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September 14, 2026 - Data centers have powered the digital economy for decades, enabling online services, cloud computing, and more. Today, as data centers respond to explosive demand for AI, their land, water, and energy needs are growing rapidly.
September 9, 2026 - Silicon Valley’s commercial space pipeline continued to contract through the second quarter of 2026, as in-progress development fell to its lowest level since 2012. Industrial and lab space accounted for all new development activity in the first half of 2026, while three of the past four quarters saw no new office completions.
August 31, 2026 - Silicon Valley, widely recognized as a global innovation center, is also one of the world's most international communities. Two out of every five residents were born outside the United States — a share that ranks among cities like Geneva, Zurich, and Amsterdam. Within the tech workforce, that share rises to two out of every three.
The 2026 Silicon Valley Index shows $92 billion in venture capital, more than 23,000 new patents, and hundreds of unicorns driving productivity. But with median home prices nearing $2 million and a quarter of households unable to meet basic needs, the gulf between Silicon Valley’s sky-high output and life on the ground remains clear.
Santa Clara and San Jose, Calif. – American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley (ALF) and Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network (Joint Venture) have launched a collaborative called “Realizing the California Dream” to assure Silicon Valley’s role in California governance and fiscal reform.
ALF is dedicated to building a better Silicon Valley community by joining and strengthening leaders to serve the common good. Joint Venture convenes Silicon Valley leaders across multiple sectors to assess the region’s challenges and lead initiatives addressing those challenges.
Both nonprofit organizations have identified California governance as a priority issue and are on record calling for reform. Through this collaborative, ALF and Joint Venture will embark on a program designed to coalesce the region’s leaders around a reform agenda, and join with other regional and statewide organizations to advance that agenda.
“ALF and Joint Venture have long held similar values and goals in terms of advancing an agenda for the common good of Silicon Valley,” said Chris Block, ALF CEO. “It is a natural evolution for ALF to be collaborating with Joint Venture on this project of crucial importance to the future not only of Silicon Valley, but to all of California.”
“With this partnership Silicon Valley can flex its considerable muscle on statewide issues more than ever,” said Russell Hancock, President & CEO of Joint Venture. “The combined influence of our two organizations brings a powerful voice for our region to Sacramento.”
The “Realizing the California Dream” collaborative will include: the hire of a program manager; the development of a youth and technology strategy; the establishment of a joint oversight committee; the rollout of a series of working sessions on reforming California on the second Thursday of the month from noon – 2 p.m. beginning July 9; the recruitment of collaborative members and the development of a vision, mission, set of principles and reforms for promotion.
“Realizing the California Dream” is a Common Good Collaborative project in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Common Good Collaborative was launched by ALF and the Knight Foundation in June 2008 with a goal of creating a new way for Silicon Valley to address issues and affect positive change. Activities to date include a series of community dialogues on issues of political, economic and social relevance to Silicon Valley and the “Uncommon Exchange” conversation series which explores what it means for communities to make complex decisions in a high-stakes environment.
About Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
Established in 1993, Joint Venture provides analysis and action on issues affecting the Silicon Valley economy and quality of life. The organization brings together established and emerging leaders—from business, government, academia, labor and the broader community—to spotlight issues, launch projects and work toward innovative solutions. For more information, visit www.jointventure.org.
About American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley
American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley (ALF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better Silicon Valley community by joining and strengthening leaders to serve the common good. ALF was founded in 1988 to create a regional network of diverse senior-level leaders across private, public and nonprofit sectors. Graduates of the organization’s one-year Fellows program, now numbering more than 400, have created a network that brings together a broad cross-section of leaders committed to building a stronger community, using collaborative leadership skills to identify and deal with complex regional issues, and creating opportunities to work together in ways that make a significant difference to Silicon Valley.
