New from the Center for Regional Change: Region Matters 05/07/2014

Region Matters

May 7, 2014 Vol. 4 - Issue 22

Hello CRC Community,

Jonathan London

CRC Director

We hope you enjoy this week's edition of Region Matters. Please send us your news items, reports, events, job opportunities and other regionally-relevant items to share.

In This Issue

CCEP in the Media

Recent Reports of Interest

Regionally-Relevant Events

About Us: The UC Davis Center for Regional Change

CCEP in the Media

The California Civic Engagement Project (CCEP) on the Radio

Mindy Romero, Director of the CCEP, was interviewed on CA Public Radio's Insight program yesterday. Mindy discussed findings from the CCEP's recently released report on disparities in the use of vote-by-mail ballots among California voters. More information below.

Voters Might Go Postal for CA's June Primary
The CCEP was recently featured in Sacramento News and Review. The Center for Regional Change's California Civic Engagement Project looked at disparities in use of vote-by-mail ballots from 2002 to 2012. The report by CCEP Director Mindy Romero studied the large and growing gap between Latino and Asian voters. Both groups have been historically underrepresented in voting and "have a high percentage of naturalized citizens and language access needs when voting." The Sacramento region had the second highest percentage of vote-by-mail use among Asians, followed by the Bay Area. As a region, Sacramento used the second highest percentage of mail-in ballots after the central coast. To read the full post, click here.

Recent Reports of Interest

2014 Building a Grad Nation

For the first time in U.S. history the nation's high school graduation rate rose above 80% according to the 2014 Building a GradNation report released April 28. While more than eight in 10 public high school students are graduating on time, the report shows more good news: the number of students enrolled in dropout factories has dropped 47% over the last decade, students of color have led the way in increasing graduation rates and leaving dropout factory high schools, and these increases have come as standards to graduate have gotten tougher. Getting to a 90% graduation rate by 2020 will take a concerted, cross-sector effort to close graduation gaps and ensure all students have the educational opportunities and experiences that can take them into college and career. To read the full report, click here.

State of the Air 2014

Nearly half of the U.S. population lives with unhealthy air. Yes, you read that correctly; 147.6 million Americans live in counties where the air can harm their health and shorten their lives. This week, the American Lung Association released their 15th annual State of the Air report . While this year's report shows that the nation has reduced its pollution over the past 15 years, the report provides strong evidence that climate change threatens air quality-and public health. Click here to learn more about your air quality. While you're there, learn to protect yourself and your family from air pollution and share your grades with others.

Regionally-Relevant Events

Special Presentation by UCLA Professor Daniel Solorzano:

"Using the Tools of Critical Race Theory and Racial Microaggressions to Examine Everyday Racism"

Date: Wed, May 7

Time: 5:30pm - 7pm

Place: Memorial Union II Room, UCD

This event is free and open to the public.

Peds Count! 2014 in Sacramento

Date: May 14-16

Time: Starts Wed, May 14 @ Noon

Place: Tsakopoulos Library Galleria - 828 I Street, Sacramento

Featuring cutting-edge research, best practices and innovations to advance walking in California. Come share your successes, challenges, and lessons learned with pedestrian safety and health professionals, researchers, community advocates, and walking enthusiasts from all over the state. Click here for more info.

Sacramento Housing Alliance 2014 Awards Dinner

Date: Wed, May 28

Time: 5:30pm Cocktails, 6:30 pm Dinner

Place: The Firehouse Restaurant - 1112 Second Street, Sacramento

Please join SHA as they honor community leaders in the fight for affordable housing and healthy communities within the Greater Sacramento region. At the 2014 Awards Dinner, you will enjoy networking, cocktails, a fabulous dinner, inspirational remarks and a fun drawing and silent auction. Register here.

About Us: The UC Davis Center for Regional Change

The UC Davis Center for Regional Change (CRC) produces innovative research to create healthy, sustainable, prosperous, and equitable regions in California and beyond. For media inquiries and other questions, please contact us at (530) 752-3007. For general questions, please email crcinfo@ucdavis.edu. Click here to read more about the CRC.