The Women's and Girls' Fund: Women Supporting Women | |
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The Women's and Girls' Fund was launched in 2005 as a leadership initiative of Kern Community Foundation. It is primarily a volunteer effort guided by the leadership of the Vision Committee and Community Advisors. Through grantmaking, The Women's and Girls' Fund members become philanthropists and advocates of positive social change. Fund members rely on community research, data, and the participation of community members to identify an area of focus each year. Issues of focus can range from women's and girls' health and economic concerns to safety and domestic violence, education, and more. Since its first grantmaking in 2008, The Women’s and Girls’ Fund has awarded 51 competitive grants, totaling $668,436, to nonprofits serving women and girls in Kern County.
The Women's and Girls' Fund recently hosted a National Mentoring Day celebration, where inspiring individuals and stories came together to champion women's empowerment and community. Kern Economic Development Foundation observed in the Status of Women & Girls in Kern County 2020 that women in STEM would benefit from mentorship to address challenges like unequal pay and lack of professional respect. Mentors offer invaluable insights, open doors to new opportunities, and support your professional and personal challenges. If you would like to learn more about The Women's and Girls' Fund visit the WGF website.
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The 3rd Annual CHP Golf Tournament benefiting local nonprofits @shieldingthefrontlinekernco and Kern County 999 Foundation was a huge success. It was a beautiful day filled with great golf, friendly competition, and incredible community support for our first responders and families. | |
Kern Community Foundation was among various organizations that provided a quote regarding the great work Aera does in Kern County. See our CEO's quote below: | |
Rio Bravo Ranch Olive Harvest | |
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Thank you, Rio Bravo Ranch! Kern Community Foundation's staff had a great time at the Rio Bravo Ranch Olive Harvest Party. They learned about the olive oil production process and had the chance to taste the seasonal delicacy, Olio Nuovo.
Rio Bravo Ranch will also host a Harvest Market from October 21 to December 16, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., to kick off a fantastic harvest and holiday season.
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Kern Community Foundation staff attended the Mayor's Luncheon, celebrating Employers who hire Employees with Disabilities during "People with Disabilities Awareness Month" in October. The event included the Mayor's selection of Employer, Employee, and Humanitarian of the Year. | |
Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program (BYJP) | |
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In October, BYJP’s City Hall Fellowship welcomed 21 new fellows who seamlessly embarked on their roles. The cohort quickly connected through workshops concentrating on project management and Excel training, enhancing their professional skills.
We also actively participated in the interview process for candidates seeking the Nonprofit Internship at the APEX (Achievement, Perseverance, and Excellence) Academy through Kern County Probation.
The Nonprofit Advisory Board convened for a comprehensive review of the year, setting the stage for strategic planning in 2024. This collaborative effort ensures the program's initiatives align with community needs and aspirations.
Additionally, site visits were conducted to foster partnerships with new nonprofits, opening doors for them to host interns through the Nonprofit Internship Program. These visits underscore our ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for community engagement while supporting local nonprofits and interested parties are welcome to reach out if interested in hosting through BYJP.
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Nonprofit Internship Testimony | |
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Britney Quiroz - Intern at Garden Pathways
"Hi, my name is Britney Quiroz, I am 22 years old and a recent graduate from Cal State Bakersfield with my Bachelors in Business Administration with a Concentration in Management. As a first-generation college graduate, no one ever told me how hard it would be, “going into the real world” as most people would say and looking for employment. In March of 2023, I was grateful enough to come across the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program (BYJP) and intern at one of the many Nonprofits we have here in Bakersfield. The Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program is the first program to help youth ages 16-30 by providing paid internships for 15 consecutive weeks to help with gaining work experience, job training, and mentorship in learning communication, hard, and soft skills. I had the privilege to intern at Garden Pathways which is a Nonprofit Organization whose mission is to “Transform lives from the inside out through loving, mentoring relationships.” Garden Pathways helps justice-involved individuals who are seeking a fresh start. Garden Pathways offers Comprehensive Mentoring Services, Classes such as Employment Strategies, Transformative Education, WESTEC, court-ordered classes, and Tattoo Removal. During my time at Garden Pathways, I was able to work alongside the Chief Operating Officer, Juan Avila who was able to teach me the many things that it takes to be able to run a Nonprofit like revising grants, coming up with a budget plan, and etc. I learned so much with Garden Pathways in such a short amount of time and absolutely loved the environment but most importantly, I was able to find my passion in giving back to the community and helping others succeed. I appreciate the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program for giving me the opportunity to intern at Garden Pathways which is what led me to where I am now which is officially hired on and a part of the Garden Pathways team as an Administrative/Programs Assistant. I am looking forward to growing here at Garden Pathways and am excited for my new journey."
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Kern Connected Community Network (KCCN) | |
KCCN has 137 network partners and 1,180 active users. The network partners provide a variety of service types, such as individual and family support, education, food assistance, and more. In October, KCCN had the opportunity to participate in the 2nd Annual Healthful Harvest hosted by Dignity Health, Kaiser Permanente, Adventist Health, and Kern Medical at Haven Drive Middle School in Arvin. The collaborative community health fair connected residents to different resources and services. Visit our social media for more pictures.
In November, Associate Director of Community Impact, Teems Tulfo will be presenting on KCCN at the Cal-Aim All Market Convening hosted by Common Spirit. For more information on KCCN (Click Here). If you would like to get connected to community resources (Click Here). If you are interested in presenting in 2024, please contact Teems Tulfo at fatima@kernfoundation.org with any questions.
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GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that encourages people to engage in acts of kindness and to give back to their communities. It takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and has become an international day of charitable giving.
The movement started in 2012 as a response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. GivingTuesday aims to shift the focus from shopping for deals to supporting nonprofit organizations, charities, and community initiatives. People are encouraged to donate money, time, skills, or other resources to causes they care about.
GivingTuesday has gained widespread support, and millions of people around the world participate each year. It serves as a reminder of the importance of generosity and the positive impact that individuals and communities can have when they come together for a common cause.
To find a cause you support, visit kernfoundation.org/nonprofitsearch/
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Scholarship Application Opens | |
SAVE THE DATE! Kern Community Foundation’s scholarship application period starts on December 1, 2023. It’s open to all Kern County Class of 2024 graduates planning to attend college, university, or an accredited technical school. | |
The above photos are artistic renderings of Sierra Shared Spaces. | |
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As autumn unfolds, we're thrilled to highlight Sierra Shared Spaces, a cornerstone of community empowerment in the Kern River Valley. This organization is working to empower our rural communities to thrive through collaboration, access, and sustainability - elevating each community’s unique strengths and creating a vibrant, inclusive environment that supports economic resilience and collective action for a prosperous future for us all.
The flagship project of Sierra Shared Spaces, the Community Hub in Lake Isabella, is a testament to their mission. The Community Hub is a place where the community can gather, grow, and build a better future together. Think of it like a neighborhood center, but with more of a focus on building community, fostering innovation, and promoting economic development. It's an exciting initiative that aligns perfectly with our mission.
Sierra Shared Spaces is in an exciting phase of the project, partnering with Ashley Proctor of Creative Blueprint, one of the pioneers of the modern coworking movement to kick off the planning phase that will bring the Community Hub to fruition. The experience and resources that Creative Blueprint brings from 20 years of building community hubs internationally will be a game changer for our Kern County communities. We encourage our Kern community to rally behind this noble cause. Your support can take many forms, from fundraising to sharing valuable research. Rather than building FOR the community, let’s join together and build WITH the community.
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Community members, did you know Kern Community Foundation has a Community Calendar? To make it easier for you to stay in the loop, KCF created a Community Calendar that lists all upcoming nonprofit events, including workshops, galas, and marathons, as well as volunteer opportunities.
Nonprofits registered with Kern Community Foundation, did you know you can share your events? If you have an event you would like to post on our community calendar and social media, please send the information to Teems at Fatima@kernfoundation.org.
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