The Creative Movement
We’re happy to introduce an ongoing series of posts on the Valley’s creative movement and its counterpart the Central Valley Brain Drain. We’ll be tracking down former Valley residents (with a preference on educated “creative class”-types) and finding out what they’re doing, why they don’t live in the Valley, and what would it take for them to move back.
It’s our first foray into this type of content, so expect it to evolve as the posts continue.
Note: Our concept for this humble site is to provide content on issues facing the central San Joaquin Valley. Since we are not currently located in the Valley (we left too!), a natural theme to pursue included the brain drain phenomena, and the work that Creative Fresno and others are doing to combat this. Expect a posting with more interviews and background material.
Note: This was sent and returned as an e-mail survey. If you have suggestions on how to improve the questions/process, please let us know. We’re blogging novices.
Brain Drain Chronicles: Robyn, 25
Name : Robyn
Age: 25
Where did you attend high school? Clovis High School
What is your educational background? B.A. Columbia University 2004, J.D. NYU 2008
What is your current occupation? Law Student; Public Defender
Where and how long did you live in the central valley? Clovis 1986-2000
Where do you live now? New York City
Why do you (don’t you) live in the central San Joaquin Valley? I moved to go to college and then stayed away for law school.
What are the secondary reasons? The food is better, the air is better, there is more diversity, the bars are better, the cultural options are more plentiful, there is more to do, my job is here, most of my close friends live here now (or at least not in the Valley). I’m never bored.
What are the top 5-10 adjectives that come to mind when you think of the central valley? Dusty, hot, Mormon (adj.), agricultural, driving-based, truck-y, conservative, and Tsing Tao (adj.).
If you do not currently live in the central San Joaquin Valley, what changes/acts of God would need to occur in order for you to move there? New York City would need to be located in the Valley.
If you do not currently live in the central San Joaquin Valley, what price would make it worthwhile? If I ever moved back to the Valley, it wouldn’t be because of cost of living. I’m acutely aware that the place I live now is ridiculously expensive, but after seven years, it has never tempted me to move back to the Valley.
Feel free to add any comments. The Valley is where I grew up, New York is my home.
