For Katie Schmarje Crockett, data has been a driving force throughout her career. Her path has taken her from a PhD dissertation studying HIV data trends and disease mitigation in Uganda to her current work advancing economic inclusion for Central Valley farmworkers. As CVCF’s Senior Data Analyst and Farm Food Future’s (F3’s) Senior Program Officer, Katie sees data not just as a tool, but as a means to understand and address injustice. While completing her dissertation in r

Congratulations to CVCF’s Chief Impact Officer Christy Patch, J.D., Ph.D., on being recognized as one of the 2026 Marjaree Mason Center’s Top Ten Professional Women! The peer-nominated awardees were selected by a committee of four community judges who reviewed and scored the candidates based on their exceptional achievements, leadership and dedication to making a positive impact. The ten recipients are women who have elevated the standards in their professions and uplifted ot

CVCF is thrilled to welcome Sebastian Ardemagni to the team as our Communications Manager – Digital Strategy. In this role, Sebastian will lead digital content strategy, manage social media and support communications across CVCF and its initiatives including Fresno DRIVE, Sierra San Joaquin Jobs (S2J2) and Health Equity. Sebastian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Sciences from UC Irvine and has extensive experience in strategy consulting, startup leadership and

When Angela Castellanos moved from the Bay Area to the Gateway to the Sequoias, (Visalia, CA), she was not sure what to expect. She was quickly inspired to get involved in her new community after learning about how drastic income-level disparities and limited job access impacted the futures of Valley residents. Angela began working in the inclusive economic development sector as a regional coordinator at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (G

After 15 years at Kaiser Permanente’s Regional Offices in Oakland, serving 10 years as the Regional Managing Director of the Research Division, Elize Bradley's career trajectory shifted after attending a pivotal open house where CVCF CEO Ashley Swearengin spoke. “When I heard Ashley's presentation about the Central Valley, I wondered how she could be so positive. If this woman, who is brilliant and has this love for the Valley, is determined to transform the region’s inequiti