| Turning Toward the Other California...
When most people think of California they think of
the postcard-like images of Hollywood and Southern California
beaches, the Golden Gate Bridge, and perhaps the staggering
coastline of Monterey County.
While the beauty of the California coastline holds
the attention of visitors to this incredibly diverse
state, the 450-mile long interior valley is seldom given
notice. Often called "the other California,"
the Valley truly is the heartland of the state. It is
also the richest agricultural region in the history
of the world and is home to many of the poorest Californians.
For most of us, contact with this region comes from
the food we eat. About one-quarter of our nation's table
food—fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables—is
grown in the Central Valley. This bounty, so critical
to our national public health, could not exist without
the hard-working and extremely productive immigrants
in the Valley.
California’s Central Valley . . .
• Is
a vast region, running 450 miles north from Bakersfield
to Redding and 50 miles east from the Coastal Mountain
Range to the Sierra Nevada.
• Is home to more than
5.5 million residents, and has a projected population
growth rate one-third higher than the state.
• Is the most ethnically
diverse rural region in the United States, with four
of the top 10 most diverse U.S. metropolitan districts.
• Experiences an increasing
gap between the rich and poor, Anglo and minority, outpacing
that in most other parts of the state.
• Is considered one of
the most important political "swing regions"
in the state.
• Attracts less than
half of the state’s per capita average in philanthropic
support.
• Is home to several
hundred thousand immigrants who are eligible and interested
in naturalizing as U.S. citizens and becoming involved
in community life.
By creating partnerships with individuals, organizations
and institutions dedicated to improving communities
through civic participation, the Central Valley Partnership
for Citizenship is turning attention to "the other
California".
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