From Conversation to Action: Strengthening the Heart of Our Region
The Capital Region is a place that I chose to live, having moved here 24 years ago. Right away, I was struck by the people and places of this region: people who introduced me to new ideas and new ways of making community; and places that offered beauty and function – urban gardens, bike lanes, access to nature, and more. It felt like a region where you could raise kids, build a career, and plan for the long term – which is exactly what my husband and I did. Those qualities are what drew us in, and they’re the same ones that make this work personal for me.
At Valley Vision, we conduct the Livability Poll each year to understand people’s views on critical issues and how people across our six-county region experience life here. In comparison with our most recent Livability Poll in 2023, the 2025 results reveal a region that remains hopeful but is also under strain. Affordable housing once again tops the list of residents’ priorities, with the majority saying it’s getting harder to purchase a home or imagine retiring here. Access to healthcare rose to the second-highest priority this year, reflecting growing concern about affordability and policy uncertainty. Livable wages ranked third, with residents expressing mixed confidence in job security and career mobility – especially as artificial intelligence reshapes the labor market. Education remains a key concern, rounding out the top four, and as always, perspectives and experiences differ greatly according to geography, race and ethnicity, income, and other factors.
Despite these challenges, the data also highlights important and unique strengths. Residents continue to describe the Capital Region as a good or excellent place to live, work, and raise children. They value its diversity, natural amenities, supportive services, and sense of community – themes that came up repeatedly when people were asked about the region’s greatest strengths. In short, people care about this place and recognize the assets we have.
The Livability Poll gives us a clear picture of where we stand – but numbers alone don’t create change. That’s why we bring people together for the Livability Summit: to share data, create dialogue, and catalyze action. On October 1st, more than 350 leaders, partners, and community members gathered to do exactly that.
We gathered in Citrus Heights and experienced firsthand how local leadership is driving community vibrance. The Summit featured insights from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) on the region’s 25-year vision for growth and transportation, and from two California legislators – one Democrat and one Republican – who discussed how they’re working together across differences to serve our communities. Attendees joined five workshops focused on workforce development, affordable housing, climate resilience, federal policy, and community engagement; explored how regional media connects to civic trust; practiced tools for collaboration; and closed the day with reflections from youth leaders on their hopes for the future – capped by a community social hour with the City of Citrus Heights and the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce.
The day reinforced what I’ve long believed: data can guide us, but people move us forward. I left the Summit convinced that local, data-informed storytelling is one of our region’s most important assets. It builds shared understanding and helps communities and leaders make decisions grounded in reality, not assumptions. That’s essential to a healthy democracy – and to the kind of trust we need to take on hard issues together.
Our region is far from finished, but the progress is undeniable. We’ve achieved cleaner air, expanded cutting-edge sectors like biotechnology and advanced manufacturing, and established ourselves as a national leader in inclusive economic growth. Through We Prosper Together, we’re turning collaboration into impact – supporting projects that build living-wage jobs, prepare workers for the future, and ensure the benefits of growth reach every community in the Capital Region. The Livability Poll helps us see where we stand. The Summit reminded me that real progress comes from what we do with that knowledge – and from the people willing to keep showing up to make this region stronger.
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Evan Schmidt is Valley Vision’s Chief Executive Officer.
