Teenage Artist Raises $5,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County

            Fourteen-year-old Brenner sold her unique masterpiece, “The Musician,” for $5,000 at Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County’s recent ArtFest. As a member of the club for three years, Brenner worked for nearly four months to create this piece inspired by Art-deco artist Tamara de Lempicka.  Using colored pencils on delicate Bristol paper, Brenner’s donated artwork showcases rich textures, violent hues, and a true dedication to her craft. Her donation will help support art classes for youth and programs that enrich the lives of local children.

            For more information, please visit www.bgckc.org.

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Bakersfield College Renegade Nexus Pantry Awarded Gold Certification

Bakersfield College’s Renegade Nexus Pantry was recently awarded the Gold Certification from Leah’s Pantry for excelling in the program. The pantry has been helping meet BC’s students, staff, and faculty’s needs since 2009 as a client choice opportunity where participants get to choose their items.

With the help of CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) and the Nutrition Pantry Program (NPP), BC now has three locations:  the main campus, Delano Campus, and a snack station at the Wasco Campus, which serves an average of 1200 people per month.

Caitlin Davidson, BC’s Basic Needs Program Manager, is proud to have created a sustainable measure that will give participants lifelong healthy habits. “It doesn’t just end with the visit to the pantry,” she says. “Our goal is to connect our students, staff, and faculty to more sustainable support as well and I think the Nutrition Pantry Program helps us to do that. Because it’s about those lessons on how to implement more nutritious foods and take those lessons throughout their life.”

For more information, please visit www.bakersfieldcollege.edu.  

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Grand Opening for Heritage Park Improvements

Kern County recently celebrated the completion of construction for the Heritage Park Beautification and Enhancement project located at 8636 Bernard Street, Bakersfield. The park was upgraded thanks to a $4.2 million grant through the Clean California Local Grant Program. 

This funding provided new lighted walking paths, lighting at the existing skate park, a lighted and shaded group picnic pavilion, soccer field renovation, amphitheater improvements, shaded play structures, new restroom, mural wall, updated irrigation and 68 new trees.

For more information, please visit www.kerncounty.com. 

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Kern County Program Supports Displaced Oil and Gas Workers

Kern County now supports displaced oil and gas workers through a state-funded program distributed by Employers’ Training Resources (ETR). More than $1.2 million dollars from the State of California Employment Development Department and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency have been allocated to Kern County to assist oil and gas workers whose career opportunities are shifting due to changes in California’s energy industry.

ETR plans to serve nearly 750 Kern County residents, with the help of various employers and partner agencies.  These services include but are not limited to vocational training, on-the-job training, certificated programs, and other job search assistance like resume development and interview techniques.To access this program’s services, please call 661-742-2217 or visit www.employerstrainingresource.com.

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Kern Community Foundation Awards $8,000 Grant to Kern River Conservancy for Post-Borel Fire Response

Kern Community Foundation awarded an $8,000 grant to Kern River Conservancy (KRC) to help with the post-Borel Fire.  Floods can be devastating after fires, and this funding will help residents prepare for increased risks of rain runoff and flooding in burn-scarred areas.  KRC will work with local authorities and residents to identify high-risk areas and provide essential supplies, such as sandbags and wildland tools, to protect homes.  They will also organize volunteers to clear debris and restore natural landscapes to improve drainage and reduce the risk of mudslides.

Made possible by the Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Resilience Fund at the League of California Community Foundations through Kern Community Foundation, it is part of a broader effort by Kern Community Foundation and its partners, who have contributed $41,650 in direct relief and recovery for the Borel Fire. To learn more about the Borel Fire Relief Fund, contact Kern Community Foundation at 661.325.5346 or info@kernfoundation.org. Donations can be made at kernfoundation.org/borel.

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Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. Appointed CSUB President

PHOTO COURTESY CSUB

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. to serve as the sixth president of California State University, Bakersfield. Dr. Harper has been serving as the university’s interim president since December 31 following the retirement of President Lynnette Zelezny.

“I am honored and humbled to be entrusted to continue the stewardship of this extraordinary university that has had such a transformational impact on so many families across our region,” says Dr. Harper. “I’m thrilled to carry forward our student-centered work and strengthen partnerships across the university and throughout the region that will allow the CSUB community to reach new heights.”

During his tenure as interim president, Dr. Harper has launched a number of initiatives that support increased access and student success, including the middle and high school pre-admit program, making CSUB the first-choice destination for an increasing number of Kern County high school graduates. He also launched the Umoja Black Student Success Transfer Program in partnership with Bakersfield College to support student success; and CSUB will open its Black Students Success Center in the coming months.

Prior to his position as interim president, Dr. Harper served in several leadership roles at CSUB, starting in 2016, including as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Associate Vice President of the same division, and Dean of Academic Programs. He is also a professor of communications.