Dear CRC Community, 

A few years ago I took my children on a tour of the State Capitol Building. My daughter was very interested in the art—the wood work, the decorative tiles, and the paintings. After viewing the gallery of Governor portraits, she turned to me and asked, “Where are all the girls?” We know that representation matters. When we see people like ourselves in positions of leadership, it signals that someone who shares our history and worldview is making decisions that reflect our interests and values.

The Center for Regional Change was honored last week to host three visiting faculty from the King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia, including Dr. Majed Alshamari, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Dr. Faten Dhawi Almahnaa, Vice Dean, Deanship of Development and Quality Assurance, and Dr. Fahad Ben Duhaish, Vice Dean, Deanship of Admission and Registration. The team came to UC Davis to learn about models of applied research organizations such as the CRC.

Since California recognized the Human Right to Water in 2012 as a foundational approach to the provision of safe, abundant, and affordable drinking water to all residents, many community and policy organizations have been working to put this right into reality.

This month has been a time of transition for the CRC. In addition to celebrating the student employees and fellows who have completed a successful academic year, we also celebrated several milestones for the CRC staff. Two of our colleagues returned to work after taking leave time to welcome new babies into their respective families. We welcomed a new member to our team and sent our well wishes to a colleague leaving to take on new opportunities.

Author: Cecilia Laura Morales

Before serving as community engagement coordinator for the Center for Regional Change, Nancy Xiong already felt like the organization was family from simply reading about it and realizing how much of its mission aligned with her personal goals. Once she joined the team, her connection to the center was reinforced.

Author: Cecilia Laura Morales

George Villa embodies kindness. And not in the way a stranger is kind for holding a door open or your grandma is kind for baking cookies.

After spending a day at a juvenile correctional facility in Stockton, Calif. doing healing work and sitting in traffic to get back to Davis, Villa spoke gently. He sat calmly, but there was a palpable passion surrounding everything he spoke about.