Empowering Kern, Building Futures: The California Jobs First Summit presented by the Kern Coalition
hsk-news, media, newsletters, Posts August 27, 2024 0

Empowering Kern, Building Futures: The California Jobs First Summit presented by the Kern Coalition

Join us for the Empowering Kern, Building Futures: The California Jobs First Summit presented by the Kern Coalition.

If you are a/an:

  • Resident of Kern County
  • Organized Union Labor Stakeholder
  • Community-Based Organization
  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Education and Workforce Development Leader
  • Government Official
  • Industry Leader

This summit is for you. Your participation is vital to enhancing the discussions and outcomes of this significant event to collectively strategize the future of workforce development in Kern County.
Event Details:

  • Date: September 7, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. (Registration starts at 9:00 a.m.)
  • Location: Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center
  • Cost: Free of Charge

Secure your spot now by registering through the following link by August 30, 2024: The CA Jobs First Summit Registration. All event logistics can be found on the Eventbrite page.
We look forward to your positive response and to welcoming you to what promises to be a significant and impactful event for the future of Kern County. Registration is required to attend the event.

hsk-news, media, newsletters, Posts, stories August 27, 2024 0

Fostering Active Living: Promising Practices Summit

The Fostering Active Living: Promising Practices Summit will be held this Thursday– the community is invited and it’s a free event. Building Healthy Communities has been invited to present on the work we do. Please join us if you can make it. Registration is required, here is the link: https://form.jotform.com/241587781235161

The Promising Practices Summit will be held in Bakersfield, CA, and will concentrate on successful initiatives and practical tips for implementing physical activity programs in your community. The Summit will also offer an opportunity to explore methods for guaranteeing that programs and initiatives are accessible, inclusive, and equitable for all members of the community.

Participants will:

  • Gain insights from peers who have successfully implemented physical activity strategies in their counties.
  • Connect with other professionals engaged in similar work within the field and participate in active listening and engagement to foster a collaborative and supportive environment.
  • Engage in interactive activities with other participants, including group discussions and individual reflection, to deepen your understanding and develop new skills.

This is an inclusive event open to all who implement a physical activity, nutrition, or food security program, including:

  • Community-based organizations
  • Community health leaders
  • Funded or non-funded CalFresh Healthy Living partners
  • Local health department staff or subcontractors
  • Preschool or K-12 administrators
  • Educators

Please share this opportunity with colleagues and community partners who could benefit from attending. The event will be hosted at Beale Memorial Library.

Building Healthy Communities Kern is hiring a program coordinator
hsk-news, newsletters, Posts, stories March 21, 2023 0

Building Healthy Communities Kern is hiring a program coordinator

The Position: Program Coordinator

Location: Kern

Job Summary

The Program Coordinator will report directly to the President/CEO while working closely on projects and activities related to event planning, community outreach, database management, and social media as needed.  This position will conduct community outreach, plan and execute community meetings and support with overall grant deliverables. 

About Building Healthy Communities:

We are a nonprofit organization working to advance health and racial equity in Kern through collaborative partnerships with community based organizations, community groups, residents, youth, health agencies, education institutions and other community partners.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

  • Implement and coordinate frequent communications with community partners, residents and youth, and promotion of the Building Healthy Communities work

  • Attend and support with executingBHC related meetings including monthly staff meetings, where the program coordinator will play a key role in planning and identifying opportunities that will work towards the goal of advancing health and racial equity in Kern

  • Create flyers for special projects

  • Coordinate support for translation of materials

  • Conduct community outreach 

  • Attend and support with coordinating and executing BHC events 

  • Assists with compiling data for activity reporting, grant tracking progress, and grant reporting

  • Track BHC events and collect staff event report forms, photos, videos, PowerPoint presentations, action plans, applications, surveys, and files materials as appropriate

  • Maintain positive engagement with partners, residents, and youth using whole-person and growth-mindset approaches

  • Supports BHC-wide events as needed

  • Other tasks as assigned

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

  • Proficient in Microsoft Applications

  • Excellent writing skills with a focus on promotion, media 

  • Proficient knowledge and experience with social media platforms

  • Experience in web design and content production

  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team

  • Organizational, project planning, and leadership skills

  • Exceptional interpersonal skills: ability to interact and work effectively with staff members, community leaders, board members, donors, and volunteers

  • Self-motivated, resourceful, and creative

  • Strong problem-solving skills

Required Qualifications

  • Must pass background check

  • Written and spoken proficiency in Spanish & English is a plus

  • Reliable transportation, driver’s license, and auto insurance  

  • Available to work evenings and weekends

Education & Experience

  • Associate of Arts Degree preferred from an accredited college

  • Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate

  • 2+ Years’ experience in a community outreach role preferred

  • Social justice advocacy experience preferred

  • Experience and passion for community organizing

  • Administrative Experience

Please send resume and cover letter to  info@healthysouthkern.org. 

hsk-news, media March 19, 2021 0

The United Against CoVid-19 Coalition

United Against COVID (UAC) Coalition to Host Vaccination Clinics

Bakersfield, Calif. – The United Against COVID-19 (UAC) Coalition is partnering with the state to host three vaccination clinics, specifically targeting agricultural workers. One clinic will be held on Saturday, March 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m and Sunday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the David Head Center, 10300 San Diego St., Lamont, 93241, where 500 doses will be administered. A third clinic will be held Sunday, March 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at El Mercado Latino, 1999 Edison Hwy, Bakersfield, 93305, approximately, 300 doses will be administered.

Agricultural workers can register for the vaccination by calling (661) 383-2588.

The United Against COVID-19 Coalition received funding from the Public Health Institute’s Together Towards Health Initiative to implement door to door canvassing and outreach and education to Kern County communities most impacted by COVID-19. To date, the Coalition has directly reached thousands of individuals. The UAC Coalition is educating vulnerable populations, distributing PPE, and providing a range of other services in a variety of languages and with cultural respect.

“The strength of our coalition is our ability to communicate effectively with the residents who are most threatened by this pandemic,” Gladys Flores of Unidad Popular Benito Juarez. “We are trusted messengers who know these families, live in these communities and therefore understand their concerns and can get them the help they need to survive.”

Some UAC member organizations have also received funding through the California Community Health Project which funded over 300 community based organizations throughout the state. Members of the coalition are All of Us or None, Building Healthy Communities Kern, Dolores Huerta Foundation, Jakara Movement, Lideres Campesinas, Unidad Popular Benito Juarez, and Vision y Compromiso.

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#Health4Kern Launches COVID-19 Resources Guide
Posts March 24, 2020 0

#Health4Kern Launches COVID-19 Resources Guide

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the #Health4Kern team compiled a list of community resources available to Kern residents. We hope that this list make it easy for residents and community organizations to find programs and services aimed at helping individuals impacted by COVID-19.

This is a working list, if you know of any additional resources, please send an email to info@healthysouthkern.org, and we’ll be sure to add it.

To access the guide in English, click here. 

To access the guide in Spanish, click here.

 

 

Complete Count Committee Kicks Off 2020 Census Outreach Efforts
Uncategorized April 1, 2019 0

Complete Count Committee Kicks Off 2020 Census Outreach Efforts

Census day is one year out from today and to officially kick-off outreach efforts the Kern Complete Count Committee (KCCC) held a press conference this morning in front of the Beale Library.  The campaign hopes to achieve a complete an accurate 2020 Census by encouraging Kern residents, particularly Hard-To-Count communities to respond to the questionnaire.

A fair count is critical to the well being of Kern because the count will determine the number of seats we have in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next ten years as well as how millions of federal dollars will be distributed to communities.

This is money for schools, hospitals and roads. This is money for updating our infrastructure and enhancing quality of life. The more accurate the Census count, the better it is for Kern.

Community Forum Regarding School Climate, Jan. 17
Uncategorized January 9, 2019 0

Community Forum Regarding School Climate, Jan. 17

Join the Kern Education Justice Collaborative on January 17  6 p.m. for a Community Forum regarding Kern High School District (KHSD) and learn how you can help ensure all students are treated fairly and get the education they deserve.

Come and learn about what the Kern High School District is doing regarding:

  • Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports (PBIS)
  • Hiring and Training of Diverse Staff
  • School Climate

The meeting will be held at Millcreek Church, 1660 S St., Bakersfield, CA 93301. For more information, please call California Rural Legal Assistance at (661) 725-4330.

Common will take part in a series of community events to engage, build with and inspire local communities and organizations, including a town hall with youth leaders in Bakersfield

Building Healthy Communities Kern

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-Oct. 3 2018

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sarah Reyes
W: (559) 443-5306
C: (559) 470-4545 sreyes@calendow.org

Press Release

COMMON AND THE HOPE & REDEMPTION TOUR HIT THE ROAD AGAIN IN OCTOBER
The Tour includes a series of special live musical performances inside prisons along with community activationsthroughout California’s Central Valley

Oct. 2, 2018 — Los Angeles, CA — Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy and Grammy-winning artist, actor and activist Common will embark again on the Hope & Redemption Tour alongside his new nonprofit organization Imagine Justice. Imagine Justice’s Hope & Redemption Tour: Central Valley will take place from Oct. 10 – 13.

“This work and this Tour is deeply rooted in my love for people and my commitment to helping create a world where we all can thrive. I believe that all of us deserve the tools, access, resources and opportunities neededto navigate our lives and cultivate our best selves,” said Common.

Starting on Oct. 10, Common will visit and perform inside three different prisons in three days throughout California’s Central Valley to instill hope, love and humanity in the men and women who are incarcerated. In addition to the live concerts in various correctional facilities, Common will take part in a series of community events to engage, build with and inspire local communities and organizations, including a town hall with youthleaders in Bakersfield, a speaking engagement at Fresno City College and a #SchoolsNotPrisons event inMerced. The Tour will conclude on Oct. 13 with a special visit to a California Division of Juvenile Justice youth facility and a meeting in Stockton with Mayor Michael Tubbs and local community leaders.

“I’m very grateful to go on this journey again to instill hope in our brothers and sisters who are incarcerated and engage youth leaders in California as we go on Imagine Justice’s Hope & Redemption Tour: CentralValley,” said Common.

The Tour is supported by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and The California Endowment’s Building HealthyCommunities initiative centered on community power building for health and racial justice in South Kern County, Fresno, Merced, Stockton and other communities throughout the state.

“We’re proud to join Common in lifting up the Central Valley’s youth leaders and their bold vision for a healthier and more just California,” said Robert K. Ross, President and CEO of The California Endowment. “Weshare his commitment to justice, both in communities and inside prisons where hope lights the way toward apositive future.”

ABOUT THE HOPE & REDEMPTION TOUR Common dedicated countless hours advocating for criminal justice reform, engaging with local communities and instilling hope in the men and women inside prison as part of his Hope & Redemption Tour that started in 2017. On March 28-31, Common kicked off the Tour by playing three shows in three different prisons in four days. In August, Common hosted a special free community concert, Imagine Justice, on the grounds of the Capitol building in Sacramento with J. Cole, Andra Day, Ledisi, Goapele and more to advocate for criminal justice reform for an audience of over 25,000 people. The next day,Common joined multiple organizations in the State Capitol for several meetings with the governor, numerous caucuses and other legislators to discuss a number of bills that were all eventually signed into law in September. Following his visit to the State Capitol, Common traveled to Folsom State Prison and Lancaster State Prison to perform for the men in prison.

ABOUT IMAGINE JUSTICE Centered at the intersection of art and activism, Imagine Justice is dedicated to leveraging the power of art to advocate for communities around the country, to fight for justice and equalityand to stand united against injustice wherever it appears. Common’s newly founded Imagine Justice will focus on criminal justice reform, coalition/community building, immigration, bringing humanity to communities who are often dehumanized in society, civic engagement and leveraging the power of art to inspire and spark change. Follow Imagine Justice on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT The California Endowment, a private statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to quality health care for underserved individuals andcommunities, and to provide fundamental affordable improvements in the health status of all Californians.Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, The Endowment has regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. The Endowment challenges theconventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people’s health.Through its Health Happens Here campaign and 10-year initiative for Building Healthy Communities, The Endowment is creating places where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. At its core, The Endowment believes that health happens in neighborhoods, schools and with prevention. For moreinformation, visit The California Endowment’s homepage at www.calendow.org.

ABOUT ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION The mission of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is to change lives and create safe, healthy communities by providing a support and advocacy network for, and comprised of, formerly incarcerated young men and women. To accomplish this mission, ARC advocates for fair policies in the juvenile and criminal justice systems and provides a supportive network and reentry services to formerlyincarcerated individuals. In addition to peer support, ARC offers wraparound services, including casemanagement, trauma counseling, housing, education and employment assistance, mentorship, and opportunities for civic engagement. Today, ARC serves more than 1000 formerly incarcerated men and women. For more information, see www.antirecidivism.org.

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Third Annual LGBTQ Youth Summit Offers Youth a Special Space
hsk-news, stories April 10, 2018 0

Third Annual LGBTQ Youth Summit Offers Youth a Special Space

By Dean Welliver, South Kern Sol

The Third Annual LGBTQ Youth Summit hosted by the Kern County LGBTQ Youth Roundtable was held this past Saturday at Cal State Bakersfield. The summit offered middle school and high school aged LGBTQ youth a space where they could be themselves without judgement, make new friends, and learn about the resources that are in the community to support them.

“The goal of the event is to bring the LGBTQ community of Kern County together and to ensure young people who identify as being part of the community do not feel isolated,” said Gloria Garcia, lead organizer of the event and LGBT Community Worker at California Rural Legal Assistance.

To Julian Melendez, a senior at Foothill High School, the LGBTQ Youth Summit provided an opportunity for LGBTQ youth to connect to their culture.

“It gives a lot of youth a lot of information that they didn’t receive in school and this way we interact with our own gay culture we are more in tuned especially because in Bakersfield there isn’t very much pride,” said Melendez.

Melendez also noted the importance of having an event like this in Bakersfield.

“I feel like it is important having it in Bakersfield because it does much to combat the conservative nature of Kern county and I feel like it raises lots of awareness for these types of issues,” Melendez said.

Read more from South Kern Sol here.