From Crisis to Action: Mobilizing for Equity, Resilience, and Recovery in Rural and Farmworker Communities: In Person Central Valley Tour

Join the UC Merced Community and Labor Center for a full day, in-person only funders’ tour of communities in the Tulare Basin on Wednesday July 13, 2023 as a follow-up to Philanthropy California’s Virtual Funders Briefing. The Tulare Basin stretches across parts of Fresno, Tulare, Kern, and Kings counties. It notably includes the resurrected Tulare Lake, once the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi. This growing lake now threatens work and well-being in one of the most under-resourced regions in the nation.

The Labor Center has teamed up with leading community, work and labor organizations dedicated to serving farmworkers and rural communities across California. Together, they aim to create an immersive and transformational experience that will shed light on the social and economic impacts of the 2023 floods, while also examining the persistent inequities that have consequently been further exacerbated. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to engage directly with workers and residents affected by these challenges, and the organizations that have long championed their communities. You will gain profound insights into their pressing needs and identify strategic pathways to build civic capacity and facilitate recovery during a time of escalating climate disasters.

Goals of this series:

1. Move resources to communities recovering from climate change fueled storms across the State
2. Build a deeper understanding of the historic importance of the Central Valley, including the many intersectional issues in need of resourcing (climate & disaster resilience, public health, workers’ rights, immigration reform, food security & nutrition, democracy, etc.)
3. Explore options for immediate action / collaboration

You are also warmly invited to a reception on Tuesday July 12, 2023, the night before the tour. This will be a great opportunity to connect with both familiar faces and new acquaintances, as well as gain deeper context in anticipation of the immersive journey that awaits us the next day.