or benchmarks.
They help communities monitor conditions
by providing a baseline against which future
changes can be measured. Indicators help to
answer important questions such as how well
the economy is functioning, how the schools
are doing, or whether air and water quality are
improving or worsening.
What ar e Good I ndi cat or s ?
A good indicator has several characteristics:
It addresses a fundamental component of long-
term regional or community well-being.
It is clear and understandable.
It can be tracked; is statistically measured
at regular intervals; and comes from a reliable
source.
It is easy to communicate in concept as well as
in terms of its value and importance to the
region.
It measures an outcome rather than an input.
About t hi s Repor t :
Since 1999, the Great Valley Center has produced
an annual report in the five-part State of the Great
Central Valley series. The themes are updated in
five-year increments. The current publication is
a follow-up of the first Community Well-Being
report released in 2002. Other reports in the series
cover The Economy; The Environment; Education;
and Public Health.
All reports in the series and an online database of
indicators from each report are available at www.
greatvalley.org/indicators.
How t o Us e t hi s Repor t :
The data presented are a snapshot of information
providing tools for measuring the community
well-being of the Valley. The report offers data,
analysis, and structure which can be used as a
benchmark for assessing the progress of the Valley,
providing valuable comparative information at the
county, subregional, regional, and state levels.
The indicators do not present the entire picture
of conditions or issues in the Valley, but they may
service as a guide and model for further research
and dialogue. As with any indicators effort, the
data should be used with the understanding that
there is much more information available to create
a more complete, and sometimes more local,
assessment. In many cases, additional information
is available online through the Great Valley
Center's website or from the agencies and data
sources listed in the report.
r e C o m m e n d a T i o n S
Addr es s per s i s t ent and gr owi ng di s par i t i es i n t he Cent r al Val l ey
The resources and opportunities of the region are unevenly divided between its residents, with gaps
based on race and ethnicity. Pro-active and systemic approaches are needed, including attention to
racial and ethnic disparities in education, criminal justice, access to the Internet and digital information,
and social organizations. Support and development of leadership by historically under-represented
groups is an important first step.

I ncr eas e nonpr of i t capaci t y i n t he Val l ey
Central Valley nonprofit organizations tend to be smaller and less well-funded than those in the state
as a whole, the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. As providers of essential social
services and caretakers of community support networks, nonprofit organizations are an integral part
of the region's fabric. Without adequate funding, staffing and necessary resources to address the
region's many challenges, area nonprofits are stretched and unable to keep up with the growing
demands placed upon them. Increased funding that is longer-term, and from local and regional
sources, can help address this gap.
Yout h i n t he r egi on mus t r ecei v e addi t i onal s uppor t and oppor t uni t i es
Although declining, drop-out rates, juvenile arrests, and gang violence prevent young people from
achieving their potential in a safe healthly environment. Programs that provide vulnerable youth
with high-quality services, leadership opportunities, and mentorships are needed across the region.
Leadership and empowerment opportunities that promote a youth voice in the improvement of their
communities can increase the well-being of both youth and communities.
Soci al net wor k or gani z at i ons oper at i ng " bel ow t he r adar " s houl d be s uppor t ed
Because of their unofficial status, informal neighborhood, ethnic, and activity-based clubs, associations,
and teams are rarely documented in a regular and publicly accessible fashion. Nonetheless they play a
vital role in promoting cohesion and solidarity within, across and beyond the region, especially for those
populations unaffiliated with the larger formal social organizations. Additional in-depth research is need-
ed to better understand the nature, prevalence, and value of such informal organization in the Central
Valley.
Bui l d on i nnov at i ons and nur t ur e s ucces s f ul model s i n addr es s i ng di s par i t i es
Support forward-looking programs such as 4-H that have brought the Head-Heart-Health-Hands
approach to thousands of young people from diverse communities. The increasing number of
Latino elected officials, multiple faith-based community organizing efforts, ethnic associations, and
the growing reach and depth of ethnic media should all be celebrated and nurtured.
1
2
3
4
5
Taken together, the indicators in this report suggest five strategies
related to civic engagement and social networks that can improve
the Great Central Valley's quality of life.
The GreaT CenTral Valley of California
Because different areas of the
Valley have different characteristics,
some data are presented by subregions
used in the first edition:
Sacramento Valley
(Butte, Colusa,
Glenn, Shasta, and Tehama);
Sacramento Metropolitan Region
(Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, El Dorado
and Yuba);
North San Joaquin Valley
(3 countiesMerced, San Joaquin,
and Stanislaus);
South San Joaquin Valley
(5 countiesFresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Tulare).

Voter Parti ci Pati on 11
rePresentati on i n elected offi ce 12
ethni c Medi a 13
internet Usage 14
issUe Bri ef: fai th Based organi zati ons 15

Pub l i c Sa f e t y
WorkPlace di scri Mi nati on 17
hate cri Me 18
Vi olent cri Me 19
correcti onal insti tUti on PoPUlati ons 20
sUi ci de 21

communi t y Pa r t i c i P a t i on
VolUnteeri sM/nei ghBorhood inVolVeMent 25
inVolVeMent i n reli gi oUs congregati ons 26
and organi zati ons
centerPi ece essay: charles oglegtree Jr. 23
issUe Bri ef: Mexi can hoMetoWn associ ati ons 27
or g a ni z a t i ona l ca P a c i t y
Pta 29
issUe Bri ef: coMMUni ty organi zi ng for Water 30
serVi ce clUBs (rotary) 31
PUBli c chari ti es & foUndati ons 32
laBor organi zati ons 34
arts, cUltUre & hUMani ti es organi zati ons 35
yout h We l l - be i ng
yoUth organi zati ons - 4h 37
issUe Bri ef: 4h 38

hi gh school droPoUts 39

JUVeni le arrests 41

yoUth organi zati ons -ffa 43
Data SourceS 44
TaBle of ConTenTS
ci v i c eng a g e me nt
10
Active citizen engagement is both a means and an end in a healthy democratic
society. Engagement can take many forms, from voting and holding elected
office, to staying informed on current events, to participation in public debate
for all residents. Central Valley residents do participate in the life of their
region, but disparities abound. The starkest divisions lie between citizens
and non-citizens, and even more so, between those immigrants who are
documented versus those who are undocumented.
Voter registration and actual
voting behavior for the Valley
parallels the state as a whole, while
the San Joaquin Valley continues
to lag behind the other sub-regions
of the state. Latinos in 2004
made up a similar proportion of
voters in the Central Valley as they
did in the state as a whole (19%).
However, when compared with
their proportion of the region's
population (30%), Latinos can be
seen as under-represented among
the region's voters. Latinos also lag
the general population in their self reported interest in politics.
Despite these trends, the numbers and proportion of Latinos in elected office has continued to
climb, with 13% of all elected positions in the Central Valley currently held by non-white Latinos.
This represents a remarkable 75% increase since 1999. However, Latinos are still underrepresented
in elected office as are Asians, African Americans and Native Americans in the region.
The digital divide that separates lower-income residents with less education from their wealthier
and better-educated neighbors has grown - especially when considering ethnicity. A recent
downward trend in Latinos' connection to the internet threatens to keep a significant portion of the
population out of the digital information age.
The diversity and spread of ethnic media in the Central Valley is a significant asset to the civic
life of the region. Over 100 ethnic radio, television, and print outlets provide a wide array of
programming to reflect, inform and inspire the great cultural diversity of the Valley.
Ci V i C e n G a G e me n T
c
i
v
i
c

e
n
g
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
11
Central Valley voter participation approximates the
state average but with a lower rate of participation by
non-white residents
Def i ni t i on:
Voter participation is measured as numbers of ballots
cast in the biennial November elections against the
number of people eligible to register to vote at that
time. Likely voters are registered voters who report that
they frequently vote and are interested in politics.
Why i s i t i mpor t ant ?
Voting is one of the main avenues through which
citizens can express their political will.
How ar e we doi ng?
The Central Valley's percentage of eligible voters who
registered continues to hold steady at roughly 75%,
parallel to the state percentage.
Voter participation (percentage of eligible voters who
voted) in the Central Valley has risen slightly during the
2002 and 2004 election cycles relative to the 1990s.
Participation in the 2004 election included 54% of
eligible voters).
Differences between the sub-regions of the Central
Valley remain with the North Valley and Sacramento
Metropolitan Area showing higher levels of participation
than the San Joaquin Valley. For example, in the 2004
vot e r P art i ci P at i on
presidential election, the percentages of eligible
voters who voted were 60% for the North Valley
and 62% for the Sacramento Metropolitan Area
compared to 49% for the San Joaquin Valley.
Latinos in 2004 made up a similar proportion of
voters in the Central Valley as they did in the state
as a whole (19%). However, when compared with
their proportion of the region's population (30%),
Latinos can be seen as under-represented among the
region's voters.
Latinos report a lower level of political engagement
than the general population, with 60% indicating
that they follow government and public affairs
most or some of the time (compared to 77% in
the general population and 85% for whites only),
and 46% expressing a great deal or fair amount
of interest in politics (versus 65% in the general
population.)
Source: 2004 PPIC/GVC Survey
Express great deal or fair amount of
interest in politics
Follow what is going on in government
and public affairs most or some of the time
Source: 2004 PPIC/GVC Survey
Engagement in Politics, Central Valley 2004
P
e
r
c
e
n
t

E
n
g
a
g
e
d

i
n

P
o
l
i
t
i
c
s
77%
60%
66%
46%
All Adults Latinos
2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990
% of Those Eligible to Register in the Central Valley Subregions Who Voted in
Biennial November Elections
Source: NLIHC
San Joaquin
Region
California North Valley Sacramento Region
49.4%
41.1%
36.5%
46.9%
60.4%
58.9%
54.5%
48.6%
49.5%
47.8%
47.0%
41.3%
54.7%
52.6%
50.7%
44.3%
47.7%
44.4%
41.4%
37.8%
54.4%
53.6%
51.9%
46.2%
43.9%
40.2%
36.1%
34.3%
62.8%
57.0%
48.6%
Source: California Secretary of State
c
i
v
i
c

e
n
g
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
12
75% gain in the number of Latino elected officials
since 1999; but vast ethnic underrepresentation
continues relative to their share of the population.
Def i ni t i on:
Using self-identification and surname-based systems
to compile lists, national organizations track elected
representation of historically under-represented
groups. Elected positions include officials in federal,
state, county, and municipal governments, as well
as school boards, water boards, and other special
districts.
The Central Valley is diverse and is growing ever
more so. Elected representation reflecting the
region's racial and ethnic diversity is an indication
that all segments of Valley communities are
enfranchised in the public policy decision-making
process.
How ar e we doi ng?
There is still much that can be done to prepare,
engage, and support qualified representatives with a
variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds in elected
and other leadership positions in the region.
Latinos/Hispanics hold 13% of all elected positions
in the Central Valley. This represents a remarkable
75% increase since 1999, far beyond the increase in
Latino population in the region.
There is still a vast under-representation of elected
Latino officials relative to Latino's percentage of the
total population. In counties such as Madera and
Colusa, there are fewer than 5 Latino elected officials
despite percentages of Latino residents nearing 50%.
In contrast, counties such as Fresno, Tulare and Kern
have large numbers of Latino elected officials.
Latino representation is strong and has increased
greatly in certain bodies such as school boards and
city councils. However, it is still very low on water
boards. For example, of the 461 water districts
in the Central Valley with a total elected board
membership of approximately 2300, only 4 Districts
have Latino representation for a total of 11 District
Board Members.
Asian-Americans and African-Americans hold
approximately 1% each of the elected seats in the
Central Valley. While not as disproportionate as
Latinos, both groups occupy elected offices at rates
far below their proportion of the total population.
re P re s e nt at i on i n e l e ct e d of f i ce
c
i
v
i
c

e
n
g
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
Source: National Association of Elected Latino Offcials
Joint Center for Political Economic Studies
National Asian Pacifc American Political Almanac
Source: National Association of Elected Latino Offcials
Population Elected into Office
American Indian Black Asian/
Pacific Islander
Hispanic/
Latino
White
Source: US Census Bureau
Population versus Elected Representation
2005
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

o
f

P
o
p
u
l
a
t
i
o
n

v
s
.

E
l
e
c
t
e
d

R
e
p
r
e
s
e
n
t
a
t
i
o
n
84%
27%
13% 7%
1%
4%
1.3% 1% 0%
58%
2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Latinos in Elected Office in the Central Valley
Source: US Census Bureau
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

L
a
t
i
n
o

E
l
e
c
t
e
d

O
f
f
i
c
i
a
l
s
183 188 184
251
289
308 322
c
i
v
i
c

e
n
g
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
13

Ethnic Central Valley print and electronic media
predominates in South San Joaquin Valley.
Def i ni t i on:
Ethnic media are any mode of communication (print,
radio, television) that serves and/or reports on events
of interest to certain cultural populations.
Thomas Jefferson is reported to have said that faced
with a choice of a government without newspapers,
or newspapers without government, he would
choose the latter. That is, the media plays a central
and necessary role in a democracy - providing for
informed decision-making and civic life. Given the
wide diversity of cultures within the Central Valley
- literally from around the world - a media to serve
these populations must also be multi-cultural and in
many cases, multi-lingual. Newspapers, radio, and
television stations that serve and reflect the unique
perspectives, needs, and aspirations of the many
peoples of the Central Valley is an important measure
of the region's civic health.
e t hni c me di a
How ar e we doi ng?
The Central Valley has a vibrant and wide-ranging
ethnic media with publishing and broadcasting that
represent the breadth of the region's cultures. One
hundred and six ethnic media outlets range from the
"Hmong, Cambodian, Armenian, Language, Indian,
South Asian, Hispanic/Latin American, Vietnamese,
Pan Asian, Laotian, Korean, Japanese, Asian,
Ethnicity, Khmer, Punjabi" of KBIF "The Central
Valley's Asian Voice," to Lusitania News out of Tracy,
to KUFW FM Radio Campesina 90.5 in Visalia.
The South San Joaquin Valley has by far the greatest
number of ethnic media outlets in the Valley
(mainly out of Fresno), followed by the Sacramento
Metropolitan region and the North San Joaquin
Valley. In the North Valley, only Chico's Le Gran
and New Hmong Voice radio stations provide ethnic
content.
Latino/Spanish language media outlets comprise the
majority of ethnic media in the Valley (55%). Asian
outlets offer 19% of the ethnic choices, followed by
multi-ethnic outlets (10%), African American (9%),
and European-American (7%).
South San Joaquin North San Joaquin Sacramento Metro North Valley
Ethnic Media Outlets
2005
Source: NAM Directory Totals. 2005
2
31
19
897
54
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

E
t
h
n
i
c

M
e
d
i
a

O
u
t
l
e
t
s
Multi-
Ethnic
European African
American
Hispanic/
Latino
Asian
Ethnic Media Cultures
2005
Source: NAM Directory Totals. 2005
19%
55%
9%
7%
10%
c
i
v
i
c

e
n
g
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
14

Reported use of the Internet is declining for Latinos
in the Central Valley.
Def i ni t i on:
The Central Valley Survey annually assesses the
extent to which residents report their own use of the
Internet.
The Internet is increasingly used as a civic and
community participation tool. Information
important to every citizen and resident including
voter information; candidate platforms; extensive
election results and public meeting announcements;
agendas; and minutes are easily and quickly located
on the World Wide Web. Because of this greater
access to information and the potential for including
the Internet as one tool for voter-registration
and voting, the digital divide could have citizen-
participation implications in addition to affecting job
opportunities and other aspects of quality of life.
How ar e we doi ng?
Over the period of 1999 and 2006, there has been an
overall increase in Central Valley internet usage from
54% to 66% of adults, although progress has stalled
since 2002.
An ethnic digital divide that seemed to decrease in
2002 appears to be increasing again. Latino adults
reporting internet usage increased from 38% in 1999
to 54% in 2002 but then fell to its lowest reported
level of 36% in 2006. This contrasts with non-
i nt e rne t Us age
Hispanic white adults whose reported internet usage
rose steadily from 57% in 1999 to 71% in 2002 to
77% in 2006. This results in an ethnic digital divide
of 31% in 2006 compared with 17% in 2002.
Class-based differences such as level of household
income, college education, and home-ownership also
correlate to disparate rates of internet usage, and
owning or using a computer.
In terms of training the next generation, Central
Valley public schools fare well relative to the state as
a whole with its ratios of students per computer and
students per classroom with internet improving over
time.
2006 2002 1999
Internet Usage by Ethnicity
1999-2006
Source: California Department of Education
Latino
Usage
Total Internet
Usage
Non-Hispanic
White Usage
38%
54%
36%
54%
67%
66%
53%
71%
77%
15
I SSUE BRI EF 1
Faith-Based Community Organizing
In addition to providing a sense of
meaning and spiritual fellowship for
members, faith institutions also serve as a
powerful basis of collective action.

The history of the civil rights movement,
the sanctuary movement, and other causes
in the United States have been greatly
strengthened by faith communities. In the Central Valley, there is a
large and growing sector of faith-based community organizing efforts.

Of the 19 California affiliates of People Improving Communities
through Organizing (PICO), a network of faith-based organizations, 6
are in the Central Valley covering Sutter to Fresno Counties. Founded
in 1972 by Father John Baumann, a Jesuit priest who had learned
community organizing Chicago, PICO brings together Catholic,
Mainline Protestant, Evangelical, Non-Denominational, Jewish, Muslim
and Buddhist congregations together to translate faith into action on
a host of issues including health care, education reform, affordable
housing and immigration rights. Also active in the Central Valley are
affiliates of the Industrial Areas Foundation, a faith-based network
founded by Saul Alinsky in Chicago, and several projects associated with
the American Friends Service Committee including Proyecto
Campesino and Pan Valley Institute, both of which work with
immigrant communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

In addition to these organizing efforts, there are dozens of faith-based
social service organizations and congregation projects addressing issues
of homelessness, hunger, domestic violence, and other pressing social
issues. themselves, they also acknowledge that such changes are long-
term processes of relationship and trust building as the community
comes to view the program as "their own."

For More Information:

PICO California: www.picocalifornia.org/
Industrial Areas Foundation: www.industrialareasfoundation.org/iafabout/about.htm
American Friends Service Committee
Pan Valley Institute: www.afsc.org/pacificmtn/fresno.htm
Proyecto Campesino: www.afsc.org/pacificmtn/visalia.htm

David Campbell, Eric Glunt, Shel Bockman, Judith Little, Max Nieman, and Barbara W.
Sirotnik (2003) Evaluating the California Community and Faith Based Initiative.
www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/events/2003_spring_research_conference/
campbell.pdf
16
Crime, and even the fear of crime can cause a community to shrink
away from itself, rupturing the trust that otherwise might connect
individuals and groups.
Throughout the Central Valley, violent crime rates have fallen since 1990 reflecting a
state-wide trend. However,
over the past decade and
a half, the Central Valley
has lost standing relative
to California as a whole as
greater improvements were
realized in other parts of
the state.
Since 2000, the Central
Valley has shown an 11%
decrease in reported hate
crime events, a welcome
sign, but much smaller than the drop in California's decrease of 28%. Despite the overall
regional drop, hate crimes have shown slight increases in the North Valley and Southern
San Joaquin Valley.
Over 37% (60,418) of the state's 163,486 inmates are incarcerated in Central Valley
Correctional Institutions. This is up from 32% in 1999. In contrast, the Central Valley's
total population represents only 18% of the state's population, showing that the Central
Valley is taking more than double its share of inmates.
Workplace discrimination, assessed by numbers of cases filed, is decreasing in the Central
Valley as it is in the rest of California. The rate of discrimination cases for the region as a
whole has dropped 50% from 1998 to 2005 (from 2.0 cases to 1.04 cases filed per 1,000
employees), only slightly higher than the state rate of .99.
P u B l i C S a f e T y
P
U
B
l
i
c

s
a
f
e
t
Y
17

While discrimination in the workplace still occurs,
reported incidents are decreasing.
Def i ni t i on:
Discriminatory practices include bias in hiring,
promotion, job assignment, termination,
compensation, and various types of harassment. This
measure includes reported discriminatory practices
by employers based on race, religion, gender, sexual
orientation, disability, and age. Data is based on
the number of discrimination complaints filed with
the California Department of Fair Employment
and Housing from 1998 to 2000. Unreported
discrimination cannot be measured. This does not
reflect nor measure verified incidents, only complaints
and formal filings.
The workplace is one of the most integrated
community settings, as increasing numbers of
women, minorities, disabled individuals, and diverse
groups of immigrants are working together. State
and federal law provides explicit protection against
discrimination of all kinds.
Workplace behavior is a microcosm that serves as
a surrogate for broader community attitudes and
prejudice. The work environment is an important
arena for allowing people to connect across social
WorkP l ace di s cri mi nat i on
divides. Fostering workplaces that afford equal
opportunity for employment and advancement is
fundamental to the growth of succesful communities.
How ar e we doi ng?
Workplace discrimination, assessed by numbers of
cases filed, is decreasing in the Central Valley as it is
in the rest of California. The rate of discrimination
cases for the region as a whole has dropped 50%
from 1998 (from 2.0 cases to 1.04 cases filed per
1000 employees), only slightly higher than the state
rate of .99.
The North Valley has the lowest rate of cases filed
(30% less than the state as a whole) while the San
Joaquin remains 20% higher than the state as a
whole.
Sacramento County has the second highest rate
in the state (1.45 cases) following only Alameda
County (1.62 cases). Overall, the Central Valley
contains 4 of the 5 counties with the highest
workplace discrimination filing rates in the state
(Sacramento, Kings, Merced, and Yolo).
2005 2000 1999 1998
California San Joaquin Valley Sacramento Metro North Valley
Sources: Discrimination Statistics: California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
Industry Statistics: California Employment Development Department Labor Statistics Information
Workplace Discrimination per 1,000 Employees
1998-2005
1.09
.99 1.01
.67
2.45
1.83
2.09
1.13
1.84
1.78
1.68
1.20
1.47
1.41
1.35
.99
C
a
s
e
s

F
i
l
e
d

p
e
r

1
,
0
0
0

E
m
p
l
o
y
e
e
s
T
u
l
a
r
e
M
a
d
e
r
a
K
i
n
g
s
K
e
r
n
F
r
e
s
n
o
S
t
a
n
i
s
l
a
u
s
S
a
n

J
o
a
q
u
i
n
M
e
r
c
e
d
Y
o
l
o
S
a
c
r
a
m
e
n
t
o
P
l
a
c
e
r
Y
u
b
a
T
e
h
a
m
a
S
u
t
t
e
r
S
h
a
s
t
a
G
l
e
n
n
C
o
l
u
s
a
B
u
t
t
e
Workplace Discrimination per 1,000 Employees
2005
.60
.68
.19
.89
1.05
.72
.55
.67
1.48
1.23
1.45
.98
1.02
1.40
1.30
1.46
1.12
.98
C
a
s
e
s

F
i
l
e
d

p
e
r

1
,
0
0
0

E
m
p
l
o
y
e
e
s
California 0.99
Sources: Discrimination Statistics: California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
Industry Statistics: California Employment Development Department Labor Statistics Information
P
U
B
l
i
c

s
a
f
e
t
Y
18

Greater reporting and continued tracking of hate
crimes is needed.
Def i ni t i on:
Hate crimes, or bias-motivated crimes, are criminal
offenses motivated by bigotry or prejudice toward
a group or class based on race, religion, sexual
orientation, disability, ethnicity, or national origin. A
hate crime "event" indicates the occurrence of one
or more criminal offenses committed against one or
more victims by one or more suspects/perpetrators.
In short, there may be one or more suspects
involved, one or more victims targeted, and one or
more offenses involved for each event. Hate crime
statistics are not currently collected on a per-capita
basis because their reported frequency is too low to
assure accuracy as a rate based on population.
Hate crimes can incite entire communities, creating
waves of retaliation and counterretaliation. Crimes
motivated by bias can intimidate victims and
members of the victims' communities and can leave
them feeling isolated, vulnerable and unprotected.
Divisions within a community can weaken it by
limiting the establishment of broad social networks.
hat e cri me
How ar e we doi ng?
Since 2000, the Central Valley has shown an 11%
decrease in reported hate crime events, a welcome
sign, but much smaller than the drop in California's
decrease of 28%.
The two sub-regions with the highest number of
hate crime events in 2000 (Sacramento and the
Northern San Joaquin) show a decrease in events in
2004, while the Southern San Joaquin and North
Valley show small increases. For the latest data at
the city and county level, visit the state's database at
http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/pubs.php#hate.
2004 2002 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
Hate Crimes Central Valley
1996-2004
Source: RAND California; Department of Justice
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

H
a
t
e

C
r
i
m
e
s

R
e
p
o
r
t
e
d
2,262
2,178
2,172
2,195
2,231
2,150
2,208
2004 2002 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
South San Joaquin
Valley
North San Joaquin
Valley
Sacramento Region North Valley
Source: RAND California; Department of Justice
Hate Crime Events
1996-2004
34
24
17
21
32
15
39
122
66
69 70
100
65
88
42
32
35
53
57
29
34
68
59
53 52
42
39
43
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

E
v
e
n
t
s
P
U
B
l
i
c

s
a
f
e
t
Y
19

Steady decline in violent crime occuring throughout
the Central Valley since 1990, gaining relative
advantage over state lost over past decade. Gang
violence is on the increase.
Def i ni t i on:
Violent crime includes homicide, forcible rape,
robbery and aggravated assault.
Crime clearly affects a community's safety and sense
of security. Violent crime undermines a community's
quality of life by creating a climate of fear and
mistrust.
How ar e we doi ng?
Throughout the Central Valley, violent crime rates
have fallen since 1990 reflecting a state-wide trend.
Over the past decade and a half the Central Valley has
lost its standing relative to California as a whole as
greater improvements were realized in other parts of
the state.
vi ol e nt cri me
The San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento Metro
region have higher violent crime rates than the state
as a whole.
Gang-related homicides are increasing in the Central
Valley. The number of gang-related homicides has
more than doubled since 2000 (from 30 to 68), and
such crimes have also increased as a proportion of
total homicides.
While high, the proportion of gang-related
homicides to total homicides in the Central Valley
continues to be much lower (roughly half) statewide.
2004 2002 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
Violent Crimes per 100,000 People
1990-2004
Source: California Department of Justice
Sacramento
Metro
North Valley
San Joaquin
Valley
California
535
515
577
592
687
709
585
602
500
418 418
388
457
757
831
805
823
860 851
724 707
619
550
768
749
589
819
846
904
929
959
905
816
726
674
661
617
636
1048
1092
1192
1074
1007
956
853
788
692
616
632
666
603
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

V
i
o
l
e
n
t

C
r
i
m
e
s

p
e
r
1
0
0
,
0
0
0

p
e
o
p
l
e
P
U
B
l
i
c

s
a
f
e
t
Y
20

San Joaquin Valley has higher proportion of prisoners
than its population when compared to the state
average.
Def i ni t i on:
Institutionalized Population in Correctional
Institutions is a category of the Census that
encompasses persons under formally authorized,
supervised care or custody in institutions at the time
of the Census count. It includes prisons, federal
detention centers, alien detention facilities, military
stockades, local jails, and police lockups.
Institutionalized people and released felons are
unable to act in the full capacity of community
member and citizen. Prisons often shape the
character of the surrounding community. Families of
prisoners who relocate to be near the facility create
demand for services and impact county government
resources.
How ar e we doi ng?
The Central Valley contains 12 of the state's 22
correctional institutions. Ten of the institutions are
located in the San Joaquin Valley.
Over 37% (60,418) of the state's 163,486 inmates
are incarcerated in Central Valley correctional
institutions. This is up from 32% in 1999. In
contrast, the Central Valley's total population
corre ct i onal i ns t i t Ut i on P oP Ul at i ons
represents only 18% of the state's population, (up
from 16% in 2000), showing that the Central Valley
is taking more than double its share of inmates.
The population of prisoners from the San Joaquin
Valley grew twice as fast as the region's general
adult population (87% compared to 39%)
between 1990 and 2005.
1

The San Joaquin Valley contributions to the state's
prison population increased from 11% to 14%
between 1990 and 2002. In comparison, Los
Angeles County's share of prison admissions
dropped from 39% to 26% during this same period.
2
Percentage of institutionalized persons as a
proportion of total population has decreased
throughout the Central Valley (notably in the San
Joaquin Valley, from 2% in 2000 to 1.4% in 2004).
This decrease is a result of rapid population growth
in the region, but still represents a large disparity
relative to the incarcerated proportion of the
California's total population, which fell from 0.75%
in 2000 to 0.43% in 2004.
Overcrowding in Central Valley correctional
institutions parallels that of the state as a whole,
with an average percent occupation of 191% (that
is, facilities are holding nearly double the number of
prisoners they were designed for) compared to 189%
for California.
1
Bailey and Hayes 2006: 13
2
Ibid
San Joaquin Valley Sacramento Metro North Valley
Percent of Population in Prisons
2004
Source: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

602

975
0.0%
0.37%
1.45%
California 0.43%
P
e
r
c
e
n
t

P
o
p
u
l
a
t
i
o
n

i
n

P
r
i
s
o
n
P
U
B
l
i
c

s
a
f
e
t
Y
21

Central Valley suicide rates decreasing but remain
higher than the state
Def i ni t i on:
Suicide is the act of deliberately taking one's own life.
Suicide is inextricably linked to depression, with
associated feelings of hopelessness, negative views of
self and the world, and ultimately, lack of will to live.
The number of suicides can be related to the overall
social well-being and integration in any area. People
who commit suicide tend to be less connected to
friends, community and religious organizations.
How ar e we doi ng?
The Central Valley, mirroring the state as a whole,
experienced a decline in the suicide rates from 13.5
suicides per 100,000 people in 1990 to 10.8 in 2004
(average rate 2002-2004). However, the Central
Valley continues to have a higher rate than the state
as a whole.
The North Valley continues to have a higher rate
than the rest of the Central Valley and the state as a
whole, with several counties (Shasta, Glenn, Tehama,
Butte) having suicide rates over 16 per 100,000.
s Ui ci de
Small dispersed populations in rural areas often lack
adequate social services and support. The high
suicide rates in the North Valley may be linked to
population, age, and relative scarcity of mental health
services.
0
5
10
15
20
25
California South
San Joaquin
Valley
North
San Joaquin
Valley
Sacramento
Metro
North
Valley
2002-04
Avg.
2000-02
Avg.
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
Suicide Rate per 100,000 People
Central Valley subregions vs. California
S
u
i
c
i
d
e

R
a
t
e
Source: California Department of Justice
2002-04
Avg.
2000-03
Avg.
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
Suicide Rate per 100,000 people
Central Valley versus California
Source: California Department of Health Services; RAND California
California Central
Valley
12.7
13.5
12.6
13.6
12.1
12.4 12.3
12.1
13.0
11.8
14.1
12.1
11.1
10.7
11.9
10.6
10.7
9.8
10.7
9.3
10.7 10.8
9.2
S
u
i
c
i
d
e

R
a
t
e
During the 1950s, and often to this day,
many Valley communities were ethnically
and economically divided by the location
of the railroad tracks along Highway 99.
How do you gauge the well-being of a community?
Statisticians will try to approach the task by
measuring the things we can count: such as, high
school dropout rates, or voter participation, or
church attendance. But for me, the well-being
of a community should also be measured by the
extent to which everyday citizens transmit values
and lessons to a communitys young people.
Indeed, the people and family who nurtured me as
a child, disciplined
me as a student and
supported me as a
young adult were, in
essence, all part of
the village that raised
me.
I was born in
South Merced in
1952. Growing
up, our community
was separated by
a railroad track
between the south
and the north side of
Merced. And much
of the commerce,
business, and high schools were on the north side
of Merced. No one came to Merceds south side
to buy things or to do business. It was the place
where Merceds African-American and Hispanic
population lived. We had a thriving little urban
community, but it was self-sufficient.
Measuring the Immeasurable:
Remembering Those Who Helped Us
Professor Charles J. Ogletree Jr.
Jesse Climenko Professor of Law
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Dozens of people within that community
throughout my first 18 years were critical to my
pursuit of knowledge and interest in finding ways
to become a productive citizen. These citizens
offered me the encouragement and counseling that
influenced my decision to go to college, then law
school and to pursue a career of public service.
The irony is that while their contributions may
not fall neatly on a graph measuring concepts
such as youth participation or
civic engagement, they defined
the community well-being of the
South Merced for me. As I look
back on my early years in Valley, it
seems only fitting to use this forum
to acknowledge these outstanding
citizens and, by implication, many
others, for the nurturing and
support they provided to me and
many other young people in South
Merced at the time.
During my years in elementary
school, my principal at Galen Clark
Elementary School, Gaither Haynes,
reminded my classmates of his pride
in being a Native American and taught us the
value of cultural identity at an early age. Another
teacher at Galen Clark, Ms. Edna McMasters,
took every opportunity to challenge us to learn
more and to strive to do the best that we could as
students.
As I grew older, a local businessman, Mr. Tony
Soria arranged for me to receive my first job as
a paperboy for the Merced Sun-Star. He taught
me the lessons of discipline, professionalism and
integrity.
When I attended Merced High School, I greatly
benefited from the wise counsel of Clifford and
Alice Spendlove, Charlie Bennett, Bobbie Jones,
my Aunt Nadine and Uncle Napoleon Washington,
and Mr. Denard Davis. They all encouraged me
to seek higher goals including their support of my
candidacy and election as the first African American
student body president at Merced High School.
Equally important, they continued to offer support
and encouragement to when I attended college
at Stanford University and constantly reminded
me that I must never forget my roots or my
community.
While attending Stanford, I would return home
from Palo Alto each summer and I was fortunate
to find a way to make a contribution to the
community while also earning a few dollars to
assist in paying my college tuition.
During this period in the early 1970s, many
African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities
felt uncomfortable going to the public swimming
pool on North Campus at Merced High School.
At the same time, many wondered why the public
swimming pool on the south side of Merced at
McNamara Park did not have any African American
or Hispanic lifeguards. Two important city
workers with the Merced Parks and Recreation
Department, Mr. Craig Smith and Ms. Sandy
Hartman, solved that problem. They recruited
me, Avery Shelton, Glenn Williamson, Greg Mills,
Sandra Patterson, and others to serve as lifeguards
at the swimming pool where most of the African
Americans and Hispanics chose to go.
Two people in particular, Ms. Julia Beale and Mr.
Charley Huddleston, were also influential in my
life from the very beginning. Whenever there
was an issue of racial conflict at the high school,
the college, or in the community, Ms. Beale, as
the NAACP chairperson, was always there. She
spoke eloquently and thoughtfully about justice
and equality and was a role model for all of us.
Charley Huddleston was always viewed as the
unofficial mayor of Merced. My father worked
for him for more than 20 years and he also found
jobs for young people during the summer, hosted
evenings of skating in the community, sponsored
motorcycle rides, and had a significant relationship
with many landowners who allowed him to take us
to some wonderful and secluded fishing spots.
There were many others as well.
But the unifying thread linking these community
leaders is that they were under no obligation,
in the legal sense, to do these things. Yet they
recognized that the well-being of the community
would be tied to how well they inspire the next
generation. That is the unquantifiable measure
of community well-being.
Things are, of course, a little more complex today.
The Valley is in the midst of an unprecedented
demographic shift, technology has changed
the very notion of where a community begins
and ends, and since the multiple tragedies of
September 11, 2001, we no longer have the luxury
of viewing ourselves as isolated islands. I am
convinced however, that even though the Valley
faces an incredible set of challenges, thoughtful
adults and mentors will be the most important
influence on the regions well-being.
Today, I am thousands of miles away from South
Merced. But I still remember the lessons of those
who came before me and consider it my obligation
to find ways to continue that sprit of nurturing
for the next generation of Merced's leaders. I
firmly believe we must continue to look back
and then emulate those who were able to get us
hereespecially if we are ever going to go forward
in meeting the challenges of the future.
24
Involvement in one's community is a basic building block of a strong civic
culture. There are a myriad of ways that Central Valley residents connect
with each other within and across their communities.
Involvement with neighbors
and neighborhood groups is
fairly substantial, but appears
to be dropping.
The percentage of people
who reported being "very"
or "somewhat" involved
with their neighbors and
with neighborhood groups
dropped from 64% to 57%
between 2001 and 2002,
with 43% reporting no
neighborhood involvement.
Volunteerism and involvement with charity groups has also dropped slightly from 57% in
1999 to 52% in 2002. Nearly half of respondents (48%) reported no involvement with such
groups in 2002.
Participation in religious and spiritual organizations and activities remains high throughout the
Valley, especially with Latinos.
New forms of participation such as ethnic associations (particularly those that engage
immigrants from the same home towns in Mexico and other sending-regions) are experiencing
an upsurge.
Co mmu n i T y P a r T i C i P a T i o n
c
o
m
m
U
n
i
t
Y

P
a
r
t
i
c
i
P
a
t
i
o
n
25
A majority but declining share of Valley
residents are involved with volunteer and
neighborhood efforts.
Def i ni t i on:
Volunteer efforts are contributions to community
organizations and efforts that are financially
uncompensated. Neighborhood groups and
involvement with neighbors are typically volunteer,
but occur, by definition, close to home.
Why is it important?
The human capital exercised through volunteer and
neighborhood efforts is one of the greatest resources
of any community. Volunteerism is an important
social phenomema that has the capacity to bring
people together across economic, social, and cultural
divides. Involvement in one's neighborhood creates
a sense of belonging, safety, and social support.
How ar e we doi ng?
The percentage of people who reported being "very"
or "somewhat" involved with their neighbors and
with neighborhood groups dropped from 64% to
57% between 2001 and 2002, with 43% reporting no
neighborhood involvement.
Volunteerism and involvement with charity groups
has also dropped slightly from 57% in 1999 to 52%
in 2002. Nearly half of respondents (48%) reported
no involvement with such groups in 2002.
Because the PPIC/Great Valley Center Central
Valley surveys have not tracked volunteer and
neighborhood involvement since 2002, it is difficult
to know how these trends may have changed more
recently.
vol Unt e e ri s m and ne i ghBorhood groUP s
2002 2001 1999
Source: PPIC Special Survey of the Central Valley
Neighborhood and Volunteer Involvement
57%
64%
58%
52%
57%
Volunteering and
charity groups
Neighbors and
Neighborhood Groups
V
e
r
y

o
r

S
o
m
e
w
h
a
t

I
n
v
o
l
v
e
d
NOTE: Information for 1999 Neighboorhood Groups unavailable
c
o
m
m
U
n
i
t
Y

P
a
r
t
i
c
i
P
a
t
i
o
n
26

The region's highest level of religious participation
is found in the San Joaquin Valley and among
Latinos.
Def i ni t i on:
Religious congregations and organizations include
all groups that gather to worship such as churches,
temples, synagogues and mosques, as well as groups
based in faith that form to do charitable work or
address specific issues.
Individuals and families connected by values have
historically played an integral role in shaping and
supporting communities. Faith networks today are
sources of social and spiritual support, organizing
units for urban neighborhoods, service providers,
and frequently some of the strongest institutions
serving rural residents. Congregational participation
can be a strong component of community
engagement, and has been found to be a predictor
of involvement in other aspects of community
life. It can increase identification, attachment and
satisfaction with a community.
How ar e we doi ng?
Involvement in religious or spiritul activities or
organizations has stayed relatively steady in the
Central Valley since 1999, with 57% of respondents
to the PPIC/GVC 2004 survey reporting being very
or somewhat involved.
Comparing across the region, those in the San
Joaquin Valley report greater involvement in
religious or spiritual activities and organizations
(63%) than in the North Valley (50%) and
Sacramento Metro (51%) sub-regions.
Latino respondents throughout the Valley are more
likely to be involved with a religious institution
(63%) than non-Hispanic respondents (57%). Latino
involvement has declined, down from 72% since the
2001 survey while non-Hispanic involvement has
stayed the same.
i nvol ve me nt i n re l i gi oUs congre gat i ons
and organi z at i ons
Latinos
(Central Valley-Wide)
San Joaquin Valley Sacramento Metro North Valley
Very or somewhat involved in religious or spiritual activities
or organizations
2004
Source: PPIC Special Survey of the Central Valley, 2002 & 2004
50% 51%
63% 63%
P
e
r
c
e
n
t

o
f

V
a
l
l
e
y

r
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
s

i
n
v
o
l
v
e
d
2004 2002 2001 1999
How involved are you with a church or other religious institution
in the Central Valley?
1999-2004
Source: PPIC Special Survey of the Central Valley, 2002 & 2004
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

v
e
r
y

o
r

s
o
m
e
w
h
a
t

i
n
v
o
l
v
e
d
58%
60%
54%
57%
c
o
m
m
U
n
i
t
Y

P
a
r
t
i
c
i
P
a
t
i
o
n
27
I SSUE BRI EF 2
Mexican Hometown Associations
For immigrants and migrants from Mexico and
other countries, the challenges of engaging in
ones adopted country while maintaining ties
to ones home country are daunting. Over the
past 20 years, organizations called Home
Town Associations (HTAs) have arisen in
California, Illinois, Texas, and other high-immigration states as a
response to these challenges. HTAs serve a double purpose: they help
connect immigrants from the same or similar sending communities,
providing a unique local social support systems, and the bases for
cultural celebrations and political advocacy. HTAs also organize
individual efforts to send funds (often called remittances) back to the
home country for schools, churches, roads, bridges, as well as
repatriation for those who die in the United States. While there are no
firm numbers of HTAs for the Central Valley, it is estimated that there
are between 250,000-500,000 active members of Mexican HTAs in
California as a whole. While some HTAs are informal, others are
incorporated as non-profits and are organized into state federations and
even larger national councils. For example, with its US office in Fresno,
the Oaxacan Indignous Binational Front (FIOB by its Spanish acronym)
provides advocacy and community organizing for indigenous Mexicans
(including Mixtec, Zapotec, Mixe, and Purpecha) on both sides of the
border. This binational solidarity is vividly represented in FIOBs logo
of hands of reaching across the border.
For more information: Frente Indigena Oaxaqueno Binacional (FIOB): www.fiob.org/
english/ours.html and www.laneta.apc.org/fiob/ours.html

Jonathan Fox (2005) Mapping Mexican Migrant Civil Society, www.wilsoncenter.org/
migrantparticipation
28
Non-profit or charitable organizations play a central role in the well-being
of a community through the provision of essential services, their networking
functions, and their engagement in community advocacy and leadership
development. Central Valley non-profits tend to lack adequate resources
to meet community demands. Many traditional non-profit organizations
and associations are experiencing a decline in participation.
PTA and service clubs as documented here have shown declining membership throughout
the Central Valley.
Public charities and the foundations
that support them tend to be smaller
and less well-funded in the Central
Valley than their counterparts in other
parts of the state. Fewer and smaller
local and regional funders translates into
fewer dollars flowing to area non-profit
organizations.
Arts and cultural organizations that are
dependent on state funding have taken a
tremendous hit in their budgets, as the
California Grants for the Arts reduced its
funding by 94%. Smaller grassroots arts
projects continue to develop throughout
the Valley.
Union membership in the Central
Valley shows a slight increase in most sub-regions. However, union membership rates vary
widely across Central Valley MSAs. For example, union represented approximately one-third
of all employees in the Stockton and Merced MSAs, while the Visalia-Porterville MSA had
only half this rate (15%) enrolled in unions.
or G a n i z a T i o n a l Ca P a C i T y
o
r
g
a
n
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

c
a
P
a
c
i
t
Y
29
PTA participation is dropping in the Central Valley
faster than the state
Def i ni t i on:
Parent Teachers Assocations (PTAs) are created to
"bring into closer relation the home and the school,
that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently
in the education of children and youth." (California
PTA Purpose statement). The figures in this
indicator document only numbers of PTA members
and are not adjusted to account for differences in
school, sizes or population growth.
Public schools are often identified as a center of
community. They not only connect the youth
who attend them, but also form a hub for the
staff who work and teach at them and for the
parents and families of students who attend them.
PTAs are frequently involved in supporting and
enriching school and after-school activities and
are an important part of its role as a community
resource. Formally organized PTAs are a way to
measure this form of community involvement and
association. Active parent involvement in schooling
correlates closely with student achievement, though
PTA membership is not the only way for parents
to get involved with schools. As more families are
supported by two working parents, there is less
time available to engage in traditional community
activities and organizations such as PTAs.
How ar e we doi ng?
Membership in PTAs has dropped steadily in all PTA
districts in the Central Valley since 1990. Districts in
the San Joaquin Valley have lost a greater percentage
of members than districts in the Sacramento Metro
and North Valley sub-regions. In contrast, PTA
districts in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino
Counties as well as San Francisco have increased
their membership.
While there has been decline in the state PTA
membership as a whole, the decrease has been
greater in the Valley. California PTA membership
dropped 13% since 1990, the Central Valley
membership has dropped 51%.
As a result, Central Valley PTAs represent a smaller
proportion of total California PTA membership in
2005 (6%) than it did in 1990 (11%).
P t a P art i ci P at i on
10.5%
9.3%
6.7%
6.3%
5.9%
2005 2003 2001 1995 1990
Central Valley PTA as % of State PTA Membership
1990-2005
Source: California PTA Membership Data
P
e
r
c
e
n
t

o
f

M
e
m
b
e
r
s
h
i
p
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
2005 2001 1995 1990
PTA Membership
1990-2005
Source: NLIHC
D
i
s
t
r
i
c
t

2
1

D
i
s
t
r
i
c
t

1
1

D
i
s
t
r
i
c
t

7

D
i
s
t
r
i
c
t

8

D
i
s
t
r
i
c
t

3

D
i
s
t
r
i
c
t

1
3

C
o
lu
s
a
, E
l D
o
ra
d
o
, N
e
v
a
d
a
,
P
la
c
e
r, S
a
c
ra
m
e
n
t
o
, S
u
t
t
e
r,
Y
o
lo
a
n
d
Y
u
b
a
M
a
rip
o
s
a
, M
e
rc
e
d
,
S
a
n
J
o
a
q
u
in
a
n
d
S
t
a
n
is
la
u
s
M
a
d
e
ra
a
n
d
F
re
s
n
o
K
e
rn
T
u
la
re
B
u
t
t
e
, S
h
a
s
t
a
,
T
e
h
a
m
a
&
T
rin
it
y
35% drop
55.4% drop
73.2% drop
74.3% drop
69.7% drop
47.8% drop
o
r
g
a
n
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

c
a
P
a
c
i
t
Y
30
I SSUE BRI EF 3
Community Organizing on Water
While water is a resource that all people and communities depend
on for life itself, its governance in the Central Valley is not nearly as
widespread as its use. In many water districts (typically on the west
side of the San Joaquin Valley where larger absentee land-ownership
predominates), district voting rights flow with property ownership,
not residence, meaning renters have no elected representation to
address issues of drinking water quality and prices. Racial and ethnic
diversity in the myriad of local county, regional, state and federal bodies
that manage the regions water is also far from representative. For
example, there are no Latino members of the Regional Water Quality
Control Boards and only 1% (4) of the 461 local water agencies in
the Central Valley have any Latino Board members. There are signs
of change however. In Plainview (Tulare County), the community has
elected an all Latino Water Board and is obtaining technical assistance
from organizations such as Self-Help Enterprises, La Union Entero
del Pueblo, Center for Race Poverty and the Environment, and the
Community Water Center. Similar efforts to increase community
participation in water management and the protection of drinking water
quality from contamination are underway in the low-income and heavily
Latino communities such as Culter-Orosi, Alpaugh, Tooleville, and
Ducor.

For more information:

Self-Help Enterprises: www.selfhelpenterprises.org
Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment: www.crpe-ej.org/index.html
Community Water Center: www.communitywatercenter.org/
o
r
g
a
n
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

c
a
P
a
c
i
t
Y
31
Rotary membership not rising with population
growth.
Def i ni t i on:
Service clubs are voluntary community organizations
that meet on a regular basis and which incorporate
some form of community service in their program.
There are a number of national groups with local
chapters throughout the region and many local
groups with no national affiliation. The data for this
indicator is specifically Rotary International because
this was the one club that was able to make its data
available.
Service clubs provide a vehicle for individual
community involvement and personal charitable
contributions. The networks provided by the clubs
create a support structure for residents, including
business people, educators, and government officials.
They help meet community needs and support
additional community participation activities such
as local sport leagues, charities, and festivals. The
clubs frequently provide scholarships for youth and
many operate programs through the schools, offering
youth development with a service orientation.
How ar e we doi ng?
Rotary Club membership stayed relatively stable
in the North Valley and Sacramento Metropolitan
regions, but lost members in the San Joaquin Valley.
Given the rapid rise in population in most areas of
the Cental Valley, the steady membership actually
signifies a decrease in the proportion of members to
total population.
Other organizations may be serving as receivers of
these new residents. As the region's population
changes, service groups with a membership base in
one particular segment of the population, such as
Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander organizations may
or may not be forming or strengthening. Specific
data on membership race and ethnicity was not
available, either for service clubs, culturally specific
clubs, nor for independent local groups. For
more, see the Issue Brief regarding Home Town
Associations.
The challenge for existing service organizations may
be to create bridges to the other organizations and
continue with outreach efforts to attract members
who reflect the demographics of the community.
s e rvi ce cl UBs
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2
2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
Rotary Membership as Proportion of 1997 Membership
Source: Rotary International Membership Data
North Valley Sacramento
Metropolitan
San Joaquin
Valley
P
r
o
p
o
r
t
i
o
n

o
f

1
9
9
7

M
e
m
b
e
r
s
h
i
p
o
r
g
a
n
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

c
a
P
a
c
i
t
Y
32
Central Valley nonprofits lack capacity
and regional funding.
Def i ni t i on:
Public charities are those organizations having
501(c)3 tax-exempt status, receiving significant
public support. This report is limited to
organizations that both reported to the IRS by
filing form 990, and were required to do so.
Organizations not required to report to the IRS
include religious congregations and organizations
with less that $25,000 in gross receipts. Public
support includes gifts, grants, and contributions
from government and private sources. Gifts to these
organizations are fully tax-deductible. Foundations,
non-profit charitable organizations that provide
grant funding to other non-profit organizations, also
operate under the IRS 501(c)3 status.
Non-profit organizations play an important role in
meeting community needs and providing services to
complement or supplement government programs.
Such organizations respond to community and
regional needs and provide a means for residents
to be involved in social, political, environmental
or scientific matters within their communities.
Involvement in these organizations can serve as a
measure of community vitality. Public charities can
be most effective if they are fiscally healthy and have
strong and sustainable sources funding.
How ar e we doi ng?
The Central Valley has a greater number of charities
on a per capita basis (385 per 100,000 population)
than does the state as a whole (265 per 100,000
population). Similarly, while the Central Valley is
home to 18% of the state's population, the region
contains 25% of the California's total number of
charitable organizations.
While numerous, Central Valley non-profits are
generally smaller with lower levels of financial
resources than those in other regions of the state.
For example, on a per capita basis, Central Valley
charity assets amount to $2,211 compared to $4,665
per capita for California as a whole. Likewise,
Central Valley non-profits control only 10% of the
state's total charitable assets and serve 17% of the
state's population.
One reason for this disparity in charitable assets
is the relatively low number and size of charitable
foundations located in the Central Valley. While
many of the region's non-profits receive funding
from foundations outside the region, the lack of local
and regional sources of funds cuts against area non-
profit's viability. For example, of California's 10,915
foundations, only 1,287 (12%) are located in the
Central Valley. More important than the number of
foundations is their size: Central Valley foundations
control only 3% of California's total foundation
assets.
In 2006, a report from the James Irvine Foundation
found that the Central Valley had significantly lower
giving levels, smaller assets, and fewer foundations
than their regional neighbors along the coast. Within
the subregions, a disproportionate share of grant
dollars were received by Shasta and Sacramento
Counties, while the San Joaquin Valley had a more
even distribution of assets and giving across its
counties. Between subregions, Sacramento Metro
received more than triple the per capita giving of the
Northern Valley and San Joaquin Valley subregions.
Per capita community foundation giving was low.
P UBl i c chari t i e s & f oUndat i ons
o
r
g
a
n
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

c
a
P
a
c
i
t
Y
33
California South
San Joaquin
North
San Joaquin
Sacramento
Metro
North Valley
Charitable Assets per 100,000 population (2006)
Source: California Registered 501(c)(3) Public Charities and Private Foundations by County
$207
Million
$331
Million
$168.8
Million
$168.9
Million
$466
Million
C
h
a
r
i
t
a
b
l
e

A
s
s
e
t
s
Other
regions
San Diego
Area
Los Angeles
Area
San Francisco
Bay Area
Central
Valley
Charitable Foundations by Region
2006
Source: CA Registered 501c3 Public Charities and Private Foundations by County 2006.
National Center for Charitable Statistics.
48%
45%
3%
2%
2%
Central Valley San Francisco
Bay Area
Los Angeles
Area
San Diego
Area
Other
regions
Public Charity Assets by Region
2006
Source: CA Registered 501c3 Public Charities and Private Foundations by County 2006.
National Center for Charitable Statistics.
10%
39%
38%
6%
7%
o
r
g
a
n
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

c
a
P
a
c
i
t
Y
34
Membership rates show small increases but steady.
Def i ni t i on:
Union members are employees who belong to
a collective bargaining unit that represent their
interests with their employer. Unions negotiate
contracts for their members; represent members in
disputes with employers; and advocate for improved
wages and working conditions. Public sector
unions represent employees of municipal, county,
state, and federal agencies. Private sector unions
represent employees of businesses. Data on unions
is collected on the basis of Metropolitan Statistical
Areas (MSAs), a unit identified by the US Census
as including a major city (over 50,000) and its
associated suburbs.
Membership in unions is one way that individuals
can obtain a say in economic and political decisions
that affect their lives.
l aBor organi z at i ons
How ar e we doi ng?
Mirroring the profile throughout the state and the
country as a whole, unions in Central Valley MSAs
represent much larger percentages of public sector
workers compared to the private sector. In 2005,
unions represented 52% of public sector employees
and 13% of private sector employees, for an overall
total of 20% of all workers in Central Valley MSAs.
Union membership in Central Valley MSAs has
remained steady over the past decade with an overall
small increase seen in public, private and total
membership rates.
Union membership rates vary widely across Central
Valley MSAs. For example, unions represented
approximately one-third of all employees in the
Stockton and Merced MSAs, while the Visalia-
Porterville MSA had only half this rate (15%)
enrolled in unions.
2005 2000 1995
Chico Bakersfield Visalia Modesto Stockton Sacramento Merced Fresno
Source: Union Membership, Coverage, Density and Employment by Metropolitan Statistical Area 1995-2005.
Barry T. Hirsch & David A. Macpherson.
Union Membership in select MSAs
1995-2005
1
7
.
3
4
7
1
,
1
0
3

3
0
.
8
1
6
.
3
1
5
.
4
2
1
.
3
1
7
.
5
1
8
.
4
2
1
.
6
2
0
.
6
1
9
.
1
2
7
.
4
3
0
.
1
2
5
.
9
1
9
.
2
1
5
.
9
1
0
.
0
1
1
.
2 1
3
.
3 1
5
.
4
1
4
.
3
2
4
.
5
1
2
.
6
8
.
1
1
4
.
7
%

U
n
i
o
n

M
e
m
b
e
r
s
h
i
p
Total Public Private
2005 2000 1995
Union Membership, Central Valley MSAs
1995-2005
Source: Union Membership, Coverage, Density and Employment by Metropolitan Statistical Area 1995-2005.
Barry T. Hirsch & David A. Macpherson.
%

U
n
i
o
n

M
e
m
b
e
r
s
h
i
p
45.4%
47.2%
51.5%
17.7% 18.1%
20.5%
10.4% 10.9%
12.7%
o
r
g
a
n
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

c
a
P
a
c
i
t
Y
35
Central Valley arts funding trails the rest of
California.
Def i ni t i on:
Public financial support of arts, culture and
humanities organizations includes gifts, grants, and
contributions from both public and private sources.
This data is limited to funds contributed to those
organizations with gross receipts of over $25,000
who are required to file Form 990 with the Internal
Revenue Service.
The arts offer a unique means of connecting people
across cultures, ages, and class. They can nurture
social capital by strengthening friendships, helping
communities to understand and celebrate their
heritage, and providing a safe way to discuss and
solve difficult social problems. The arts provide a
powerful way to express emotions and transcend the
cultural and demographic boundaries that can divide
us.
How ar e we doi ng?
The Central Valley, like the rest of the state has
suffered a significant loss of public support for the
arts, culture and humanities when in 2004, the
California Arts Council lost 94% of its funding
from the prior year and all active grant programs
were suspended. From a per capita funding rate in
2001 that ranged between $.30 and $.70 within the
Central Valley subregions, in 2005 per capita funding
fell to literally pennies on the dollar.
The Central Valley obtains far less funding for arts,
culture and humanities than do other regions of
the state. For example, in 2001 (the last point
that data are available) Central Valley arts, culture
and humanities organizations received only $22 in
revenues per capita compared with a rate of $153 per
capita for the San Francisco Bay Area and $80 for
the state as a whole.
Despite these deficits of funding, the Central Valley
is alive with arts and culture, in neighborhood
organizations and informal alliances.
art s , cUl t Ural , and hUmani t i e s organi z at i ons
2001
California San Joaquin Valley Sacramento Metro North Valley
Per Capita Distribution of State Grants for the Arts
2001-2004
Source: California Arts Council Biennial Report, 2004-05
$.37
$.73
$.02
$.00
$.31
$.01
$.82
$.03
P
e
r

c
a
p
i
t
a

f
u
n
d
i
n
g
2004
San Diego Los Angeles
Area
San Francisco
Bay Area
Central Valley
Per Capita Revenues of Arts, Culture and Humanities Organizations
2001
Source: California Arts Council Biennial Report, 2004-05
$22.55
$153.63
$81.72

897

932
$49.51
P
e
r

C
a
p
i
t
a

R
e
v
e
n
u
e
s

Source: California Arts Council Biennial Report, 2001
36
Young people are the most precious asset of any community. Youth represent
the future, but also serve to gauge the compassion and effectiveness of the
community's present ability to care for and sustain itself. Youth in the Central
Valley face a number of daunting challenges, but have some committed allies.
The Central Valley has exhibited
a falling rate of juvenile arrests since
2000, with the number of total
juvenile arrests dropping from 3503
in 2000 to 2807 in 2004. This
parallels the drop in the state's
juvenile arrest rates. However, the
Central Valley's rate continues to
exceed that of the state as a whole.
At the same time, compared to
youth in other parts of the state, a
greater proportion of Central Valley
youth are arrested for less serious
(misdemeanor) crimes versus felonies.
Dropout rates throughout the Central Valley have continued a slow decline that began in the early
1990s, but have seen an up-tick in 2005. Ethnic and racial disparities between African-American
and Hispanic/Latinos on the one hand and non-Hispanic whites and some Asians on the other are
significant. Butte, Yuba, Yolo, Stanislaus, and Madera all have dropout rates for African Americans and
Hispanic/Latinos that are far greater than the rates for non-Hispanic whites and Asians.
Traditional youth programs such as 4-H and Future Farmers of America have increased total
participation and the diversity of those they serve. Programs such as the 4-H initiative in Kern County
that work with the juvenile probation population to reduce recidivism are showing positive impacts.
However, many rural high poverty areas lack positive youth development programs.
y o u T h We l l - B e i n G
Y
o
U
t
h

W
e
l
l
-
B
e
i
n
g
37
4-H membership rates increase from 2000
Def i ni t i on:
4-H is a national organization for youth, ages 5-
19 that promotes hands-on learning and is based
on parent and volunteer participation. Begun as
a program serving children of farmers and other
residents of rural communities, 4-H is now active in
urban and suburban areas as well. In California, 4-H is
run through a collaboration of University of California
Cooperative Extension campus and county offices
with funding from the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA), and a variety of volunteer
councils and foundations at the county, state, and
national levels. 4-H has many different programs
including after-school programs, horse groups, camps,
and instructional 4-H Clubs. This indicator tracks
total participation in all 4-H programs (not just
Clubs).
Youth development, and increasingly, youth leadership
are the primary foci of 4-H programs. 4-H offers a
range of hands-on learning projects, ranging from art
to zoology - including cows, bugs, cooking, camping,
photography, robotics and rocket science. Clubs
engage in community service projects and conduct
outreach training in low-income neighborhood schools
and in Boys and Girls Clubs.
How ar e we doi ng?
Participation in 4-H has increased dramatically since
2000 after a long decline. Total participation in the
Central Valley has shot up by 320%, outpacing an also
impressive increase in statewide participation of 270%.
While some of this incerase is due to the new emphasis
on non-club activities (such as camps and other shorter
programs) there is nonetheless a much greater presence
of 4-H in the region and the state than there has been
since 1990.
Beyond increasing total numbers, 4-H has greatly
diversified its participants. Non-white participation,
especially in the San Joaquin Valley, has sky-rocketed.
This is especially the case in the San Joaquin Valley,
where non-white participation has climbed from 12%
in 1996 to 63% in 2005, overtaking the non-white
participation rate for the state as a whole (50%).
While lagging the rates of non-white participation
in the San Joaquin Valley, non-white participation in
the North Valley and Sacramento Metropolitan area
4-H programs has also increased to 27% and 30%
respectively.
YoUt h organi z at i ons
2005 2000 1996
Percent of Non-White 4-H Participants
1996-2005
Source: University of California, Davis. 4-H Membership Data. 2000-2005.
California
San Joaquin
Valley
Sacramento
Metro
North
Valley
18.5
21.1
50.4
16.8
11.7
63.4
12.7
10.0
29.5
11.2
8.8
26.9
P
e
r
c
e
n
t

N
o
n
-
W
h
i
t
e

P
a
r
t
i
c
i
p
a
n
t
s
Central
Valley
2005 2000 1996 1991
Total 4-H Participation
1991-2005
Source: University of California, Davis. 4-H Membership Data. 2000-2005.
San Joaquin
Valley
North
Valley
Sacramento
Metro
20627
18142 17548
57560
10142
7571
8113
34328
4770
4858 4116
8231
3724 3717 3319
12996
Y
o
U
t
h

W
e
l
l
-
B
e
i
n
g
38
I SSUE BRI EF 2
4-H: Branching Out in Youth Engagement
Known best for its green and white-clad clubs, 4-
H has been expanding its program areas to
include a wide range of delivery methods. In
counties such as Fresno, Kern, Placer, and Merced
where this "balanced program" approach has been
emphasized, overall participation, and the diversity
of young people served by 4-H have sky-rocketed.

In Kern County, for example, 4-H curricula tailored to serve youth on
probation through a 12-week intensive program is credited in reducing
the recidivism rate from 80% or higher to 30%. In Fresno County, an
avian embryology curriculum engages elementary students throughout
the county in hatching chicks and learning lessons in biology, nutrition,
and life and death cycles. Merced County programs feature Geographic
Information System technology for hands-on science and practical
applications such as mapping of youth assets and opportunities.
What these programs have in common is innovation in the teaching
method and learning contexts, complementing the traditional 4-H
clubs to include in-school, after-school, out of school, and community-
based settings. New partnerships with other county agencies, school
districts, and non-profits, and the training and engagement of a wide
range of youth-service professionals has also made this expanded
outreach possible. In addition to raising total numbers of youth served
by 4-H, these methods have greatly increased the diversity of program
participants, particularly among Latinos in the San Joaquin Valley.
While the staff hope that these increases in non-club activities will lead
to future diversity in the clubs themselves, they also acknowledge that
such changes are long-term processes of relationship and trust building
as the community comes to view the program as "their own."

For more information: University of California 4-H Youth Development Program: www.ca4h.org; 4H Center
for Youth Development: http://fourhcyd.ucdavis.edu
Y
o
U
t
h

W
e
l
l
-
B
e
i
n
g
39
High school retention rates improve - but not equally
for all groups.
Def i ni t i on:
A high school dropout is defined as a person under
the age of 21 who was formally enrolled in grades 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, or 12; has left school for 45 consecutive
days and has not enrolled in another school or
educational program; has not re-enrolled in the
school; and has not received a high school diploma
or its equivalent. This includes students who have
moved out of the district and are not known to be in
an educational program leading toward a high school
diploma or its equivalent. The 1-year dropout rate
is the percent of dropouts during a single year,
calculated from actual data submitted. The 4-year
derived dropout rate is an estimate of the percent of
students who would drop out in a four-year period
based on data collected for a single year.
Technological advances in the workplace make high
school graduation a minimum requirement for
entry into the labor force with follow-up training
necessary for most careers. Meeting high school
and college requirements for technical training
increase the likelihood of economic success. The
likelihood of living in poverty is about three times
higher for high school dropouts than for those who
finish high school. The State of California requires
civics or government classes in the 12th grade.
Leaving school before learning the basic workings
hi gh s chool droP oUt s
of government renders young residents ill-prepared
to pursue civic engagement. Citizens with less
education are less likely to be involved in politics,
including voting and other activities.
How ar e we doi ng?
Recent research suggests that most official statistics
vastly under report drop out rates by using only
aggregate, not individual data. In some cases,
actual dropout rates can approach 50% when official
statistics reveal only a fraction of this problem. This
may be the case in California and the Central Valley
as well. Dropout rates throughout the Central
Valley have continued a slow decline begun in the
early 1990's, but have seen an up-tick in 2005.
Central Valley dropout rates as a region are similar to
the state as a whole (a 1-year rate of 3.1% and a 4-
year rate of 12.6%).
Within the Central Valley, the San Joaquin and
Sacramento Metro sub-regions have rates higher
than the state average. At the county level, Butte,
Yuba, Stanislaus and Madera all have 1-year dropout
rates 50-60% higher than the state average.
Ethnic and racial disparities between African-
American and Hispanic/Latinos on the one hand
and non-Hispanic whites and some Asians on the
South
San Joaquin
Valley
North
San Joaquin
Valley
Sacramento
Metro
North
Valley
One Year Drop Out Rates
2005
3.09 %
3.16 %
3.30 %
2.80 %
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

D
r
o
p

O
u
t
s

i
n

O
n
e

Y
e
a
r
California 3.1%
Source: California Department of Education. Educational Demographics Unit.
County Level Reports. 2000-2006.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
White
(not Hispanic)
African
American
Hispanic/
Latino
Filipino Pacific
Islander
Asian American Indian
or Alaska Native
Select County Drop Out Rates by Race / Ethnicity
2005
4
7
1
,
1
0
3

2
,
5
1
2
,
6
9
6

B
U
T
T
E
Y
U
B
A
S
U
T
T
E
R
S
A
C
R
A
M
E
N
T
O
S
A
N

J
O
A
Q
U
I
N
S
T
A
N
I
S
L
A
U
S
M
A
D
E
R
A
K
E
R
N
1
-
Y
e
a
r

D
r
o
p

O
u
t

R
a
t
e
s
40
California Central Valley
2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
One Year Drop Out Rates
1996-2005
4.9
4.7
4.2
4.1
4.1
3.0
4.2
3.5
4.2
3.5
4.1
3.5
4.1
3.4
3.1
3.2
2.8
3.3
3.1
3.1
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e

O
n
e

Y
e
a
r

D
r
o
p

O
u
t

R
a
t
e
s
0
18.7%
T
u
l
a
r
e
M
a
d
e
r
a
K
i
n
g
s
K
e
r
n
F
r
e
s
n
o
S
t
a
n
i
s
l
a
u
s
S
a
n

J
o
a
q
u
i
n
M
e
r
c
e
d
Y
o
l
o
S
a
c
r
a
m
e
n
t
o
P
l
a
c
e
r
Y
u
b
a
T
e
h
a
m
a
S
u
t
t
e
r
S
h
a
s
t
a
G
l
e
n
n
C
o
l
u
s
a
B
u
t
t
e
Four Year Drop Out Rates
2005
17.7%
3.8%
8.0%
8.3%
12.1%
5.9%
17.1%
6.8%
14.4%
9.4%
4.4%
1.3%
17.9%
10.7%
12.6%
9.6%
18.7%
8.9%
P
e
r
c
e
n
t

4
-
Y
e
a
r

D
r
o
p

O
u
t

R
a
t
e
s
California 12.6%
other are significant. Butte,
Yuba, Yolo, Stanislaus and
Madera all have dropout rates
for African-Americans and
Hispanic/Latinos that are far
greater than the rates for non-
Hispanic whites and Asians.
Within the Asian category,
there are wide disparities,
with Pacific Islander and
Filipino students showing
higher dropout rates than
other Asians, and some Asian
groups (e.g. Hmong, Mien,
Cambodian) having high
dropout rates that are not
differentiated within the Asian
category.
Nine of the Central Valley
counties (including all eight
of the San Joaquin Valley
counties) have a greater
percentage of adults (25
years or older) than the state
as a whole who have not
completed high school.
1
Balfanz R & Letgeas H. (2004) Locating the Dropout
Crisis. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, Center for
Social Organization in Schools.
Y
o
U
t
h

W
e
l
l
-
B
e
i
n
g
41
Juvenile arrest rates in the Central Valley exceed the
California average, but for less serious crimes.
Def i ni t i on:
A juvenile misdemeanor crime in one that would
be punishable by a sentence of up to one year in
a county jail if committed by an adult. A juvenile
felony crime is one that would be punishable by
incarceration in a state prison or death if committed
by an adult. This indicator measures arrests of
juveniles (10-17 years) per 100,000 juveniles. It is
important to note that an arrest is not a conviction.
However, research has shown that once engaged in
the criminal justice system, young people often are
pulled into a downward cycle with further arrests
and incarceration for ever longer periods of time.
Youth crime imposes heavy costs on society, in
terms of the direct effects of crime, the cost of
incarceration, and the social cost of wasted human
potential. Youth arrested for felony crimes are
exhibiting self-destructive, anti-social, or violent
behavior. Without effective intervention, the
actions of those who commit misdemeanor crimes
may escalate into felony-level crimes. Conviction
of crimes, especially felonies as a youth, can limit
civic engagement capacities as an adult, including
employment, volunteerism, and voting.
How ar e we doi ng?
The Central Valley has exhibited a falling rate of
juvenile arrests since 2000, with the number of total
juvenile arrests dropping from 3,503 in 2000 to
2,807 in 2004. This parallels the drop in the state's
juvenile arrest rates. However, the Central Valley's
rate continues to exceed that of the state as a whole.
The North Valley and San Joaquin Valley have
the highest juvenile arrest rates. Kings and Glenn
Counties have rates twice as high as any other county
in the Central Valley and state as a whole.
The North Valley and San Joaquin Valley show a
smaller proportion of felony arrests than do counties
near the state capital. In Kings and Glenn Counties,
the vast majority of the arrests are for misdeamenors,
not felonies.
While eleven of the eighteen Central Valley counties
have total juvenile arrest rates higher than the
California rate, only six Valley counties have a higher
proportion of felony arrests to total arrests.
J Uve ni l e arre s t s
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
California South
San Joaquin
North
San Joaquin
Sacramento
Metro
North
Valley
2004 2002 2000
Total Juvenile Arrests per 100,000 Juveniles
2000-2004
Source: Criminal Statistics Center. California Department of Justice.
Juvenile Crime Data. 2000-2004.
Y
o
U
t
h

W
e
l
l
-
B
e
i
n
g
42
K
e
r
n
T
u
l
a
r
e
K
i
n
g
s
F
r
e
s
n
o
M
a
d
e
r
a
M
e
r
c
e
d
S
t
a
n
i
s
l
a
u
s
S
a
n

J
o
a
q
u
i
n
Y
o
l
o
S
a
c
r
a
m
e
n
t
o
P
l
a
c
e
r
S
u
t
t
e
r
Y
u
b
a
B
u
t
t
e
C
o
l
u
s
a
G
l
e
n
n
T
e
h
a
m
a
S
h
a
s
t
a
Total Juvenile Arrests per 100,000 Juveniles
2004
4469

975
3843
3016
2097
7167
1062
3241
1884
1952
2629
2050
2449
3565
2858
1446
2986
6204
2511

A
r
r
e
s
t
s

p
e
r

1
0
0
,
0
0
0

J
u
v
e
n
i
l
e
s
California 2287
K
e
r
n
T
u
l
a
r
e
K
i
n
g
s
F
r
e
s
n
o
M
a
d
e
r
a
M
e
r
c
e
d
S
t
a
n
i
s
l
a
u
s
S
a
n

J
o
a
q
u
i
n
Y
o
l
o
S
a
c
r
a
m
e
n
t
o
P
l
a
c
e
r
S
u
t
t
e
r
Y
u
b
a
B
u
t
t
e
C
o
l
u
s
a
G
l
e
n
n
T
e
h
a
m
a
S
h
a
s
t
a
Felony Juvenile Arrests as Percent
of Total Juvenile Arrests by County
2004
22%
26%
10%
13%
24%
19%
32% 32%
36%
34%
31%
33%
26%
27%
25%
14%
23%
28%
California 27%
P
e
r
c
e
n
t

F
e
l
o
n
y

J
u
v
e
n
i
l
e

A
r
r
e
s
t
s
Y
o
U
t
h

W
e
l
l
-
B
e
i
n
g
43
FFA growth strong and steady in the Central Valley.
Def i ni t i on:
The Future Farmers of America (FFA) is an
organization dedicated to making a positive
difference in the lives of young people by developing
their potential for leadership, personal growth and
career success through agricultural education. In
California public schools, students age 12-21 who
participate in agricultural classes are automatically
enrolled in FFA.
Youth-oriented programs such as FFA provide
important venues for young people to engage in
networks similar to the professional and community
they will have an opportunity to take part in as
adults. Because of the agricultural focus, enrollment
levels may also serve as a leading indicator of interest
in agriculture as providing a structure of community
networks and serving as a regional economic engine.
How ar e we doi ng?
Over the past 15 years, FFA membership has
steadily increased throughout the Central Valley,
with the greatest gains occurring in the San Joaquin
Valley. Total membership in 2005 was 34,473, up
from 20,347 in 1992.
Central Valley chapters of the FFA make up 54% of
the California state total FFA membership, with 40%
coming from the San Joaquin Valley area.
FFA's racial and ethnic diversity is increasing,
with the San Joaquin region enrolling nearly 60%
non-white participants, the majority being Latino/
Hispanic youth. This exceeds the other regions of
the Central Valley and the State as a whole.
YoUt h organi z at i ons : f Ut Ure f arme rs of ame ri ca
2005 2001 1995 1992
Central Valley FFA Membership
1992-2005
20,347
25,301
30,395
34,473
F
F
A

M
e
m
b
e
r
s
h
i
p
Source: Future Farmers of America. Membership Data. 2005.
California San Joaquin Region Central Region Superior Region
Racial/Ethnic Profile of FFA
2005
76.2
56.4

932
17.5
1.1
2.5 1.9
32.4
3.9
5.7
0.7
40.8
52.0
2.3 2.8
1.2
52.0
39.9
2.8 3.2
1.2
P
e
r
c
e
n
t

R
a
c
i
a
l
/
E
t
h
n
i
c

I
d
e
n
t
i
t
y
Source: Future Farmers of America. Membership Data. 2005.
White Latino/
Hispanic
Black Asian American
Indian
44
Ci v i c Engagement
Voter Participation
Office of the California Secretary of State
Statement of Vote, 2002 & 2004
www.ss.ca.gov

Voter Contact Services
Voting Statisticss, 2002 & 2004
http://bbs.vcsnet.com
Public Policy Institute of California
Latino Voters & Voter Profiles 'Just the Facts,'2004
www.ppic.org

US Census Bureau
American Community Survey, 2004
www.factfinder.census.gov

California Department of Finance
2004 Population Estimates
www.dof.ca.gov
Representation in Elected Office
National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed
Officials
Membership Roster, 2005
www.naleo.org

UCLA Asian American Studies Center
National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac
2005-2006
www.aasc.ucla.edu

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Black Elected Officials, A National Roster
2002 & 2006
www.jointcenter.org
Ethnic Media Outlets
New American Media Services
Membership Directory
www.newamericanmedia.org/directory

Internet Usage
Dataquest, California Department of Education
Internet in the Classroom Data, 2001-2006
http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest
PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey of the
Central Valley, June 2006. Mark Baldassare,
Senior Fellow and Survey Director
www.ppic.org

Internet in the Classroom Data, 2001-2006
http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest

Issue Brief: Faith-based Organizations

PICO California
www.picocalifornia.org
Industrial Areas Foundation
www.industrialareasfoundation.org/iafabout/
about.htm

American Friends Service Committee
Pan Valley Institute: www.afsc.org/pacificmtn/
fresno.htm and Proyecto Campesino: www.afsc.
org/pacificmtn/visalia.htm

David Campbell, Eric Glunt, Shel Bockman,
Judith Little, Max Nieman, and Barbara W.
Sirotnik (2003) Evaluating the California
Community and Faith Based Initiative.
http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/
events/2003_spring_research_conference/
campbell.pdf

Publ i c Saf et y
Workplace Discrimination
Department of Fair Employment & Housing
Cases filed by County, 2000-2005
www.dfeh.ca.gov
Employment Development Department
Labor Market Information Division
Monthly Labor Force Data for Counties, 2005
www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov
Hate Crime
California Department of Justice
Criminal Justice Statistics Center
Hate Crime in California, 2000, 2002 & 2004
http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc
d a t a S o u r c e S

Violent Crime
Criminal Justice Statistics Center
California Crime Index, 2000, 2002 & 2004
http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc

Correctional Institution Population
California Department of Corrections &
Rehabilitation
Monthly Report of Population, 2000, 2004
& 2006
www.cdc.state.ca.us

Who's In Prison? The Changing
Demographics of Incarceration,
Amanda Bailey and Joseph M. Hayes
www.ppic.org
Suicide
Center for Health Statistics
California Department of Health
Suicide Deaths: California, 2000-2004
www.dhs.ca.gov/hisp/chs

Communi t y Par t i ci pat i on
Volunteerism/Neighborhood Involvement
Special Survey of the Central Valley, 2002
www.ppic.org

Involvement in Religious Organizations
Special Survey of the Central Valley, 2002 & 2004
www.ppic.org
Ethnic Media
New American Media (NAM)
NAM Directory Totals, 2005
http://news.newamericanmedia.org

Issue Brief: Mexican Hometown Associations

Frente Indigena Oaxaqueno Binacional (FIOB)
www.fiog.org/english/ours.html
www.laneta.apc.org/fiob/ours.html

Jonathan Fox (2005) Mapping Mexican Migrant Civil
Society, www.wilsoncenter.org/migrantparticipation

Or gani z at i onal Capaci t y
PTA Participation
California Parent Teachers Association
Membership Data, 2000-2006
www.capta.org
Public Charities and Foundations
National Center for Charitable Statistics
California Registered 501(c)(3) Public Charities and
Private Foundations by County, 2006
http://nccs.urban.org
Union Membership
Union Membership, Coverage, Density and
Employment by Metropolitan Statistical Area,
1995-2005. Barry T. Hirsch & David A.
Macpherson
http://www.trinity.edu/bhirsch/unionstats/
Union Membership
Union Membership, Coverage, Density and
Employment by Metropolitan Statistical Area,
1995-2005. Barry T. Hirsch & David A.
Macpherson
http://www.trinity.edu/bhirsch/unionstats/

Arts, Cultural and Humanities Organizations
California Arts Council
Biennial Report, 2004-2005
www.cac.ca.gov

Issue Brief: Community Organizing on Water

Community Water Center
www.communitywater.org

Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment
www.crpe-ej.org/index.html

Self-Help Enterprises
www.selfhelpenterprises.org

Yout h Wel l - Bei ng
High School Dropouts
California Department of Education
Educational Demographics Unit
County Level Reports, 2000-2006
www.cde.ca.gov
Juvenile Arrests
Criminal Statistics Center
Juvenile Crime Data, 2000-2004
http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/
Youth Organizations
Future Farmers of America
Membership Data, 2005
Printed 2007
Modesto, California

the environment

2 0 0 0 e d i t i o n a v a i l a b l e
u p d a t e s c h e d u l e d f o r 2 0 1 0
Grr:+ V:i i r . Cr x+r r
: o+ Nr r in:x S+ rr r +, Moir s +o, CA
1r i : : o , : : - +o l:x: : o , : : - ++o
vvv. rr:+v:i i r .. or i xr o rr:+v:i i r .. or
:upportiu the e.ouomi., so.iai, auo eu:iroumeutai
ueii|eiu of Caiiforuia`s reat Ceutrai 1aiiey
! 3 3 % 3 3 ) . ' 4 ( % 2 % ' ) / . 6 ) ! ) . $ ) # ! 4 / 2 3
%DUCATION AND 9OUTH 0REPAREDNES S
1nr S+:+r or +nr
Grr:+ crx+r:i v:iir.
or C:iirorxi:

edUcation and
YoUth PreParedness

commUnitY Well-Being


the economY
u p d a t e s c h e d u l e f o r 2 0 0 9
PUBlic health and
access to care


T h e S T a T e o f T h e G r e a T C e n T r a l V a l l e y
i n d i C a T o r S r e P o r T S e r i e S

e a C h T o P i C a r e a i n T h e G r e a T V a l l e y C e n T e r ' S i n d i C a T o r S
r e P o r T S e r i e S i S u P d a T e d e V e r y f i V e y e a r S . T h e f o l l o W i n G
r e P o r T S a r e a V a i l a B l e f o r d o W n l o a d f r e e o f C h a r G e
a T W W W . G r e a T V a l l e y . or G / i n d i C a T o r S .
201 Needham Street
Modesto, California 95354
www.greatvalley.org
Major support for this report was provided by
Kaiser Permanente and Citibank.
The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization working in partnership with the University of California, Merced
to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California's Great Central Valley..

Assessing The Community Well-Being of The Great Valley Center - 2006

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Assessing The Community Well-Being of The Great Valley Center - 2006

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Great Val l e y Ce nte r

2 01 Ne e dham St re e t, Mode s to, CA 9535 4

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen