hsk-news, stories June 23, 2018 0

Arvin Stands Up for Families

Joining over 21 localities across California, the City of Arvin signed-on to an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief that was filed on Friday May 18, 2018 urging the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California to uphold Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act, and two related State laws against an attack by the federal government.
At its May 15, 2018 meeting, the Arvin City Council authorized Mayor Jose Gurrola and the City Attorney to sign-on to the brief, which was co-authored by the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office, the City of Oakland, and the County of Los Angeles.
Speaking on SB 54’s impact on Arvin’s public safety, Mayor Gurrola said, “President Trump and Attorney General Sessions’ anti-immigrant policies and attacks on SB 54 further undermines the public’s trust in our criminal justice system and makes law enforcement’s job more difficult. I’m proud to join leaders from across the state to stand up for our values and public safety against the ill-advised attacks from President Trump.”
“The people in our city, our state, and the entire country deserve to feel safe regardless of their immigration or citizenship status. Ensuring that everyone feels safe and comfortable enough to reach out to law enforcement when they need help is essential to public safety everywhere. If our national government refuses to see the importance in this, it is up to the rest of us to do what we can to make it happen,” said Arvin City Councilmember Jazmin Robles.
Other geographies signing the brief included: City of Albany, City of Berkeley, City of Culver City, City of Davis, City of East Palo Alto, County of Marin, County of Monterey, City of Morgan Hill, City of Mountain View, City of Palm Springs, City of Richmond, City of Sacramento, City of San Diego, City of San José, City of Santa Ana, County of Santa Cruz, City of Santa Monica, County of Sonoma, City of Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, and City of West Hollywood.
Marching Toward Safe Drinking Water
hsk-news, stories June 23, 2018 0

Marching Toward Safe Drinking Water

An estimated 1 million Californians drink unsafe water at home, school, or in public places. Californians deserve water that is safe to drink, free from toxins. Kern County residents have joined forces with other Californians across the State to reach that goal. On May 11, the Dolores Huerta Foundation hosted an event in downtown Bakersfield in support of Governor Brown’s Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. And last week more than 100 San Joaquin Valley residents meet with Sacramento legislators to share their stories about how unsafe drinking water impacts their families and their communities.
Governor Brown has asked the State legislature to enact a statewide tax on drinking water to treat unsafe wells and treatment systems. The proposed tax is expected to be voted on this summer and requires a two-thirds majority to pass. The projected cost per person would be $11.40 each year.
Census 2020: Everyone Counts!
hsk-news, stories June 23, 2018 0

Census 2020: Everyone Counts!

On Wednesday May 9th, the US Census Bureau and California Complete Count staff hosted a Regional Readiness Assessment Convening at the Beale Library. Rolling out the timeline for the 2020 census, the speakers shared changes in the administration of the census, the need for local organizations and individuals to collaborate to ensure hard to reach populations are counted, and employment opportunities for local residents.
At this point, the focus is on outreach to hard to reach populations, starting with assembling a diverse network of local organizations that will work together with their respective constituencies to get the word out that every Californian needs to be counted. Without an accurate count, California and Kern County will not receive adequate funding for public services such as schools, health care, and infrastructure. Even our voice at the national level is impacted because the Census count determines how many Representatives California has in Congress. In addition, many Census-related job opportunities will be available for Kern residents over the next two years; ranging from management positions to door-to-door neighborhood canvasing teams. For the first time, an electronic version of the census will be available, allowing individuals to complete the information on-line. Stay tuned as we near 2020!
A Forgotten History: Why Doesn’t my School Place a Great Emphasis on Black History Month?
hsk-news, stories April 13, 2018 0

A Forgotten History: Why Doesn’t my School Place a Great Emphasis on Black History Month?

By Ja’Nell Gore, South Kern Sol

Every year, some local high schools have assemblies recognizing Cinco de Mayo – a holiday largely ignored in Mexico, but held up in America as a day to celebrate Mexican culture with piñatas, tacos and a lot of alcohol. Meanwhile, throughout the whole month of February, my high school has done nothing to commemorate Black History Month.

Schools should be doing something to show appreciation, or even just acknowledge the evolution of black history – but at Bakersfield High School, nothing like that happened last month.

I would have loved to attend an assembly where they focused on my culture and history, opening the eyes of kids who know little about it.

And this desire of mine isn’t uncalled for, especially in a district that has acknowledged it engaged in a years-long practice of disproportionately suspending and expelling minority students, including African Americans. The district was sued, settling the lawsuit last year for more than $670,000. Among the settlement terms? The district must recognize Black History Month and allow students to celebrate.

Instead of taking initiative and organizing such a celebration, they are leaving it up to students. Considering that most students have never planned a school event (or don’t even know they have the option) why would they ‘leave it to the kids’?

We are Proud to Launch Our New Webcast Series: ‘In The 661″
hsk-news, stories April 13, 2018 0

We are Proud to Launch Our New Webcast Series: ‘In The 661″

Building Healthy Communities Kern in partnership with South Kern Sol youth media, have launched a new youth-produced webcast. “In the 661” will present stories, current events and good work happening in the community- all through a lens of health and racial equity.The show not only gives youth the opportunity to learn about what it takes to produce a video segment, but it also gives young journalists the opportunity to lift up issues that matter to them and might otherwise go untold.

There’s a lot of good work happening across the community, but rarely do organizations or residents who are working to improve community health have the opportunity to amplify their voice via mainstream media.

This show gives residents and organizations the opportunity to examine health in interesting and innovative ways. Health doesn’t only happen in a doctor’s office. Health happens where we work live and play. Health happens when people tap into their power, work together and change the odds in their neighborhoods.

The show will be aired weekly on “In the 661’s” Facebook page and will be shared widely on Building Healthy Communities Kern’s website and social media platforms.

The new show is produced by South Kern Sol youth reporters, Alejandra Alberto, Dean Welliver, Marilu Cisneros, and Veronica Morley and hosted by former KGET news anchor, Kiyoshi Tomono.

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.

hsk-news March 18, 2018 0

New Youth Produced Webcast Focuses on Community Wellness

In the 661 is produced by South Kern Sol in partnership with Building Healthy Communities South Kern. The show is hosted by Kiyoshi Tomono and focuses on highlighting current events and good work happening in the community-all through a lens of health and racial equity.

This show gives residents and organizations the opportunity to examine health in interesting and innovative ways. Health doesn’t only happen in a doctor’s office. Health happens where we work live and play. Health happens when people tap into their power, work together and change the odds in their neighborhoods.

The show will be aired weekly on “In the 661’s” Facebook page and will be shared widely on Building Healthy Communities Kern’s website and social media platforms.

The show is produced by South Kern Sol youth producers, Alejandra Alberto, Dean Welliver, Marilu Cisneros, and Veronica Morley.

CEJA Releases Environmental Justice Scorecard
hsk-news February 2, 2018 0

CEJA Releases Environmental Justice Scorecard

The California Environmental Justice Alliance just released their 5th Environmental Justice Scorecard. The scorecard evaluates how “well California’s elected officials supported actions to address environmental issues that impact low-income communities and communities of color.”

Kern’s representatives all scored below 70 percent.

“There are a number of legislators who scored below 70 percent, but have significant environmental justice constituencies in their districts. These include: Assemblymembers Gray, Salas, Arambula and Cooper, all representing areas with high levels of pollution in the Central Valley,” according to the report.

Click here to download the full report.

KHSD Community Meeting on School Climate, Jan. 30
hsk-news, stories January 22, 2018 0

KHSD Community Meeting on School Climate, Jan. 30

On Jan. 30, the Kern High School District (KHSD) will hold a community forum to update the public on student behavior and school climate. This is a great opportunity for parents, students and teachers to learn about what the district is doing to change its pattern of discriminatory discipline practices against Latino and black students.

“The presentation will include reports on fall 2017 semester data regarding suspensions, involuntary transfers, voluntary transfers based on a waiver of rights, expulsions, discipline and referral data, current school climate survey results, the status of the District’s Training Plan and staff development, and an overview of the KHSD policies, procedures and practices relating to Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS), Multi-Tiered System of Supports, student behavior expectations and discipline,” according to the district’s website.

As a result of the settlement, the district is required to hold two community forums a year to update and share data with the public on school climate, this will be the first meeting held this year.

The community forum will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the KHSD Board Room, 5801 Sundale Ave.