On June 10, more than a hundred Stockton soccer fans left a match knowing something they didn’t know when they arrived: what carbon capture and storage is, why it matters to the Central Valley, and how local communities are helping shape the region’s future.
That was the goal of Education Night with the Stockton Cargo. Not simply to share information, but to meet people where they already are.
Why Meet People Here?
Community conversations don’t always happen in meeting rooms.
Sometimes they happen in the stands at a soccer match, where families, neighbors, and friends are already spending time together. That’s what made Education Night special.
The Central Valley Energy Coalition believes learning should feel approachable and welcoming, not intimidating. Partnering with the Stockton Cargo created an opportunity to talk about carbon capture and storage in a setting built around community rather than presentations.
Families came to enjoy a soccer match. Along the way, many also discovered how emerging energy technologies are helping shape the future of the Central Valley.
90
Minutes of Community Education
105+
Trivia Winners
Learning Throughout the Match
Throughout the entire 90-minute match, fans participated in interactive scoreboard trivia that explained carbon capture and storage in plain language.
The questions explored what carbon capture is, how it works, why it matters, and how projects like Carbon TerraVault III fit into California’s broader energy future.
The goal wasn’t to turn soccer fans into engineers. It was to make the science approachable and relevant to everyday life in the Central Valley.
For many young people in attendance, it also introduced careers they may never have considered, demonstrating that innovation isn’t happening somewhere else. It’s happening right here at home.
More Than Trivia
When halftime arrived, trivia winners headed to the booth to claim their prizes. But most left with something even more valuable than a giveaway. They left with a conversation.
Parents asked questions. Students wanted to know about future careers. Neighbors stopped to learn how carbon capture works and why projects like Carbon TerraVault III matter for communities across the Central Valley.
Those conversations are exactly why the coalition exists.
Throughout the evening, Project Advisory Body members, community leaders, and representatives from California Resources Corporation were part of those conversations, answering questions, listening to residents, and sharing why they believe community voices belong at the center of decisions that shape the Central Valley’s future.
Pictured: Families, neighbors, and community leaders came together for Stockton Cargo Education Night on June 10, creating opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate the Central Valley. View the full gallery.
One Night. Hundreds of Conversations.
One moment that captured the spirit of the night was ticket giveaway winner Christina, who brought her whole family to the match. Seeing them in the stands, cheering, laughing, and making memories together, is exactly what a community coalition looks like in action.
The evening also reflected something bigger than one soccer match.
Stockton Cargo owner Lee Neves, who also serves on the Carbon TerraVault III Project Advisory Body, has invested in creating opportunities that bring people together. Through the Cargo, he has helped build a source of pride for Stockton while also lending his perspective to conversations about the region’s energy future.
He was joined by fellow Project Advisory Body members RC Thompson, Patricia Miller, and Bob Gutierrez, who spent the evening engaging with families, answering questions, and supporting the event. Together with Daniel Padilla and Joe Ashley from California Resources Corporation, they helped create an environment where residents could learn, ask questions, and connect directly with the people behind the work.
Their presence reflected what the Central Valley Energy Coalition is all about: bringing together people who already serve their communities through business, nonprofit leadership, economic development, civic engagement, and local partnerships.
That’s what makes this coalition different.
It isn’t defined by one organization or one project. It’s made up of local leaders who are already investing in the Central Valley every day. Some strengthen neighborhoods. Some create opportunities through sports. Some advocate for families, workforce development, and local businesses. Together, they bring those experiences to the table to help shape the future of our region.
Looking Ahead
Education Night was more than an evening at the soccer field. It was a reminder that meaningful community engagement starts by meeting people where they are.
Whether it’s at a soccer match, a neighborhood event, or a community meeting, the Central Valley Energy Coalition is committed to creating spaces where people can ask questions, learn together, and help shape the future of their communities.
We’ll continue bringing these conversations to Stockton and communities across the Central Valley because the future of our region should be shaped by the people who live here.
If Education Night proved anything, it’s that when local organizations, community leaders, businesses, and families come together, learning becomes more approachable, conversations become more meaningful, and communities grow stronger.
Be Part of the Conversation
The Central Valley’s energy future belongs to the people who live here.
Join the Central Valley Energy Coalition mailing list for community stories, event updates, educational resources, and opportunities to stay involved in the future of the Central Valley.
