October 15, 2025 / JaNell Gore / South Kern Sol
The UC Merced Community and Labor Center collaborated with the Dolores Huerta Foundation to conduct a community needs assessment in the South Central Valley, covering Kern, Kings, Tulare, and Fresno counties. On Wednesday, they presented key findings of the report and hosted two panel discussions. They surveyed 20 communities and had nearly 4,000 responses to the survey.
Jennifer Cossyleon, an associate professor at the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, explained that the study provides policymakers with a guide to make informed decisions based on community needs.
“The South Central Valley Community Needs Assessment is the most comprehensive study done in a rural region,” said Cossyleon. “It essentially provides a blueprint, an agenda, the people’s agenda for investment in the region.”
