| New board members |
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The Joint Venture Silicon Valley board of directors elected four new members at its quarterly meeting March 15th. Unanimously elected were Teresa Alvarado, Regional Vice President, PG&E; Katie Ferrick, Managing Director, Applied Materials; Elijah Lefkow, Senior Manager, San Francisco 49ers; and Jessica Weare, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
“The combined experience of this new panel of leaders will bring strength and innovation to Joint Venture’s work,” said Russell Hancock, President & CEO of Joint Venture. “We are pleased to welcome them to the Joint Venture board.” |
| Read the news release |
| Institute research: |
| Expanding the Behavioral Health Workforce Pipeline in Santa Clara County |
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The Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies released Expanding the Behavioral Health Workforce Pipeline in Santa Clara County with research that benchmarks the status of the existing local behavioral health workforce and identifies roadblocks and priorities for pipeline expansion and local retention.
“This report provides valuable insight into the county’s behavioral health workforce pipeline and is a step toward incorporating new strategies to attract and retain talent,” said Susan Ellenberg, President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, and chair of the Joint Venture board of directors. “I am committed to continuing the conversation about effective behavioral health workforce expansion strategies as we continue on the vital mission of improving behavioral health outcomes for our residents.”
The study found the need for qualified behavioral health professionals – inclusive of those working in mental health and substance use disorder treatment – has increased significantly over the past several years. This research is intended to inform efforts to expand the local capacity for behavioral health care, as well as those working to build a more racially and ethnically diverse workforce.
“Joint Venture's research shines a spotlight on where we need to focus to develop a behavioral health workforce adequate to meet the overwhelming need for mental health and substance use services,” said Elisa Koff-Ginsborg, Executive Director at Behavioral Health Contractors' Association. |
| Read the brief |
| Childcare and Business: The Case for Action |
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The lack of affordable childcare in Silicon Valley has affected families, the economy, and even businesses. The 2024 Silicon Valley Index notes that childcare costs in Silicon Valley have nearly quadrupled over the past 20 years, rising twice as quickly as the regional inflation rate. Over the past decade, childcare costs have more than doubled.
In its role as a regional convener, Joint Venture on March 22 hosted Childcare and Business: The Case for Action, an in-person symposium held at Applied Materials in Santa Clara seeking to understand the scale and economic consequences of the current childcare crisis and to facilitate the exploration of innovative models, focusing on how the region might collaborate for meaningful change.
Russell Hancock, CEO of Joint Venture, provided an overview of regional data, Anna Powell, Senior Research and Policy Associate at U.C. Berkeley Center for the Study of Childcare Employment covered the economic impacts of the childcare crisis, and video messages were provided by Members of Congress Adam Schiff and Ro Khanna.
A growing number of Silicon Valley business leaders are pondering whether new models of childcare and preschool could achieve compelling results and address the current crisis. |
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In the vibrant coastal enclave of Santa Cruz, where the Pacific breeze mingles with entrepreneurial spirit, Rebecca Unitt leads the charge as the Economic Development Manager for the City of Santa Cruz. With a career forged at the nexus of urban planning and community empowerment, Rebecca served in 2023 as chair of Joint Venture’s Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance (SVEDA).
Rebecca's journey epitomizes dedication to public service and driving positive change. Born and raised in Riverside, California, Rebecca's early years instilled in her a deep-seated commitment to social justice and community betterment.
It was during her tenure at USC, while interning with the National Low Income Housing Coalition and studying at Georgetown University, that Rebecca discovered her passion for local governance and its capacity for immediate impact. |
| Read Rebecca's profile |
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March 17, 2024 - (Silicon Valley) - Bay Area job market suffered ‘mini-recession’ in 2023: new stats - “This was a downturn,” said Russell Hancock, president of Joint Venture Silicon Valley . More
March 15, 2024 - (Palo Alto Online) - Tall Tree Awards honor Palo Alto’s civic leaders, businesses: Sheri Sager, former Joint Venture board member, honored with the Tall Tree award . More
March 11, 2024 - (Food for Thought Podcast) - Susan Miller-Davis, Associate Director of the Food Recovery Initiative at Joint Venture Silicon Valley, for a deep dive into all things food recovery. More
March 10, 2024 - (Mercury News) - They were part of the Bay Area exodus. Now, they’ve decided to return:In a 2023 poll conducted by...Joint Venture Silicon Valley, about half of registered voters said they were likely to move out of the Bay Area. More
March 9, 2024 - (Mercury News) - Sal Pizarro: [Mayors] had plenty to discuss about their own cities in a panel led by Russell Hancock, CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley. More
March 8, 2024 - (Mercury News) - Bay Area starts 2024 with robust job gains led by South Bay upswing: “Silicon Valley’s job growth is impressive...,” said Russell Hancock, president of Joint Venture Silicon Valley More
March 8, 2024 - (San Jose Spotlight) - Silicon Valley mayors agree lack of housing is a top issue: Russell Hancock, CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, moderated the panel More
This is just a tiny sampling of Joint Venture's frequent coverage in the national and local news media. Read all our news coverage. |
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