Nila Hogan has a full life at work, at home and in the community. A wife, mother, adoptive mother, grandmother, nonprofit founder and pageant winner, leadership skills characterize her many roles.

A “fun, outgoing household” is how Nila described the family she leads alongside her husband, Robbie Schrader. They are the parents of Jonah, 27, Preston, 17, Ezra, 11, Dae, 10, and Audrey, 9, and, most recently, grandparents to their first grandchild. Robbie is the owner of HS Post Production, a media company specializing in film, and he also works as a director for Deluge Consulting, a stormwater management consultancy.

The family has found a second home at Oaks Community Church, which they appreciate for its culturally diverse approach. Worship music, youth group and women’s ministry are some of the roles the family members occupy. Outreach to people has been an important part of Nila’s life in particular throughout her life and career.

“In my business life and by my choosing, I have always been a victims’ advocate, sometimes for men and women but mostly children,” said Nila, who holds degrees in philosophy and political science. “Combatting domestic violence in the community has been part of my life since 2005. I started out in a community legal information center, filling out restraining orders and also worked at a law firm for a short amount of time as I began understanding the dynamics of abuse. At the time, cost was a huge issue for parents to attend court-ordered visits with their children; some were even losing custody because it looked like abandonment.”

Nila founded Bakersfield’s first on-site supervised visitation center in 2011. Y-Empowerment features supervised contact with noncustodial parents and for child exchanges to take place. Wraparound services, from coordinated victims’ assistance, mentorship and parenting classes to programs aimed at anger management, also seek to prevent abuse.

“We try our hardest not to make people feel like they are being judged. In fact, we do not judge anybody by a court order but instead serve as a neutral third party,” said Nila.

Summer camps for children affected by domestic violence and leadership opportunities for youth who want to help prevent abuse in peers’ teen relationships are also available. Find out more about Y-Empowerment at https://www.yempowerment.org.

In a surprising twist, Nila also began participating in pageants in 2019. “I needed to shake things up. I was actually at the gym when a TV commercial for the pageant came on. I said to myself, ‘If you meet your weight loss goal by the entry date, you’re going to participate,’ and I did,” she explained. Although Nila did not place in her first pageant, she benefited from the experience.

“I did not realize how much I lacked confidence until I entered the pageant, but everyone was welcoming and encouraging,” she said. Nila chose to participate again in 2024. “I remembered how much fun it was, that I learned a lot and met other women,” she said.

“I did not think I would win. I just wanted to learn more about myself and have fun, so I was extremely surprised to take the title of ‘Mrs. Bakersfield 2024'."

Pageant winners volunteer at local nonprofits throughout their tenure, which was an opportunity for Nila.

“Even though I had been in the nonprofit sector for 14 years, there were so many organizations I had not heard of,” she said. “Getting to know people in the community was my favorite part overall.” Nila’s reign as Mrs. Bakersfield ended this past February but she was officially titled Mrs. Southern California and will be competing May 10 in Los Angeles for the statewide Mrs. California pageant.

The pageant experience came full circle for Nila when she saw how it inspired her daughter, Audrey, who loves science, to take on pageant participation despite some initial hesitation.

“Mom, I did it! I overcame my fear,” were the words Nila was proud to hear, a signifier of how leading by example is often the best way to show the next generation all they can be.

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TWO QUESTIONS WITH NILA HOGAN

Q. What should families in the Kern County area know more about in their community?

Kern County is full of hidden resources. The Kern Community Foundation features a big list of nonprofits as a onestop shop for resources, whether you are wanting to volunteer or find help.

Q. What is your parenting PSA?

Don’t ever assume you are above another parent. No one has it all figured out. Don’t say, “My child would never.” Instead, be present, be available, and be a safe space when they fall because children are their own people. Never underestimate the power of a parent who keeps showing up.

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Fill-in-the-blank questions:

Today, the strangest thing in my purse is: A microphone

My favorite food is: Chimichangas

My favorite dessert is:  Peach cobbler

In my pantry, you will always find: Empty boxes and bags my kids always put back.

So far, my best life advice is: Don’t take it too seriously.