There’s a prevailing narrative that young people in America are not politically engaged and are unlikely to vote. But Valley Edition Host Kathleen Schock recently spoke with three individuals who are actively challenging that assumption: Riddhi S. Patel, a 24-year-old coordinator for Sunrise Kern in Bakersfield, Alexandria Benn, a 25-year-old …
Read More »‘I Want To Make Sure That My Community Is Informed’ – Serving Big Sandy Rancheria In A Fire
With the devastation caused by the Creek Fire, the chairperson of Big Sandy Rancheria calls herself a messenger for her community. So far, most of the 170-member tribe have evacuated. Elizabeth Kipp is the Auberry tribe’s chairperson. Since evacuating to Fresno, she’s made multiple trips back up Highway 168 to …
Read More »Local Historic Theaters Count On Community Support During Pandemic Shutdown
Performing arts venues have been dark since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March – including some of the Central Valley’s most historic theatres. But efforts are taking place to help these landmarks weather the storm. To learn more, Valley Edition host Kathleen Schock spoke with Laurance Abbate, CFO of The …
Read More »Community Advocates Say Water Shutoff Order Is Good, But Not Enough
On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom placed an executive order restricting water shutoffs retroactively from March 4th. That’s good news, community advocates say, but it doesn’t help those whose water was already shut off. Jonathan Nelson is the Policy Director for the Community Water Center. He says Newsom’s order will help …
Read More »Ambitious Air Improvement Program Brought Community To The Table – Here’s How It’s Working So Far
The San Joaquin Valley lies underneath one of the two most polluted air basins in the country. That’s why, in 2018, two communities here – one in Shafter and one in south-central Fresno – were selected among the first to participate in Assembly Bill 617, an ambitious state law that …
Read More »In The Studio: Community Leaders On Giving, Now And Beyond The Holiday Season
Valley residents give back to their communities in a variety of ways, ranging from donations and philanthropy to mentoring and volunteering within the community. Collectively, these volunteer efforts not only make a huge difference in the lives of others, but can also benefit those offering their time and money. In …
Read More »Following Horrific Tragedies, New Hotline Supports Victims Within Bakersfield’s Sikh Community
It can be a challenge for anyone dealing with family violence or substance abuse to access the resources they need, but imagine what it’s like for new immigrants to the United States. Advocates in Kern County are working to address these issues specifically in the Sikh community by providing a …
Read More »Fresno Breaks Ground On City’s Largest Community Garden
Local leaders gathered in Southwest Fresno Tuesday for the groundbreaking of the city’s newest community garden and first project funded by the Transformative Climate Communities grant . The Yosemite Village Permaculture Urban Farm and Community Garden is right next to the Yosemite Village Apartments, but locals have a shorthand: Yo’Ville. …
Read More »Selma City Council Split Between Two District Maps: ‘Are They Fair To The Community?’
The Selma City Council is torn between choosing a district map the community supports or picking one that keeps members from running against each other. At Monday night’s regular meeting, the council cast votes on a map created by the company it hired, the National Demographics Corporation (or NDC), and …
Read More »Selma Is Moving To District Elections. Some Say The Proposed Districts Don’t Represent The Community
The Selma City Council wants to change the way people vote for council members by creating districts versus at-large voting. But mapping those districts is a complicated process and community and council members have different ideas on how to make it fair. The first set of district maps that were …
Read More »Community Organizer Leads Efforts To Recall FUSD Trustee Terry Slatic
We’ve just heard from Fresno Unified Trustees Terry Slatic and Veva Islas about the board’s motion to censure Slatic. But there’s also a group of concerned citizens and parents who want Slatic to be recalled from the board, in part because Bullard High School students say he threatened to kick …
Read More »HeaL: A Clinic To Help Doctors Better Serve The LGBTQ+ Community
In early July, a downtown Fresno non-profit called Common Space teamed up with local health organizations to run a mobile clinic designed specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals – a community that’s at elevated risk for HIV, mental health problems and suicide. Patients could gain access to specialized care such as hormone …
Read More »Common Space And UCSF Fresno To Offer Free Medical Clinic To LGBT+ Community
Finding an ally in the doctor’s office can be difficult, especially for those who are transgender, non-gender-binary or who otherwise belong to the LGBT+ community. To combat disparities that can develop in the health care realm, a Fresno organization is hosting a free medical clinic for LGBT+ individuals on Saturday, …
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