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You may notice a theme in this month’s newsletter…“Community Transformation.” Believe it or not, there is no master plan to bombard you with relentless messages about things going on in our community. Rather, all the activities described below are a sign that our community truly is changing, it is transforming. With a number of people and organizations playing a role in this transformation, we are becoming a very active and engaged community – one that educates, recommends, innovates, studies, and enacts change. This happens to be an excellent month to become involved: Come learn about the RJI at the Annual Meeting on February 21, read the Creative Economy Council recommendations at www.fresnocec.org, attend the New Valley InForum: Innovative Topics for Innovative Thinkers, learn about the progress in our community with The New Valley Times, demonstrate that you support the city's urban core by “Marching on the Mall,” and the list goes on. Thank you to the countless volunteers and organizations that are making all these activities and opportunities a reality in our community. The results are beginning to show!
RJI Annual Meeting - February 21, 2006.
The second annual Regional Jobs Initiative community meeting will be held on February 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Fresno Convention Center New Exhibit Hall. The meeting is open to the public, and there is no charge to attend. To RSVP, call 559-294-6021, e-mail inforji@fresnorji.org, or visit www.FresnoRJI.org for online registration.
The agenda for the annual meeting will include an update on RJI progress; an entrepreneurs panel with Doug Davidian (California Business Furnishings), Jarah Euston (Famous Media), and Ed Kashian (Lance-Kashian Company); and a “civic entrepreneurs” panel with Assemblyman Juan Arambula, Mayor Alan Autry, Orange Cove Mayor Victor Lopez, and Clovis City Manager Kathy Millison moderated by the Fresno Bee’s Jim Boren. For more information, visit www.FresnoRJI.org.
CEC releases recommendations.
The Mayor’s Creative Economy Council recently released its report, Making the Grass Greener: Recommendations to Retain, Attract, Develop, and Support Knowledge Workers. The report’s recommendations are organized into four “spheres of change” that are seen as key to transformation: Mindset, Smart Growth, Urban Living, and Quality of Place. Within each sphere are three to four strategic goals and a number of recommendations to civic leaders on how the region can become part of the “Creative Cities” movement. For more information and to view the report, please visit www.fresnocec.org. A public meeting to review the report’s recommendations and to plan for the implementation of the report will be held on Tuesday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. at the UCSF auditorium.
Rebecca Ryan kicks off 2006 New Valley InForum - Up next: Tiffany Shlain.
Rebecca Ryan, founder of Next Generation Consulting, Inc. and author of “Hot Jobs, Cool Communities,” visited Fresno on January 26 as part of the New Valley InForum series. Over 250 people came to listen to Ryan’s insight on the importance of and how to attract boomerangs—people who grew up in the region but left—back to the Valley. With baby boomers retiring in droves and not enough young workers to fill their shoes, there is a need to attract additional workers to the region. Part of the strategy to achieve this is making Fresno an attractive community for creative workers, which is discussed in the Creative Economy Council’s recent report.
Up next in the New Valley InForum series is Tiffany Shlain, founder of the Webby Awards, filmmaker, and Good Morning America’s Internet expert. On February 16, Shlain will discuss “Using the Web to Shape Social Change,” advising us in how to better use one of our greatest tools to fuel regional transformation. The third and final speaker of the series will be Lynne Twist on March 14 to discuss her book, The Soul of Money, and how community transformation includes transforming how we relate to money. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.lylescenter.com.
Is our community showing signs of improvement? On February 28, you decide...The New Valley Times Community Report.
In three weeks, The New Valley Times Community Report will be distributed to over 200,000 Fresno Bee subscribers measuring the community’s progress on a number of key issues. The 2006 New Valley Times is a follow up to the original edition published two years ago as a hypothetical newspaper set in the year 2015. The Community Report will address domains such as the economy, cultural arts and recreation, education, housing, innovation, transportation, and the environment. The 2015 paper is still available at www.NewValleyTimes.com, as will be the Community Report. However, to make this paper happen, we are still in need of Ambassador Donations in the amount of $750. If you are interested, please contact Marty Clanin-Frantz at MartyFAdalaC@aol.com within the next few days.
March on the Fulton Mall - February 28, 2006.
Have you ever wondered what Fresno would be like as a vibrant urban center? This is your opportunity to participate and find out. On February 28 at 12:00 p.m. be one of hundreds of people gathering at the Fulton Mall Clock Tower to participate in the Fulton Mall “March In.” During the march, numerous volunteers will act out different activities that represent a vibrant life on the mall from waiting at a fictitious light rail stop to enjoying live music to sitting on benches and using a make-believe Wi-Fi network. In addition, dozens of volunteers will simply walk up and down the mall to demonstrate what it would look like if it reached its full potential. At 1:15 p.m. participants are then invited to march to City Hall in support of the CEC’s report, Making the Grass Greener. The CEC will make a presentation to the Fresno City Council at 2:30 p.m. and will ask the Council to work with the community to implement its many recommendations. No preparation is necessary! If you want to participate, simply meet at the clock tower on the Mall at 12:00 on February 28. If you would like to help organize the event or if you have ideas about activities to demonstrate during the march, please contact Ashley Swearengin at ashleys@csufresno.edu.
Logistics/Distrubtion Management Certificat at Fresno City College.
The Advanced Logistics and Distribution Cluster has been working with Fresno City College to develop a certificate in logistics and distribution management. The proposal will be presented to the curriculum committee this month and is then expected to be approved by the Chancellor’s office. Special thank you to Lydia Anderson, chair of the Business Administration Department at Fresno City College, and Lydia Zybricki at the Economic Development Corporation for their efforts to develop this valuable program.
Innovation Index Coming Soon!!!.
The Innovation Economy Agenda: Setting Priorities and Assessing Progress in the Central San Joaquin Valley Region will be released this month. To increase economic growth and prosperity in a region, there must be a commitment to competition based on innovation, entrepreneurship and regional reinvention. The Agenda is meant to affirm this commitment to value-based competition; refine and renew the region’s development agenda; and to benchmark progress toward achieving economic sustainability. Additionally, the Agenda is a source of objective and reliable information that will be used in education, discussions and decision-making related to the future of our region’s economy. For more information, please contact the Lyles Center (www.lylescenter.com).
Center for Nursing Excellence to be established at Fresno State.
Preliminary efforts have been completed by the College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State to establish the “Center for Nursing Excellence.” The Center will serve as an important focal point for the region’s nursing community in the areas of research, clinical excellence, and advanced education at both the master’s and doctorate levels. The Center will also develop a joint doctorate program in nursing and will serve as a key establishment for leaders and educators interested in enhancing nursing practice, education and manpower. The College has also developed an accelerated (36 months) entry-level master’s nursing program for non-nurses who wish to enter the field. The one-time program will help train participants for leadership positions in nursing and provide nursing faculty for educational institutions, thus having an ongoing positive effect on nursing training in the Valley.
Fresno County WIB receives grant for Central California Excellence in Workforce Development project.
The Fresno County WIB, in partnership with the RJI, has received a $100,000 grant from the Department of Labor to implement the Central California Excellence in Workforce Development project, an initiative meant to resolve the disparity of employer demands and the available labor pool. Employment and training in four RJI-targeted industries—Construction & Trades, Healthcare, Logistics and Distribution, and Manufacturing/Food Processing—will be studied in order to develop short and long-term community interventions to better serve the region’s workforce development needs. The study is expected to be completed by June.
Fresno State's Division of Continuing and Global Education offers training for RJI clusters.
The Division of Continuing and Global Education at Fresno State is now offering a number of courses targeting businesses in RJI industry clusters. A small sampling of courses include “Collaborative Policy Making and Public Involvement,” “Kaizen Management System: Roadmap to Managing the Continuous Improvement Strategy,” “Management and Prevention of Sexual Harassment,” “Topics in Urban and Regional Planning,” “Call Center Certificate,” “Customer Service Certificate,” “E-Commerce Certificate,” online career programs such as “Administrative Medical Specialist” and “Medical Transcription.” To view additional courses or register, please visit http://www.csufresno.edu/ExtendedEd or call 559-278-0333.
Central Valley Fund officially launched.
Gail Partners, LLC, a private capital asset manager, recently announced the closing of the Central Valley Fund. CVF has been established to make later stage capital investments in industry companies in the Greater San Joaquin Valley, from Redding to Bakersfield. “The Central Valley is experience robust growth and small to middle market companies cannot keep pace without access to professional capital,” stated Dan Jessee, CVF principal and former Vice Chair of Bank One Capital Markets. The Fund hopes to fill some of the funding gaps that have been historically present in the Valley and is encouraged by “the dedicated work ethic that predominates the Central Valley,” commented Brad Triebsch, CVF principal. Other management team members include Jose Blanco, principal, Todd Stemler, vice president, and special advisor Bill Henderson.
FCASH Profile: Fresno Grand Opera.
Fresno Grand Opera is a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation organized to produce and present superior caliber, fully staged professional opera in the central San Joaquin Valley. As one of the region’s largest performing arts organizations, the Fresno Grand Opera produces each year two opera (with two performances each), three concerts and numerous educational programs. Upcoming events include “The Merry Widow,” “Otello,” and “Encore III.” For tickets and additional information, please visit www.fresnograndopera.org.
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