The Livability Poll (October 2022)
The Livability Poll is a broad based quality of life poll, tracking residents’ experiences with issues such as affordability of necessities, access to services, job and career satisfaction, safety and belonging, as well as residents’ perspectives of the Sacramento Region.
The Poll was in the field from mid-June to mid-July of 2022. It is demographically representative of the Capital region, encompassing Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percent.
This poll is a project of Valley Vision and CapRadio, in partnership with the Institute for Social Research at Sacramento State.
Residents are split as to how their overall quality of life has changed in the last five years. They think positively of the region as a place to grow up, pursue a career, and raise a family, but more than one-fourth think it is a poor place to purchase a home or retire. Residents are most concerned about issues like the cost of housing and homelessness. Almost one-third or more of residents are struggling to afford what they need to live. People of color, particularly Black/African Americans, are more likely than residents overall to be unable to afford certain necessities, like paying rent, mortgage, or other bills.
Concerns among parents are high. About one third of parents say they do not have access to the childcare they need and most parents expressed concern about the continuing disruption the pandemic has on their children’s education.
Many are willing to learn new skills to access more opportunities. More than two-thirds of residents say that they are interested in learning new or improving their skills through education and training programs, and many expressed a preference for programs that last a year or less, are hybrid or remote, and have flexible or weekend hours.
One-fifth of residents say that they feel that their neighborhood or local community is less safe than others. This percentage is significantly higher for communities of color and for those who live in cities as compared to those who live in suburbs or small town/rural areas.
Residents feel the strongest connections with those who live near them. Most residents say they feel accepted by their neighbors, supported by their neighbors, and connected to their neighbors.
Residents are struggling with their mental health, but resources to address these issues are limited. Eighty-one percent say they have felt stress or anxiety at least once in the last seven days and more than half say they felt depression and hopelessness. Yet, almost one-third say they do not have access to quality and affordable mental health services.
You can also access CapRadio’s coverage of the poll at www.capradio.org.
Backbone Support & Governance Subcommittee Meeting 3 – July 21, 2022
On July 21, 2022, Valley Vision held the third meeting for the California Jobs First (CERF) Backbone Support & Governance Subcommittee. The meeting included a presentation in which Valley Vision shared the changes made to the proposed governance structure and then solicited any remaining feedback from the group. In addition to viewing the recording below, you may also view the meeting minutes.
Backbone Support & Governance Subcommittee Meeting 2 – July 14, 2022
On July 14, 2022, Valley Vision held the second meeting for the California Jobs First (CERF) Backbone Support & Governance Subcommittee. The meeting included a presentation in which Valley Vision shared our proposed governance structure and then solicited feedback from the group through discussion. In addition to viewing the recording below, you may also download the slides and meeting minutes.
Community Engagement Subcommittee Workshop – July 13, 2022
On July 13, 2022, Valley Vision held the California Jobs First (CERF) Community Engagement Subcommittee Workshop. The meeting included a presentation with an overview of the California Jobs First (CERF) program and established the foundation for the Community Engagement Subcommittee. There were also two group discussions. The first was a feedback session on the potential guiding values for the work moving forward. The second surfaced community engagement strategies for our region. In addition to viewing the recording below, you may also download the slides and meeting minutes.
Capacity-Building & Technical Assistance Subcommittee Workshop – July 13, 2022
On July 13, 2022, Valley Vision held the California Jobs First (CERF) Capacity-Building and Technical Assistance Subcommittee Workshop. The meeting included a presentation with an overview of the California Jobs First (CERF) program and established the foundation for the CB&TA Subcommittee. There were also two group discussions. The first was a feedback session on the potential guiding values for the work moving forward. The second surfaced capacity-building and technical assistance needs and strategies for our region. In addition to viewing the recording below, you may also download the slides and meeting minutes.
Data, Research, & Evaluation Subcommittee Workshop – July 12, 2022
On July 12, 2022, Valley Vision held the California Jobs First (CERF) Data, Research, and Evaluation Subcommittee Workshop. The meeting included a presentation with an overview of the California Jobs First (CERF) program and established the foundation for the DRE Subcommittee. There were also two group discussions. The first was a feedback session on the potential guiding values for the work moving forward. The second surfaced research and data assets, needs, activities, and capacity-building opportunities for our region. In addition to viewing the recording below, you may also download the slides and meeting minutes.
California Jobs First (CERF) Planning & Application Workshop – June 2022
Backbone Support & Governance Subcommittee Meeting 1 – July 7, 2022
On July 7 2022, Valley Vision held the California Jobs First (CERF) Backbone Support & Governance meeting. The meeting included a presentation with an overview of the California Jobs First (CERF) program and governance structure examples. The group also discussed the values and features that should inform the proposed governance structure. In addition to viewing the recording below, you may also download the slides and meeting minutes.
Colusa California Jobs First (CERF) Roundtable – June 2022
On June 30, 2022, Valley Vision hosted a roundtable on the Community Economic Resilience Fund for Colusa County. The session included an overview of the California Jobs First (CERF) Program (slides below) as well as a discussion about the concerns, needs, and opportunities for the county. In addition to the slides below, you may also view the discussion notes and handout.
Yuba-Sutter California Jobs First (CERF) Roundtables – June 2022
On June 30, 2022, Valley Vision hosted a roundtable on the California Jobs First (CERF) for Yuba & Sutter Counties. The session included an overview of the California Jobs First (CERF) Program (slides below) as well as a discussion about the concerns, needs, and opportunities for the region. In addition to the slides below, you may also view the discussion notes and handout.
We Prosper Together | California Jobs First
Taking a New Approach to Building Economic Strength.
As the economy, industries, and climate shifts, we can’t leave anyone behind. This is our opportunity to approach economic development inclusively. To reimagine our economy and workforce, it’s up to us to come together, elevate voices, and take action.
That’s why we have established We Prosper Together. Our work is currently supported by California Jobs First, but We Prosper Together is a long-term initiative to break down silos for a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Visit our website at www.weprospertogether.org to learn more and get involved.
Overview of California Jobs First
California Jobs First, sourced from the State General Fund, will distribute $600 million to 13 regions across California. The program will:
- Support the development of inclusive regional planning processes in order to produce regional strategies for economic development efforts that prioritize the creation of accessible, high-quality jobs in sustainable industries.
- Invest in projects proposed by regional planning tables that align with regional strategies and meet criteria for equity, job quality, and sustainability, among others.
- Align and leverage state investments (e.g., High Road Training Partnerships, community capacity building programs), federal investments (e.g., Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), and philanthropic and private-sector investments in regions to maximize economic development efforts.
The Capital Region includes the following eight counties: Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba Counties. Valley Vision is the Regional Convenor & Fiscal Agent for the Capital Region, meaning we are responsible for ensuring our region meets the goals outlined above.
Want to learn more? Visit us at www.weprospertogether.org
Archived Resources
Infographic: 2021 Year in Review
At Valley Vision, we bring communities together to tackle the biggest challenges affecting the livability of our region. By creating common ground built on facts, we inspire leaders to think big and collaborate on bold, long-term solutions that improve people’s lives.
This infographic can be read in under 90 seconds, and highlights some of Valley Vision’s key accomplishments and wins in 2021 as we advance prosperity, equity, and environmental stewardship across the Sacramento region and beyond.