Jan 29, 2026
PHOTO COURTESY BGCKC
Local high school teens (ages 15 to 18) can register for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County’s 2026 Summer Jobs Program. Since 2013, nearly 2,500 local high school students have received workforce training, and 510 have secured paid internships through the Club’s Summer Jobs Program.
The Career Launch, workforce readiness training portion, will run from February 23, through May 7, at the E.L. Jack and Monica Armstrong Youth Center at 801 Niles Street, Bakersfield, Stockdale Boys & Girls Club, 5207 Young Street, Bakersfield, and Lamont Boys & Girls Club, 8301 Segrue Road, Lamont. Teens will attend one day per week from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Career Launch curriculum offers a variety of activities to hone teens’ decision-making, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. This comprehensive program introduces young people to the world of work and equips them with the tools to prepare for a future career.
After the training, participants will have the opportunity to apply for and interview for a paid Summer Internship with local employers through the Summer Jobs Program from June 8 through July 10. Employers provide interns with mentorship and hands-on experience in various occupations. The interns work at their internship sites for five weeks after completing one week of youth employee onboarding. On Fridays, the interns will participate in professional development activities covering financial literacy, business, dining, cell phone etiquette, First Aid, CPR & AED, and food handler certification.
Applicants must apply through the online portal at www.bgckc.org/summerjobsprogram through Friday, February 13. For more information about the BGCKC Workforce Readiness Program, please contact Ramiro Martinez at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County at 661-325-3730 ext. 265 or summerjobsprogram@bgckc.org.
Kern County Library Offers Free Foreign Language Tool
If learning a new language is on your list as one of your 2026 New Year’s resolutions was to learn a new language, the Kern County Library (KCL) has just the plan to help you succeed. As February celebrates library lovers’ month, KCL offers free access to Pronounciator with your library card. Pronounciator features 160 languages to explore and learn at your own pace.
With personalized language courses tailored to your interests and occupation, Pronounciator features 10,000 instructional phrases per language, a dedicated grammar compendium, interactive tools, and a way to track your progress. For more information, please check out https://kerncountylibrary.org/online-resources-by-subject/#foreignlanguage.
PHOTO COURTESY KERN COUNTY LIBRARY
Kern County Library’s Arvin Branch recently reopened in January and has announced a grand reopening celebration on Thursday, February 19. Following improvements to the facility, the branch is welcoming the community back. This event will feature remarks from Kern County leadership, library administration, and community partners, followed by a celebration inviting residents to reconnect with their library. Community members will have the opportunity to tour the space, enjoy family-friendly activities, and learn more about upcoming programs and services.
For more information about the reopening and upcoming events, please visit kernlibrary.org or contact 661.868.0701.
Adventist Health Bakersfield Named Best Hospital for Maternity Care
Adventist Health Bakersfield earned a High Performing designation for its strong performance in key maternity care measures, including low rates of severe unexpected newborn complications, lower C-section rates among lower-risk pregnancies, high exclusive breast milk feeding rates, and birthing-friendly practices.
“This recognition is a reflection of the passion, training, and teamwork of our 120 registered nurses, our obstetricians, neonatologists, pediatricians, dedicated certified registered nurse anesthetists, and our entire Maternity Care team who show up every day to deliver babies and excellence, “says Kelly Zielsdorf, BSN, RN, Maternal Child Care multi-site director, Adventist Health Bakersfield.
Second Annual Volunteer Big Kern
Sign up to volunteer for your favorite nonprofit on March 7 for the second annual Volunteer Big Kern. This community-wide day of service, organized by the Kern Community Foundation and the Blue Zones Project Bakersfield, connects individuals and groups across Kern County with nonprofits for impactful volunteer projects.
In just one day last year, 800-plus volunteers showed up to make an incredible impact for over 40 Kern County nonprofits, logging 3,000 volunteer hours. And coordinators want to make this year even bigger! To sign up and stay up to date on how to get involved, please visit www.givebigkern.org.
Kern Community Foundation Announces Leadership Transition
PHOTO COURTESY KERN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Since December 2021, Falk has strengthened KCF’s programs and built strong relationships with local nonprofits and donors. Through his leadership, the Foundation grew its scholarship program to over $1 million and increased Give Big Kern’s visibility, supporting over 120 local nonprofits and reaching $1.7 million in 2025. He also launched the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program in partnership with the City of Bakersfield, serving over 300 youth, and led Borel Fire disaster relief efforts, granting over $180,000.
To ensure a smooth transition, Tulfo will lead the Foundation and collaborate with the Board during this period. For more information about Kern Community Foundation, visit kernfoundation.org.
