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Welcome to csuglobal

California excites interest, envy, and longing throughout the world. It is a beacon for innumerable refugees, immigrants, and tourists from all quarters of the globe, seeking freedom, excitement, or improved economic opportunities. California is often compared to a loadstone, or a magnet, or the moon drawing tides. On occasion California is fancifully described as an enchantress – Circe, or one of the Sirens or the Lorelei. Every utopian name imaginable has been applied at some time – Atlantis, Arcadia, Avalon, the Garden of Eden, El Dorado, the Elysian Fields, the Garden of Golden Apples…the Isle of the Blest…the Promised Land, the Terrestrial Paradise and Treasure Island…In the minds of some explorers, those island myths became fixed ideas. Out of them grew the obsession that California was an island. This notion persisted on and off for two centuries following California’s discovery…Anybody who has felt the irresistible pull of California will feel some affinity with this fascinating tradition. Though the dream didn’t – couldn’t – literally come true, California remains symbolically an enchanted isle.Read More

By Alison Holmes

Global California for All

The Global Impact of Public Sector Leadership Education in California

The Center for California Studies, housed since 1982 at Sacramento State, has long served to bridge academia and government in the service of strengthening California’s democracy. Being located in California’s capital strategically positions the Center as a link between the University and the branches of California’s government, think tanks, other universities, and outside partnerships involved with public service in California. Read More

By Brian Aguilar

Keeping International Trade in Front of California Businesses

As the Biden administration and 118th Congress are about to begin work in January 2023, post the mid-term election, the California Chamber of Commerce is communicating its international trade priorities and support for working together to secure a national free trade agenda. International trade has been stifled over the last several years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, protectionist policies, global shipping crisis, the war in Ukraine and now inflationary pressures. It is as important as ever for all to understand the significance that trade provides to our economy. Read More

By Susanne Stirling

A word on the map used for csuglobal

Most human communities have at least four cardinal points of orientation. Many cultures base their sense of place in the world or worldview on what could be called ‘direction’ such as north, south, east, and west. Others, such as the Karuk of northern California, use points of cultural importance such as the Klamath river to describe ‘where they are in the world’ in relation to that sacred source. Other peoples use specific stars or the winds, not only to guide their travels, but to shape their life path. Maps, in the widest sense, reflect not only how we see the world, but also how we chart our course and thus our direction of travel in that world. Read More

By Alison Holmes

California leading on climate change — or changing the rules?
On August 31, 2022, California lawmakers passed a package of laws setting a goal for net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. The California Climate Crisis Act (AB-279), introduced by Assembly Member Muratsuchi, requires California to reduce carbon emissions by 85% by 2045. Carbon sequestration: Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage Program (SB-905), introduced by Senators Caballero and Skinner, aims at deployment of carbon capture technology with community protections and environmental provisions. Oil and gas: Operations: Location Restrictions: Notice of Intention: Health Protection Zone: Sensitive Receptors (SB1137), introduced by Senators Gonzales and Limón, codifies community protections and sets limits for the pollution impact of oil wells. Read More
Selected by Jade Holladay

AB 1766 — Undocumented Citizens Granted California IDs.
AB 1766 will grant undocumented citizens the ability to acquire a state Identification card by July 1, 2027 granting them fuller access to social services, health care and other forms of support and unlike many other US states. Read More
Selected by Jasmine Huete.

Food insecurity for rural and tribal populations. “Del Norte & Adjacent Tribal Lands Selected Findings from the Community Health & Wellness Survey Tribal Residents”, a report by Katherine Schoenfield, offers an overview on the well-being of tribal residents initially in 2014 and updated in 2019. Based on survey work in the region, the report examines access to funds as well as supplies of food and food deserts — all constant issues in rural areas. Read more
Selected by Laura Gurney.

Subnational activism in the Golden state
In November of 2022, residents of California’s San Bernardino County voted on whether or not secession from the state should be considered. The question was, “Do the citizens of San Bernardino County want the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to study all options to obtain its fair share of state and federal resources, up to and including secession?” The measure passed (barely). A new state of San Bernardino — called Empire — would be more populous than 15 other U.S. states if it seceded. Read More
Selected by: Jade Holladay.

Welcoming immigrants to California — San Diego’s office of Immigrant Affairs.
The city of San Diego continue to work on their Strategic plan for Immigration and refugee integration (2019 – 2024) including asylum refugees and more. Funded by a “Gateways for Growth” grant from New American Economy and Welcoming America, their work endeavors to normalize the lives of immigrants. The plan was created with the help of citizens, organizations, and city committees focusing on inclusivity including recommendations on economic opportunity, education, access, civic engagement, and safety. Read More
Selected by Alicia Bautista.


*these articles were researched and selected and/or summarized by International Studies students at Cal Poly Humboldt because they feel these issues are important to our global engagement. If you would like to highlight a local, regional or state story about connecting us to the world — email csuglobalmanagingeditor@humboldt.edu

No California salmon: Fishery to be shut down this year. Alastair Bland. March 15 2023. Read More

San Francisco Announced as Host City for Asia-Pacific Leaders Meeting in Fall 2023. Read More

Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology launches a Global Agriculture and Food Security Initiative. Aug 12 2022. Read More

CSU WATER – in the news: What’s new in Regional and Local Water Conservation?  Interim Director Steve Blumenshine with others discussing water issues in the state. March 8 2023

Prof. Richard Marcus (Long Beach) talks with CSU leaders about California’s global engagement and the impact of csuglobal.

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State of the Union: Millennial Dilemma. 2019
A review of the evidence about the state of millennials today. Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality

Connecting California to the world.
Public Policy Institute of California’s new report on broadband two years after Senate Bill (SB) 156 dedicated over $6 billion to expand the state’s infrastructure and promote digital literacy. The goal was to help at least 2 million unserved or underserved communities connect to the world through broadband

Diplomacy Matters: California Leading the Way. Webinar hosted by World Trade Center Northern California and Global Ties San Francisco with panelists: Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis, Consul General to Mexico in Sacramento Liliana Ferrer, and California Chamber of Commerce Vice President of International Affairs Susanne Stirling. Moderated by President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Ties U.S. Katherine Brown, Ph.D. Feb 17, 2021