5-6PM Monday 6/8 NEWS MAGAZINE SHOW – PRIMER IMPACTO
PKG #1: AGUA4 ALL
In California, safe drinking water is a right that many do not have. One million Californians rely on contaminated underground wells for their drinking water. The problem disproportionately affects people of color and low in-come residents of rural communities like South Kern and the Eastern Coachella Valley where 99% of the residents rely on contaminated groundwater.
The town of Coachella, California is about a 20 minute drive from the ritzy city of Palm Springs but it could be a continent away. The images from Coachella depict a poor, sparse and dessert like environment where the hard working farmworkers live in mobile homes and surrounded by dirt and their drinking water comes from wells that are contaminated with arsenic. Arsenic has been linked to cancer and birth defects and can be as harmful as a lifetime of smoking. Thankfully for those that live here the non-for-profit organization Pueblo Unido has been working hard to bring clean water to the area. The Duarte trailer park was the first in the area to receive the filters, and the Duarte family couldn’t be happier and more relieved. We meet the family and learn of the changes that have been brought about as a result of clean water. Close by is another neighborhood Vasquez Park, which is next in line to begin the filter installation. We visit Maria Vasquez as her filter gets installed making this the first home in the area to receive the prized filters.
LOCATION: Coachella, California
5-6PM Tuesday 6/9 NEWS MAGAZINE SHOW – PRIMER IMPACTO
PKG #2: “FRESNO SAYS YES TO ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR THE UNDOCUMMENTED”
Fresno, California has a population made up of mostly Mexicans who work in agriculture or domestic services, many of them are undocumented. The plight and fear of those living and working in this country and their inability to access healthcare is told through the story of Maria.
Maria is undocumented and works cleaning homes, she has many health issues and doesn’t qualify for Obamacare because of her status. Since she lives in Fresno she had access to MISP, a service for the undocumented that provided access to specialty care. In 2013, the Fresno Board of Supervisors voted to eliminate this service leaving people like Maria without medical care.
Though the efforts of organizations like Fresno Building Healthy Communities and Clinica Sierra Vista the ruling was overturned and the services of MISP were reinstated. This is only a temporary win, as Sandra Celedon of FBHC says, their goal is to find a permanent solution for the undocumented in this country.
LOCATION: FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
7-11AM Wednesday 6/10 MORNING SHOW – DESPIERTA AMERICA
PKG #3: “RETHINK YOUR DRINK, ELIMINATING SUGARY DRINKS FROM SCHOOLS”
The superintendent of the Arvin school district in California has joined forces with the Dolores Huerta Foundation to establish healthy meals at the schools. We visit Bear Mountain Elementary and learn follow 6th grader “Anthony” as he begins his day with the healthy breakfast prepared by the cafeteria workers. Principal Aurora is committed to helping change the health patterns of child and family, one kid at a time by teaching them a love for fruits, vegetables and exercise. Eliminating sugary drinks has helped the children focus better in class, according to the teachers and parents. Anthony’s mother Maria Isabel shares Anthony’s newfound love of carrots and broccoli and how she has now learned to include those foods in her meals along with water instead of soda.
LOCATION: Arvin, California
5-6PM Wednesday 6/10 NEWS MAGAZINE SHOW – PRIMER IMPACTO
PKG #4: “YOUTH AND DEPRESSION THE CASE OF THE UNDOCUMENTED”
The story of Mexican immigrants Katia Diaz and Norma Saldana, is one that is prevalent throughout the undocumented community. Although they are now dreamers, since they were very young they lived in constant fear of being discovered by “la migra” and they still do. Every time Norma sees a police officer she trembles with fear that they would arrest her and deport her along with her parents. The pattern of fear, isolation, and depression is creating an unprecedented problem among immigrant youth. The parents are mostly unaware of the problem that is affecting their children, those that do see the problem find they are unable to do anything to help them for lack of resources. Also, in many cases the idea of seeing a psychologist is not an option as it is considered something only “crazy” people do.
South Kern Sol, News Report, Alfredo Camacho
LAMONT, Calif. — Building Healthy Communities South Kern (BHC-SK) celebrated the end of its annual Live the Challenge with its biggest and most successful Live the Challenge event to date. Over 300 runners from the South Kern area gathered at Lamont Park on Saturday, April 25 to participate in the 5k or 10k color runs, a turnout that surprised event organizers.
“Our first year we had about 150 people, last year, with that winter storm, we ended up with about 100 people, but this is more than double,” said Jennifer Wood-Slayton, hub manager for BHC-SK. “We got 500 shirts but we organized for 300 people, and that was a generous estimate, but we’re running out of bags.”
The ongoing success of the event began even 100 days before the run, when BHC began to gather pledges for the 100 Day Challenge. Participants were asked to “choose one change that will improve your and your family’s health and make that change for 100 days,” according to the BHC website.
South Kern residents committed to make healthy lifestyle changes which include giving up soda, quitting smoking, drinking more water, eating less carbohydrates, and others pledged to keep their community clean by picking up trash, said Angelica Munoz who coordinated the event.
“The first year we had 500 [pledges], the second year our youth went out and got about 700, year after 300… last year we didn’t have as many, about two hundred something,” continued Wood-Slayton. “For this year, at last count we were at over 1,100.”
Wood-Slayton attributes the success to incentives like goodie bags, plus a strong focus on social media campaigns and facilitating easier online pledge-making. In addition, incorporating the recent fad of hybridizing running events with the Hindi spring festival of Holi to make “color runs” helped build anticipation for the event. Because of the excitement, BHC had trouble recruiting volunteers for the event as most wanted to run.
“It was Angel’s [Munoz, hub coordinator] idea, she presented [the idea for the color run] to the committee as a possibility and everyone went crazy for it,” said Wood-Slayton. “We even had trouble getting volunteers for it since they all wanted to run, they asked, ‘we’ll volunteer but can we still run?’”
Julissa Vazquez was one participant who signed up to run with her three children and her neighbor.
“My cousin motivated us to do the Color Me Rad Run about two years ago and I started with that one, I liked it, it felt good, so I did the one next year,” said Vazquez. “For this one, I told my kids, ‘we’re going,’ they said, ‘no’, so I said, ‘No, we’re going.’”
Vazquez had not heard of the 100 Day Challenge. After it was explained to her, she expressed her interest in taking it on next year.
“If I had knew about it yeah, I’d get my kids to do it, too,” said Vazquez. “I’m diabetic and I don’t want [my children] to be diabetic, we have to show [our children] to take care of ourselves, because if we don’t, who will?’
Mark Ruiz, 15, is the oldest of Vaquez’ children, and already runs on a regular basis, but the BHC run pushed him towards new fitness goals.
“[The 100 Day Challenge Run] motivated me to run and get better on my mile time,” said Ruiz. “I run during PE, so this wasn’t hard, and I play [soccer] after school so I run there, too.”
Both had goals they would like to do for their 100 Day Challenge.
“I’d cut back on sugar,” said Ruiz.
“Not eat sweets, that’s my addiction, sweet bread, pudding, chocolate, it’s so good!” agreed Vazquez.
As more families learn about the Challenge and as South Kern becomes a healthier, more active place to live, Wood-Slayton believes that these long-term changes will effect positive results over time.
“We didn’t become a community that has all these challenges overnight,” said Wood-Slayton. “The 10, 20, 30 years it’s taken to get here but if we can create the support structures that create a healthy community.”
What should our transportation network look like in the future? Let us know how we’re doing!
Kern Council of Governments invites you to a public workshop
from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18th
Come discuss Kern COG’s performance as your local transportation planning agency with federal and state officials.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Prop 47, also known as “The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act,”reduces the classification of most non–serious and non–violent property and drug crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor. In reducing these offenses to simple misdemeanors, Prop 47 aims to reduce California’s prison population and save hundreds of millions of dollars. The money saved will be funneled back into K-12 school programs, victim services, and mental health and drug treatment programs.
Workshop 1: 10:40 to 11:30 am
- BHC 101 (Room MU1) – Are you new to Building Healthy Communities? Come find out what BHC is, how and why it started, and what the over 2500 partners and residents who are part of Building Healthy Communities are trying to do to make our communities healthier for the next generation.
- Immigration and Healthcare for All (Room 37) – The laws on immigration are changing. DACA and DAPA have created pathways for immigrants to be able to stay in the US legally. And some immigrants or family members may be able to get health coverage now as well. Come hear details about these programs and how they may impact you or someone you know.
- Systems that Shape Where we Live, Work, and Play (Room MU4) – The way our communities look and act are shaped by laws and policies at the local, county, state, and federal levels. Get an overview of the forces that shape our communities and learn how we can work to change these to make our children and families healthier in the future.
- Creating a Cleaner Environment (Room MU3) – What do you do when you see someone polluting? How do you report a hazard that you find? What can you look for to hold local businesses and agriculture accountable for following laws? Come learn more about the KEEN system that helps residents and other partners identify and report on issues in our environment, and get them fixed.
- Building Safe and Clean Parks (Room MU2) – Do you ever wonder why our parks aren’t cleaner or safer? Come find out how our parks and their maintenance are paid for, and what other communities are doing to make sure they always have safe and clean parks for their children and families.
Workshop 2: 11:40 am to 12:30 pm
- Creative Solutions to our Healthcare Needs (Room MU1) – Experts are predicting that there will not be enough doctors to meet our medical needs. Hear from partners and programs who are using innovative solutions to help meet our healthcare needs in creative ways including through school nurses, Promotoras, residency programs, and mobile healthcare.
- Immigration and Healthcare for All (Room 37) – The laws on immigration are changing. DACA and DAPA have created pathways for immigrants to be able to stay in the US legally. And some immigrants or family members may be able to get health coverage now as well. Come hear details about these programs and how they may impact you or someone you know.
- Systems that Shape Where we Live, Work, and Play (Room MU4) – The way our communities look and act are shaped by laws and policies at the local, county, state, and federal levels. Get an overview of the forces that shape our communities and learn how we can work to change these to make our children and families healthier in the future.
- Creating a Cleaner Environment (Room MU3) – What do you do when you see someone polluting? How do you report a hazard that you find? What can you look for to hold local businesses and agriculture accountable for following laws? Come learn more about the KEEN system that helps residents and other partners identify and report on issues in our environment, and get them fixed.
- Building Safe and Clean Parks (Room MU2) – Do you ever wonder why our parks aren’t cleaner or safer? Come find out how our parks and their maintenance are paid for, and what other communities are doing to make sure they always have safe and clean parks for their children and families.
Workshop 3: 1:25 to 2:15 pm
- Creative Solutions to our Healthcare Needs (Room MU1) – Experts are predicting that there will not be enough doctors to meet our medical needs. Hear from partners and programs who are using innovative solutions to help meet our healthcare needs in creative ways including through school nurses, Promotoras, residency programs, and mobile healthcare.
- Creating Fair Schools: Students Matter (Room MU2) – Shools are vital to ensuring that our young people have a bright and healthy future, but many policies in our schools are pushing students out of school and denying them access to the tools they need to be successful. Learn how youth across the Los Angeles area came together to make major changes in their school systems that help every student have a chance at success.
- Can You Drink Your Water? (Room MU4) – BHC Partners have been working to help make sure that residents in South Kern have access to safe drinking water for the past five years. There have been some huge wins in the past year, and now many South Kern residents can get free drinking water or safely drink their tap water. But there is still more that we need to do so that everyone can have safe drinking water from their tap.
- Changing City Budgets for Youth Priorities (Room MU3) – Learn how a group of youth in Merced were able to get funds designated to support a youth council, youth priorities, and a new youth center in their community through the advocacy efforts of their “Invest in Our Youth” campaign.
Building Safe Communities for Walking and Biking (Room 37) – Walking and biking in communities like South Kern can be dangerous. But many communities across the county and state have taken steps to change this and to make their streets safe for pedestrians, bicyclers, and skaters. Hear what we can do in South Kern to make our communities places where it is safe for everyone to bike and walk.
Meet other South Kern Youth! Learn how you can help build a healthy community! Enjoy a fun filled day with motivational speakers from your community and surrounding areas!
Learn about safe drinking water, making your communities bike and walk friendly, immigration issues, changing city budgets for youth priorities and much more! We want YOU to join us! Help us make your community healthier!
Saturday, March 21st 2015
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Arvin High School
900 Varsity Rd, Arvin
FREE Food, Shirts, Raffle Prizes and Music, all for you!
Make sure to follow us on:
Facebook @BHCSouthKernYouth
Twitter @BHCSK_Youth
#YouthPower #BHCYouth #SouthKern
For more information, please contact Patty: 661-205-3866
Cumbre de la Juventud
¡Para los jóvenes, por los jóvenes!
Conozca a otros jóvenes del Sur de Kern! Aprenda cómo usted puede ayudar a construir una comunidad saludable! Disfrute de un día lleno de diversión con oradores de motivación de su comunidad y sus alrededores!
Aprenda sobre el agua potable, como construir comunidades bicicleta y caminar, inmigración, el cambio de los presupuestos municipales para las prioridades de la juventud y mucho más! ¡Queremos que te unas a nosotros! ¡Ayúdanos a hacer tu comunidad más saludable!
Sábado, 21 de marzo del 2015
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Arvin High School
900 Varsity Rd, Arvin
Comida GRATIS, camisa, premios, música y rifa!
Asegúrese de seguirnos en:
Facebook @BHCSouthKernYouth
Twitter @BHCSK_Youth
#YouthPower #BHCYouth #SouthKern
Para más información, por favor contacte a Patty: 661-205-3866
Descargar folleto aquí
Learn about:
Immigration, Fair Schools, Health Care, Safe Parks and more!
Meet other partners who live in South Kern communities, hear how people across the state are building healthy communities and help decide how we will build a healthy community here!
Saturday, March 21st 2015
9:30am-3:30pm
Arvin High School
900 Varsity Rd, Arvin
FREE Food, Prizes, Music and Raffle
Make sure your voice is heard!
Lunch, Transportation, and Child Care/Children’s Activities will be provided
Translation into Spanish, Mixteco and English will be available
For questions or more information, call Marina, 845-2724
Click Here to download the flyer in English for more information.
Haga clic aquí para descargar el folleto en español para más información.
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance is excited to announce that for the first time ever GBLA is partnering with One Justice to bring a team of 12 law student volunteers from Los Angeles to deliver much-needed services for individuals facing issues with medical debt, health insurance, workers compensation, and estate planning.
Together with the South Kern Medical Legal Partnership, GBLA and the “Justice Bus” will be at the Lamont Library on April 1, 2015 from 1:00-5:00 pm providing free legal advice and services in the areas of medical debt, health insurance and workers compensation. Two CECs from Clinica Sierra Vista will be available for health insurance enrollment assistance. We are prioritizing South Kern residents, so feel free to spread the word to any of your clients in Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch, and Greenfield who are in need of such services.
Further, the Justice Bus will be at the GBLA office in Bakersfield on April 2, 2015 from 1:00-5:00 pm providing services and advice related to estate planning.
GBLA along with other pro bono legal partners will be assisting with both clinics. Please see the attached flyers for further details and information on scheduling an appointment. If you have questions, call Katrina Rayco at (661) 321-3992.
Download the Free Medical Debt & Health Insurance Eligibility Legal Clinic flyer here (English & Spanish)
Download the Free End-of-Life & Estate Planning Legal Clinic for Seniors here (English & Spanish)
Featured, Health — By South Kern Sol on February 6, 2015 7:02 pm
By Aurora Cervantes
Editor’s Note: Kern County ranks 58th among California’s 58 counties in rates of heart disease, and 57th in diabetes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In Kern, 6 out of 10 residents are considered obese. Looking to reverse these disturbing health trends, The California Endowment’s “Building Healthy Communities” initiative launched its “Live the Challenge” campaign, which looks to encourage residents to adopt healthier lifestyles.
ARVIN, Calif. — Building Healthy Communities launched its 5th annual “Live the Challenge” campaign at a community event at Arvin’s Veteran Hall late last month.
The January 29th event drew upwards of 200 residents from around Kern County, many of who took on the campaign’s challenge of pledging to sustain healthy lifestyle changes for 100 days. At the end of the 100-day period, participants will join in a 5k ‘fun run’ and fair in Lamont.
The January event was also used as a forum to gather community input on what kinds of projects residents would like to see begun around education, the environment, recreation and other health-related areas.
South Kern Sol attended the event and asked community members, “What healthy change will you make for the next 100 days?”
check out this article to find out what they said.
