Letting it Fly: New Flags on Display, Public Art Installed and Service Both Past and Present

Elk Grove is celebrating its past while shaping its future. From the historic decision to raise the Wilton Rancheria Tribal Flag at City Hall to the addition of the U.S. Space Force flag at Veterans Grove, the city is deepening its commitment to honoring heritage and service. We’re also highlighting a new public art installation, resources for immigrants, and community events like the 25th Anniversary Photo Contest reception and the beloved Gobble Wobble 5K. We’re riffing reminders on election ballot drop-off locations and providing a snapshot of civic pride, cultural connection, and community engagement in Elk Grove

Don’t miss an update—sign up to receive the City’s weekly email in your inbox every Monday at elkgrove.gov.

Rate, review and subscribe to the Elk Grove CityCast to get more information about the people, programs, and services shaping the City. You can find the Elk Grove CityCast anywhere you get your podcasts or listen online at elkgrove.gov/podcast.

Transcript

Kristyn Nelson: Thanks for tuning into the Elk Grove CityCast, the podcast about Elk Grove, California. I'm Kristyn Nelson, Elk Grove’s Public Affairs and Communications Manager. And with the help of artificial intelligence, we're rolling out new episodes that dive into the relevant topics, events, and happenings within our city.

We're using technology to provide you with new resources that will help you to stay informed and connect with the community at the time and with the tools that you prefer. So whether you have a passion for podcasts or print material, subscribe to social media or dig into digital. We want to be a source for local information that's valuable to you.

Now, without further ado, let me turn it over to our AI friends for a deeper dive into this week's topics. 

AI-den: Welcome back to the Deep Dive. For this dive, we're doing something, really specific, but I think deeply insightful. We're focusing on one place, the city of Elk Grove, and using its latest city updates as a kind of case study. 

AI-leen: Right. We've got this dense stack of official sources here.

AI-den: And our mission really is to analyze how a community that's changing so fast, you know, in size and diversity, tries to manage its heritage, its growth and inclusion all at once. 

AI-leen: Exactly. It's like when we look at these city documents, we're not just reading meeting minutes or budgets. We're trying to spot the patterns that show you what the city's really about. So today we're pulling out the key insights.

AI-den: Yeah. What symbolic policy changes are happening.

AI-leen: What visible things like infrastructure. Is the city investing in and how is it dealing with well. The reality of its changing population 

AI-den: And what jumps out right away is that Elk Grove seems to be making very deliberate, very visible statements about who they are. And maybe who they want to be. We're seeing changes to flag policy, big new public art, specific community resources being created. 

AI-leen: Yeah. These are tangible things, physical changes. They act as markers for shifts in how the city thinks, you know.

AI-den: They're turning ideas into actual stuff 

AI-leen: precisely, whether that's steel and fiberglass for art, or, uh, putting up a new flagpole. It's ideology made concrete. 

AI-den: Okay, let's start with maybe the most official symbols a city has. Hmm. The flags it flies. Our sources point to a big change in the city's flag policy earlier this year. 

AI-leen: Yeah. That policy change kind of paved the way for something really historic happening in 2025, 

AI-den: Which is?

AI-leen: City officials have made it formal. They've agreed to permanently raise the Wilton Rancheria tribal flag at City Hall. 

AI-den: Wow. Permanently. Yeah, that's, that's a first, right? 

AI-leen: It is, and it's a huge recognition of the tribe sovereignty and their history in that specific region. 

AI-den: What strikes me as the sort of institutional effort behind that, it's not just like a proclamation for a week.

AI-leen: No, exactly. It's permanent. The policy change specifically honors the tribe's sovereignty and their, you know, deep historical connection to the land around Elk Grove. It's putting that commitment into actual practice. The source material even says the flag will fly on a newly installed 25-foot flagpole.

AI-den: All new pole. 

AI-leen: Yep. Right alongside the US, California and Elk Grove flags. 

AI-den: Installing a new pole just for this, really underlines the commitment, doesn't it? It goes beyond just a symbolic gesture. 

AI-leen: It really does. It says this relationship is fundamental to who we are now. 

AI-den: So this move, it sort of sets a new standard for recognizing indigenous communities right there in the daily view at City Hall.

AI-leen: That's a great way to put it. It embeds that respect visually. 

AI-den: Now what's also interesting is how they seem to be balancing this deep historical recognition with acknowledging current service. There's another flag edition happening soon for Veterans Day. 

AI-leen: Yes, exactly. It shows they're honoring service across time from deep history to well, the cutting edge. The US Space Force flag has been officially added to the display at Veterans Growth 

AI-den: Space Force. Okay. At Veterans Grove. That's at District56, right? We keep seeing that name. What is District56? 

AI-leen: Good question. It's important context. Think of District56 as Elk Grove's big new civic center, like a main hub.

AI-den: Got it.

AI-leen: And Veterans Grove is a key outdoor space within that complex. So the Space Force flag joins the Army, Navy Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and the POW/MIA flags there. 

AI-den: Adding the newest branch. Space Force. That shows they're trying to keep these symbols current, doesn't it? 

AI-leen: It does. It shows the city's recognition is keeping pace with the present.

AI-den: But lemme play devil's advocate for a second. Does adding a flag like Space Force, you know, the newest branch maybe dilute the meaning for veterans of older conflicts? Is that a concern? 

AI-leen: That's a valid point about remembrance. It seems the city's defining service quite broadly here, making sure all current branches are included.And the sources also stress that Veterans Grove isn't just a static memorial, it's designed as a working community spot. 

AI-den: How so? 

AI-leen: Well, it has picnic tables, BBQ grills…You can even rent it out. Yeah, so it's for recreation too, not just solemn reflection. 

AI-den: The living space. 

AI-leen: Exactly. And the Veterans Hall right there at District56 hosts active veteran service groups offering actual programs. So it's meant to be a living used memorial. 

AI-den: Alright. Moving from flags. Let's talk about art. How is the city using public art to reflect its history and well, its current character. Our sources mention a new big sculpture, Hello-Goodbye. 

AI-leen: Yes. This is a major investment. It's by a nationally known artist, Steven Fairfield.And the location is key too.

AI-den: Where is it?

AI-leen: Historic Main Street near the Old Town Plaza. And it's big. 20 feet long, 10 feet tall. Made of steel, fiberglass, stainless steel. It's definitely not just a little decoration. It's a statement piece.

AI-den: And the name, Hello-Goodbye, connects to the trains correct back to the mid 1800’s history. 

AI-leen: Absolutely. It taps into that whole feeling of arrival and departure, the stories of people coming and going, that built the community, especially with the railroad being so important there. But what's really interesting is how it does this. It uses three life-sized figures. 

AI-den: Okay. Tell us about the figures. That seems like where the history meets the present diversity you mentioned earlier. 

AI-leen: Exactly. So one figure is waving from the train. And that figure was actually inspired by an elk grove resident of Chinese heritage. 

AI-den: Oh, interesting. 

AI-leen: Then there's a woman on the platform maybe waiting…maybe saying goodbye. And a farmer stepping down representing the agricultural roots.

AI-den: So it's weaving different threads together 

AI-leen: Very intentionally. Yes. It connects the history of Chinese immigrants who helped build the railroads, the role of women and the farming legacy. It pushes back against just one single story of the city's past. 

AI-den: That's powerful. So how does a city like Elk Grove pay for big projects like this regularly? That takes planning. 

AI-leen: Right? And that's where the policy behind it is the real story. This was funded by Elk Groves Percent for the Arts Program, 

AI-den: Percent for the Arts?

AI-leen: yeah. Set up back in 2016, it basically dedicates 2% of the construction costs from certain public projects directly to public art, 

AI-den: 2%. So it's like an automatic funding stream, not just relying on grants here and there. 

AI-leen: Exactly. It makes it sustainable. It means as the city builds new stuff, roads, buildings, the art grows along with it. Culture gets built into the budget. 

AI-den: That's a really smart model for integrating culture into city growth.

AI-leen: It is. 

AI-den: And speaking of local art, there's also something more grassroots. A photo contest reception. 

AI-leen: Yeah. Celebrating the city's 25th anniversary photo contest. That's next Saturday, November 8th. 10:00 AM to noon. 

AI-den: Where's that?

AI-leen: The Elk Grove Fine Arts Center on Elk Grove Boulevard. It's free light refreshments.

It's a nice contrast. You know, big commissioned art and also community generated images side by side. 

AI-den: Okay, so we saw symbols and art. Let's shift to the people, the demographic reality that makes all this so important. The sources keep saying, elk Grove is one of the most diverse cities in the US.

AI-leen: Right? This is really the backdrop for everything else. The numbers are pretty striking. 

AI-den: Like what? 

AI-leen: Well, for one, no single racial or ethnic group is the majority there. It's officially a majority minority city. And maybe even more significant, over 25% of the residents that's out of more than 180,000 people were born outside the US.

AI-den: Wow. One in four. That's that fundamentally changes things, doesn't it? Not just culturally, but how the city has to function. 

AI-leen: Absolutely. It requires the city administration to be really proactive. This diversity affects everything schools, language needs at city offices, the feel of neighborhoods, local businesses. Inclusion isn't just a nice idea, it's a practical need for running the city. 

AI-den: So knowing this, what practical steps are they taking beyond the flags and statues? What resources are they providing for this population? 

AI-leen: Well, the sources highlight a very specific practical response. They've created a new webpage.

AI-den: A webpage for what?

AI-leen: It's specifically designed as a resource for immigrants and foreign-born residents.

AI-den: What's the main aim of that? 

AI-leen: The big goal is to help make the community feel safe, respectful, and inclusive for everybody by clearing up confusion and providing information. So the webpage connects people with resources, but critically it also clarifies the city's role, or actually it's lack of a role in federal immigration enforcement.

AI-den: Ah, that's really important. 

AI-leen: It is. Especially for people who might be new to the US system or nervous about dealing with local government. It's about making integration smoother, managing expectations, and hopefully encouraging people to get involved. It's like a proactive welcome mat and reassurance tool.

AI-den: Okay, let's bring this back to those community hubs like District56. You mentioned it seems to play a role in civic life too, right? Like for elections.

AI-leen: Definitely. Getting people to vote is crucial in such a diverse city. And for the upcoming 2025 statewide special election city buildings are being used as official ballot Dropbox locations.

AI-den: Making it convenient. 

AI-leen: Yeah. Using their main infrastructure to help people participate in democracy. 

AI-den: So specifically. Where can you drop off a ballot? 

AI-leen: You can use the drop boxes at City Hall or at The Center at District56. They're available right up through election day, which is Tuesday, November 4th. 

AI-den: And if people need other location?

AI-leen: Yeah. For the full list of vote centers and drop boxes in Sacramento County, the place to go is elections.saccounty.net. Using hubs like District56 just makes it easier for people across the city. 

AI-den: Good practical info there. 

AI-leen: Okay. 

AI-den: Okay. Finally, let's end on something about community life. Bringing people together, especially in a fast-growing city, you need those events, right?

Mm-hmm. Tell us about the Elk Grove Gobble Wobble. 

AI-leen: Ah, yes. The gobble wobble. It's a Thanksgiving tradition there. 

AI-den: A run? 

AI-leen: Yep. A family friendly 5K run. A good way to earn your turkey, I guess. 

AI-leen: But it's more than just a run. It's directly tied into supporting the community. 

AI-den: Oh, how so? Which cause does it support?

AI-leen: All the money raised goes to Chicks in Crisis. They're a local nonprofit, a 501c3. 

AI-den: What do they do? 

AI-leen: They provide really essential services, pregnancy support, parenting help, adoption services, education for families who need it in the area. 

AI-den: So the fun run directly helps local families. 

AI-leen: Exactly. It connects community health and fun with supporting vital local services. If you're interested, registration details are on their website, chicksincrisis.org. 

AI-den: So we've covered a lot of ground today. Digging into Elk Grove, we started with symbols, the flags, honoring deep history with Wilton Rancheria and current service with the Space Force. Then we moved to permanent fixtures like the Hello-Goodbye sculpture, funded by that percent for the arts program, making sure art grows with the city. And then we saw practical steps like the resource webpage addressing the reality of population where over a quarter are foreign born. 

AI-leen: Hmm. 

AI-den: So what's the big takeaway for you? The listener. 

AI-leen: I think Elk Grove is a really interesting example of how a city can actively, you know translate its values, inclusion. Respecting heritage into visible policies like the flag changes and actual infrastructure, like the art and the webpages. The key thing is that the city's identity isn't just happening by accident. It seems like it's being actively shaped through deliberate choices by the institution. 

AI-den: It's definitely a study in intentional community building. Which leaves us with maybe a final thought for you to chew on, considering everything we've talked about, the historic Wilton Rancheria flag, the Modern Space Force flag, the diverse figures in that sculpture. The question for you is this, how quickly can a city's official symbols and public art really catch up to and genuinely reflect the incredibly fast pace of demographic change happening on the ground? 

AI-leen: That's a tough one. Something to think about as you look around your own community symbols.

AI-den: Definitely food for thought. That's all for this deep dive, we'll talk to you next time.

Kristyn Nelson: Thank you for listening to the Elk Grove CityCast. Tune in again soon for another deep dive into the news events and happenings around the City of Elk Grove. Like what we're doing? Please rate, review, and subscribe to the show to help spread the word to other audiophiles. Want more news before the next episode? Follow the City of Elk Grove on social media. You can find us on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Nextdoor. Or get our news delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for the city's weekly email update at elkgrove.gov. Thanks again for listening For the City of Elk Grove, I'm Kristyn Nelson.