Region Matters

 

    October 19th, 2012  Vol. 3. Issue 5                             

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Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Please continue to send news and information you would like to share with our community! We produce our weekly newsletter in order to encourage communication and the building of a shared dialogue. We look forward to receiving your suggested posts.  

 

 

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In This Issue
CRC Activities
Regional Change in the News
Special Reports on Regional Change
Upcoming Events
Activities

Positive reaction to the launch of CRC's California Civic Engagement Project (CCEP) continues. Since the the October 3rd event, data from projects's latest policy brief has been featured in numerous television, radio and newspaper pieces. The brief (click here) tracks the growth of the state's registered youth population.Youth registration numbers in California have grown significantly over the past decade, outpacing general registration. Despite these gains, youth remain underrepresented in California's electorate, with disparity greatest in regions with some of the poorest outcomes for youth.

 

Last Sunday, the CCEP's data was cited in the Los Angeles Times, as well as two front page Sacramento Bee articles!  Check out all of the project's coverage here.

 

Regional Change in the News

In honor of World Food Day today, the UC Davis Dining Services and the UC Davis Blum Center for Developing Economies are pleased to announce a new initiative. This effort is launched in partnership with TABLE FOR TWO International (TFT) Share the Harvest provides locally sourced and sustainably produced meals specifically designed by Executive Chef Ruben Andrade.  Of the 7 billion people in the world, 1 billion suffer from hunger and malnutrition, while an equal number face obesity, diabetes, and other health issues related to "over nutrition".  Share the Harvest seeks to shift that balance by providing locally grown, sustainably harvested, and healthy meals here in the U.S., while at the same time supporting locally grown, healthy meals abroad. Through this effort, the UC Davis Dining Services, Blum Center for Developing Economies and TFT are seeking to reduce poverty and support sustainable local food production in the Central Valley and abroad. For more information and to get involved contact Aiko Sasamoto ([email protected]).  

 

Recently, the following two articles were published on the topics related to environmental healthy:  

UCLA survey to get picture of county's health status. Read more here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/10/18/2598581/ucla-survey-to-get-picture-of.html#storylink=cpy


Special Reports on Regional Change

This week, the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE), released a new report, Facing the Climate Gap: How Environmental Justice Communities are Leading the Way to a More Sustainable and Equitable California which showcases the work of environmental justice organizations tackling the climate gap by engaging the most vulnerable communities in the state. The most qualitative of the Climate Gap series, USC presents 12 case studies that include the work of 18 community-engaged organizations. One story will be told, each day this week, as vignettes on Alternet. A recent feature is of Sacramento's Ubuntu Green. By promoting local gardening, it is improving food security, environmental responsibility and community engagement one plot at a time. Read the report here.

 

Check Out Tox Town: A Great Resource for Educating Children About Chemicals. There newest blog post highlights a great interactive website called "Tox Town," which was created by the National Library of Medicine to introduce middle school, high school, and college students to toxic chemicals in their everyday environment. Tox Town helps students and teachers learn about environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals pictured in imaginary Cities, Farms, Towns, the US Border Regions, Ports, and the US Southwest. Read more about it here!  

  

A newly released brief explores Co�s County youth involvement in civic-related activities, with particular attention to the demographic and attitudinal factors associated with such participation. Author Justin Young reports that approximately 75 percent of Co�s County youth report involvement in at least one type of civic-related activity. The types of activities varied by year in school. Eighth grad�ers were more involved in 4-H, Scouts, church groups, and community center events, while twelfth graders volunteered more often and participated in community-service clubs. Forty percent of youth volunteered within the past year, and a third are part of a community service club. He concludes that engaging youth in local civic activities is an important part of integrating them into the community and providing them with a set of civic skills they can draw on in adulthood. Read the brief: It Takes a Community: Civic Life and Community Involvement Among Coös County Youth.  

 

 A new book was just released on the topics of health and social justice. The Public Health and Social Justice Reader is now available here.   

Upcoming Events

Join the Coalition on Regional Equity's BCLI Forum on Transportation Equity. Equitable transportation means that everybody, regardless of their income, race, ethnicity, language or age, has high quality, affordable, accessible and safe transportation options to get to work, school, the doctor, and all other essential destinations. It helps provide a meaningful opportunity to be a part of the democratic process and contribute to society. Join the Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute in discussing current issues and strategies in transportation in the Sacramento region at this exciting event. 

 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

From 6:00 to 8:00PM

At Mutual Housing at Lemon Hill

6000 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento 

Please RSVP to Katie Valenzuela: [email protected]  

 

"Beyond Access to Fruits and Vegetables: Identifying Other Barriers to Healthy Eating and Exercise in a Low-Income Community", a Health Services Research Seminar, is being held on October 24. Place: UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER, DAVIS TOWER ROOM 7705. Time: 12:00 to 1:00pm