South Kern youth and parents, mark your calendars for Building Healthy Communities Americorps 2nd Annual ‘Pathways to Success,’ a great opportunity for youth to explore college and career pathways to be held Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Golden Valley High School located at 801 Hosking Ave., in Bakersfield.
The event is being hosted by AmeriCorps, South Kern schools, community groups and in partnership with Building Healthy Communities-South Kern.
By Randy Villegas for The California Endowment
“Human beings can be beautiful or more beautiful, they can be fat or skinny, they can be right or wrong, but illegal? How can a human being be illegal?” These are words spoken byElie Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner, and Holocaust survivor. Although he just passed away, his words shall forever live on. Last week, activists and community members from all over Kern County gathered in the spirit of Mr. Wiesel’s words outside of an immigrant detention center in Bakersfield.
As one of the leading youth that helped organize the event, I must say that I’ve never seen something this beautiful happen here in Kern County. As we began planning this event months ago, we were inspired by musicians Juanes and John Legend performing outside of an immigration detention center in Arizona. The event brought awareness of a private prison industry that profits off of people’s suffering, and illustrated a broken system, while at the same time reminding detainees that people outside their walls care about them.
Juanes and John Legend used music to bring people together for the cause of justice. I wanted to do the same thing in Kern County and last Thursday we did.
A week earlier, I had visited the Mesa Verde Immigrant Detention Facility to meet with a 26-year-old woman from Guatemala who was fleeing murder in her home country and sought asylum here in the U.S. She shared with me the story of her family, her dreams, and her hope and strength to keep fighting for a better life. She only had one year left of school to graduate from her university. Just like me, I thought to myself, this woman had only one year left to finish school, and now she’s locked up because of her lack of documentation. I thought to myself, what makes the difference between her and me? Why does a piece of paper deem someone more or less human? It doesn’t.
She has been incarcerated for over six months still waiting for a court date. She has family here in the U.S. who wish for nothing more than her safety. She told me that if there’s one thing she could tell everyone, it’s that, “We don’t come here to steal jobs, or cause violence, or even depend on anyone. We come here because it’s the land of opportunity for a better life, a life with liberty. We leave our families, our entire life behind just for a chance at freedom and a better life.”
I was inspired by her words, her emotions, her genuine kindness and strength to keep persevering. This is a prime example of why we need reform in a broken system and why we should advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.
When I told her that we would be outside the detention center next Thursday morning to play music for all the detainees and rally for the cause, her eyes watered with emotion as did mine. She thanked me from the bottom of her heart and hugged me before I left to work.
A week later we arrived early at the detention center, only to see that we had been blocked off by “caution tape” around the whole building, except the sidewalk. When I asked an employee if I could park in the “visitor parking” he told me that there were no visitors today, and nobody was to be allowed inside. I knew that there were visitor hours today but I simply parked on the street. While it scared me a bit at first, I smiled and remembered the words of a fellow journalist “When you are pissing people off in the community, you know they are listening, you know your voice is being heard, you know you’re doing something right.”
Nonetheless we began our press conference on the sidewalk as youth leaders gave speeches on why we need to reform our prison and immigration systems, and invest in our youth instead. As the scorching heat blazed in the morning, Professor and activist Gonzalo Santos suggested we heed to the words of the “caution tape” and proceed with caution. So we crossed the tape into the shade of a tree right in front of the building. Without fear, we continued rallying for the cause of justice. Speakers spoke about their personal experiences, shocking statistics about Kern County’s investment in mass incarceration instead of education. After powerful words from youth leaders, the band began to play right in front of the building, and then we proceeded to march around the building nearest where the detainees would be let outside for a recreational break. We marched, we chanted, and most of all we stood together in unity for justice. As we reached the park, people gathered around taking photos, making signs, and enjoying music from the bands, and later on Latin Grammy Nominee Ceci Bastida. It brought me absolute joy to see youth from all across Kern making signs that read #LoveNotPrisons, #EducationNotPrisons, and even a young toddler with a drawing that she said meant “happiness” not prisons.
As I look back upon that day, I’m still left in awe. I’m filled with joy knowing that so many people came out to rally for a cause to bring humanity to an issue that is so important this political season. I’m inspired by the youth that I saw actively participating and I’m filled with hope for a better future, knowing that someday they will be our leaders. I hope someday the millions of people living in the shadows can one day see their families, live out their dreams without constant fear, and instead live in liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness. Until then, we will keep fighting, rallying, and advocating for a true democracy with liberty and justice for all.
Join us on Thursday July 7 to celebrate the rich culture and artistry of Kern County at the Kern Youth Arts Festival, held at Relaxed Acres Park from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The event, featuring installation art and performances, will be curated by Dulce UpFront. The festival will showcase how arts and culture can promote social change and contribute to the birth of a culture of prevention.
The Kern Youth Arts Festival is the second of a three-event series demanding #SchoolsNotPrisons for Kern County. The events are organized and led by youth leaders affiliated with Building Healthy Communities-South Kern and South Kern Sol, in partnership with the Arts Council of Kern.
Free food will be provided to the first 250 people. Transportation is available, please see the routes below.
Bus Schedule for the Kern Youth Art’s Festival – July 7
Stop 1 – 5:10pm: at Arvin Vallarta Super Market – 600 Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin, CA 93203 (Corner of Bear Mountain Blvd. and S. Hill Street, Look for the school bus)
Stop 2 – 5:25pm: Weedpatch Market – 8101 Buena Vista Blvd,. Lamont, CA 93241 (look for the school bus in the parking lot)
Stop 3 – 5:35pm: County Fair Market – 10415 Main St,. Lamont, CA 93241 (Look for the school bus near Main Street)
Join youth leaders from Building Healthy Communities South Kern and South Kern Sol this summer as they use their voice to engage youth across Kern County and lead us to a better and more just future.
South Kern youth leaders and advocates are launching a three-part series focused on #schoolsnotprisons, #unity, #investinyouth and #vota. The series will bring multi-media platforms that lift up culture and arts tied to social justice.
Youth will demand that local leaders refocus attention and resources away from mass incarceration and toward approaches likely to improve safety, such as #Health4Kern, trauma-informed education practices that limit suspensions and break the school-to-prison pipeline, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and comprehensive immigration reform.
South Kern Sol youth recognize that young people are an asset to this community and through a series of events they hope to create unity and encourage other young people across the county to #GetLoud for issues that impact their communities.
Kern #GetLoud Rally! June 30
MillCreek Park, 10am to 1pm,
Featuring Banda Perla del Sur and Ceci Bastida
Kern Youth Arts Festival! July 7
Rexland Acres Park, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Featuring Dulce UpFront
Kern Youth Speak Out! August 4
Bakersfield Museum of Art, 6 to 8 p.m.
Media Panel Discussion
Bus Schedule for Kern #GetLoud Rally – June 30:
Stop 1 – 8:15am: at Arvin Vallarta Super Market – 600 Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin, CA 93203 (Corner of Bear Mountain Blvd. and S. Hill Street, Look for the CHARTER BUS)
Stop 2 – 8:35am: Weedpatch Market – 8101 Buena Vista Blvd,. Lamont, CA 93241 (look for the CHARTER BUS in the parking lot)
Stop 3 – 8:50am: County Fair Market – 10415 Main St,. Lamont, CA 93241 (Look for the charter bus near Main Street)
The community is invited to a public meeting to learn and provide input for an affordable housing project being proposed on Main Street in Lamont by the Housing Authority of Kern County and American Community Development.
The meeting will be held June 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the David Head Center, 10300 San Diego St. in Lamont.
For more information call Joseph Leon at (661) 331-2982.
South Kern Sol, Staff
Please join us on Sunday, April 24 to learn how you or someone you know may be able to reduce a low level felony conviction to a misdemeanor under Proposition 47. Doing so, will increase your opportunities for housing, employment, education and more. Proposition 47 ends in 2017.
In Kern County more than 8,500 individuals have taken advantage of the largest felony reclassification effort in U.S. history and successfully reduced their felonies to misdemeanors, according to Tanya Richard with the Kern County Public Defenders office. She estimates that about 20,000 more people living in Kern County could potentially benefit from Proposition 47.
The forum will be held at Compassion Christian Center, 1030 4th Street in Bakersfield from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU) will also be there to discuss your rights regarding law enforcement.
Editors Note: Question and Answer with Deputy Public Defender Tanya Richard from the Kern County Public Defenders Office.
Why should individuals act now?
There is a sunset provision for reducing past convictions to misdemeanors. On November 5, 2017, past convictions will not be subject to reduction under Proposition 47. Past convictions may be reduced under a different penal code section, but the reduction will not occur as a matter of law.
What types of Charges are subject to reduction
Types of offenses subject to reduction include simple possession for personal use of a controlled substance(s) and some theft charges if the value is under $950 and the property is taken from a business during business hours.
Is there a fee to apply?
There is no fee to apply for a Proposition 47 reduction. The courts do not charge filing fees.
How long is the process?
The court requires 25 court days for service. It takes approximately a month for the documents to be processed by the court, once they are submitted. An appearance at court is not mandatory. The Court may grant your request via minute order before the court date. If eligibility is contested, the individual may have to appear at a court date.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Proposition 47 does not restore gun rights. Even after the charge is reduced to a misdemeanor, an individual cannot possess guns, ammunition or other weapons.
The Proposition 47 forms are on the Kern County Superior Court website. If a person applies on their own, Form 500 and Form 502 must be served on the Kern County Superior Court and the District Attorney. The Public Defenders Office can assist or the individual can apply on their own.
South Kern Sol, News Report, Marcus Castro
South Kern community members gathered at the #Agua4All rally to celebrate the installation of filters in certain locations throughout the South Kern that produce safe water, but also to discuss how that is just a start to fixing a larger problem.
The installation of 71 water stations and 88 point-of-use filters in the South Kern was the reason for celebration at the rally, which was held on April 5 at El Camino Real Elementary School in Arvin.
“It’s [filtration system installation] a big accomplishment, and we’re definitely here to celebrate because this is the largest project of its kind in all of the state,” said South Kern Community Programs Coordinator for the Community Water Center Jerry Tinoco as he spoke from the panel. The #Agua4all initiative is a project of The California Endowment and other groups including the Rural Community Assistance Corporation, the Community Water Center and Building Healthy Communities South Kern, which aims to increase access to safe drinking water.
The panel of speakers at the rally consisted of Jerry Tinoco, Chief of Program Services for Clinica Sierra Vista Bill Phelps, Administrator of EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region Jared Blumenfeld, and Local Parent and Director of Maintenance, Operations, Transportation, Safety for Arvin Union School District Neftali Perez.
The new filtration systems is designed to use adsorption to remove contaminants from the water. The filters will be able to filter up to 960 gallons before having to be replaced, but there is currently work being done to create new filters that can filter more than 960 gallons before being replaced.
Blumenfeld explained that the filtration systems are cheap, therefore, they can be added in most places. He used the examples of the filters being added in locations such as schools, hospitals and homes.
The rally was a time for celebration, but it was also a time for realization as the speakers explained that the problem is not solved.
Tinoco said, “We’re not out of the woods quite yet. This is just an interim solution to a much larger problem.”
Tinoco explained that only a portion of the problem is fixed. He said now kids can go to school and have safe water to drink out of the water fountains, but he mentioned that when these kids go home, they drink water that is unsafe.
According to California State Water Resources Control Board’s Annual Compliance Report, more than 1 million Californians do not have access to safe drinking water in their homes, schools or neighborhoods.
Water contamination is known to be associated with cancer, impaired development, diabetes and more.
“An exposure to unsafe water increased children and adults to risks that include learning disabilities and certain types of cancer,” said Phelps.
Phelps went on to say that it is critical for the community to have safe water as the human body needs water to function at a regular level.
Tinoco said that the community is small, and it is hard to get recognition from the state to move forward.
“Look at our community. It’s a small, farm working, low-income community. It’s pretty easy for lawmakers in Sacramento to forget about us,” said Tinoco.
Phelps mentioned that another problem is water isn’t affordable enough. He said that buying water in the communities where water is unsafe to drink shouldn’t be allowed to become a financial burden of families.
The main contaminant in the water is arsenic. Arsenic is a contaminant that naturally appears in rock and soil, but it also comes from fertilizers, pesticides, mining and more.
The Maximum Contaminant Level for arsenic is 10 parts per billion. There are places in the South Kern that have nearly three times that amount in the water.
Arsenic is more likely to negatively affect children, infants and pregnant women.
People are exposed to arsenic not only through drinking it but through cooking with it as well.
Perez explained that in order to rid the water of arsenic and other contaminants, the community must work together.
Perez said, “I believe we can be successful as a community if we stay strong and united… I am committed to the goal, and I am committed to #Agua4All.”
Check out our most recent newsletter here!
The award recognizes BHC-SK’s success at achieving health equity by improving community health in Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch and Greenfield.
Congratulations to all of our BHC-SK partners, who have worked tirelessly for the past five years to make health happen in South Kern.
The community is invited to the first annual Cesar Chavez Day of Service to be held at Sunset Middle School located at 8301 Sunset Blvd. in Weedpatch on March 30 from 2-8 p.m. and Rexland Acres Park, 325 E. Fairview Rd. in Bakersfield on March 31 from 3-5 p.m. The events are hosted by Assemblymember Rudy Salas, the Latino Roundtable of Kern and Vineland School District.
Cesar Chávez Day is observed March 31, a holiday in the state of California and in other states across the U.S., communities across the country celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader César E. Chávez’ work through education, celebration, and service projects.
Wednesday, March 31, Sunset Middle School, 2 – 8 p.m.
Vineland School District, Assemblymember Rudy Salas and the Latino Roundtable of Kern are teaming up to host several activities in honor of César Chávez, which will include a school beautification project from 2-5 p.m., followed by a community dinner and screening of César Chávez the movie at 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 31, Rexland Acres Park, 3 – 5 p.m.
Assemblymember Rudy Salas and the Latino Roundtable of Kern will host the first annual César Chávez Day of Service, which will start with a community welcome and recognitions at 3 p.m., a park clean-up will follow at 3:30 p.m.
