Serving the children and families of East Bakersfield!

Children First Summer Internship

The Children First summer unpaid internship program is in its 10th year and many of our past interns have been accepted to major colleges and universities.

Interns will work to promote literacy through various summer literacy activities. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to learn about project management, event planning, marketing, and community outreach. You’ll also hear from inspiring speakers and discover the valuable services provided by Kern County. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a dynamic team and gain hands-on experience while making a positive impact.

More information will be provided for the 2024 Summer Internship Program by April 2024.

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Community Clean Up ✔️ Thank you to everyone w

Community Clean Up ✔️

Thank you to everyone who got a little dirty with us and braced the wind! It was such a good day!

There actually wasn’t much trash around our little area! East Bakersfield residents: do you have any areas you’d like us to focus on? We need extra eyes! Drop a comment if you know a spot!

Big thank you to @ollincan.yolotl @outsiders_nation_mobile_impact and Iron Works for coming out and supporting!

Hi everyone! We will be having our monthly food di

Hi everyone! We will be having our monthly food distribution next week. Come out if you’d like to volunteer or grab a box of food! 📦

🚨 Important Announcement 🚨

We want to ensure fairness and support for everyone in our community. Starting immediately, we will be providing only ☝️ ONE ☝️ food box per household, regardless of family size. Previously, some households were receiving two boxes, but in light of the high demand and limited resources, we’ve noticed that many families are still left empty-handed when supplies run out.

Our priority is to ensure that every household receives some support rather than risking some families leaving with nothing. While we strive to supplement your groceries, it’s important to remember that our assistance is intended to complement your resources, not replace them. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can make a difference! 🌟 #CommunitySupport #FairDistribution

*we also want to make a note: we have noticed some community members running across the intersection of Niles and Monterey. It is VERY DANGEROUS. We do not want anyone getting hit by a car. Please take the extra time and cross safely via a designated crosswalk. Thank you!

Yesterday, under the warm rays of the sun at David

Yesterday, under the warm rays of the sun at David Nelson Pocket Park, 28 eager young minds gathered for an engaging lesson on Boyle’s Law. Guided by David Hanley, these children embarked on a journey of discovery through interactive demonstrations, igniting their curiosity about the physical world.

In simple terms, Boyle’s Law shows the relationship between the volume and pressure of a gas: when volume decreases, pressure increases, and vice versa. This principle was brought to life as the children enthusiastically squeezed balloons, propelled q-tip darts with straws, and constructed marshmallow shooters using PVC pipes and fluffy marshmallows. Through these hands-on activities, the essence of Boyle’s Law became tangible – a mantra of “squeeze it, pressure up; let it expand, pressure down” echoing through the park.

Despite the setback of windy conditions thwarting the solar balloon demonstration, valuable lessons were learned. The children learned the resilience to persevere through challenges, embracing failure as a stepping stone to growth, and eagerly transitioning to alternative activities.

Gratitude is extended to Williams Elementary School for entrusting us with the opportunity to enrich the educational journey of these after-school students. While the full impact of these experiences remains to be seen, we trust they have kindled a spark of creativity and nurtured a zest for life within each young heart.

This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.
#outdoorequitygrantsprogram #eastbakersfield #outdoorlearning #stemactivities #stemeducation

Check out what’s coming up for Children First! W

Check out what’s coming up for Children First! We have lots of great Saturday events happening at the Pocket Park thanks to @community_interventions and @outsiders_nation_mobile_impact.

Not to mention our community clean up and food distribution. Swipe to see the whole month!

@bgckerncounty is still coming out every day to provide free lunches from 2pm-3:30pm. Plus @ollincan.yolotl practices every Thursday and love to share their passion for culture and dance!

#community #childrenfirst #EastBakersfield

Remember the excitement of the school book fair as

Remember the excitement of the school book fair as a child? Whether it was the joy of picking out new books or the disappointment of not being able to afford any, those memories stay with us. Before Spring Break, we had the privilege of providing every Williams student with a $20 voucher for the book fair thanks to a small grant we received from the Alfred Harrell and Virginia Foundation. We trust this initiative will positively influence students’ educational journeys.

Witnessing their reactions upon realizing they could keep the books, unlike borrowing from the library, was truly heartwarming 💕💕

Our aim remains unchanged: fostering a love for reading in East Bakersfield. Thank you Principal Mendez and Mr. Morales for your support!

#eastbakersfield #literacy #literacymatters #readingisfun #communityfirst

Come and join us for a Pocket Park reset! We will

Come and join us for a Pocket Park reset! We will be cleaning around the pocket park and organizing the c-train. Nothing like a little spring cleaning!

Registration link in bio! Take a second to let us know you’re coming. Thank you!

The pocket park was so active Saturday! We wanted

The pocket park was so active Saturday! We wanted to give a shout out to @outsiders_nation_mobile_impact for putting on a great event. Have you heard of them? Read their mission statement below! They do amazing work and we are grateful they brought their joy to East Bakersfield!

“Outsiders Nation is dedicated to reaching our low-income and under resourced communities, at-risk children, and incarcerated youth. Because we understand that external circumstances make it impossible for these individuals to come to us and our thriving 9 acre, outdoor educational program, Outsiders Nation takes environment/experience-based learning, the arts, leadership development, and mentorship to the streets and into detention facilities in order to meet these young people where they are. In an effort to create equality through rich education, promote social justice, engage community and present exposure to our mentors, Outsiders Nation mobilizes to create an impact in otherwise unreached communities, and often forgotten youth in Kern County incarceration facilities.”

This morning we hosted 150 Williams Elementary stu

This morning we hosted 150 Williams Elementary students for their ELPAC picnic day to celebrate their recent work and perfect attendance during their ELPAC testing. These bilingual kiddos have a bright future ahead of them!
#eslstudents #eastbakersfield #childrenfirst

We absolutely can’t get enough of our volunteers

We absolutely can’t get enough of our volunteers and what their hands do for the East Bakersfield community! Thank you @starbuckspartners, @east_high_school_, and @aerotek for coming out and supporting! Special thanks to those individuals that give their time - we truly appreciate the help and love!

Catch us back at it again next month April 18th!

Today was a beautiful day to be out in the communi

Today was a beautiful day to be out in the community!! Together we picked up 100.7lbs of trash! Big thank you to @outsiders_nation_mobile_impact and @kernfamilyhealthcare for joining us. We appreciate our community members that come out to give their time! Thank you so much!

#community #eastbakersfield #volunteer #childrenfirst #cleanup #neighborhood #partnership

Hey, East Bakersfield! Get ready for another excit

Hey, East Bakersfield! Get ready for another exciting event! Join us next Saturday, March 23rd, from 11 AM to 2 PM, as we team up once more with @outsiders_nation_mobile_impact. There were will be engaging activities for the whole family, including an Easter egg hunt, along with additional resources. Don't miss out! p.s. We will have bouncy houses again! #eastbakersfield #community #artoutdoors #funactivitiesforkids

🌟 Join us on March 21st from 4-6pm for our comm

🌟 Join us on March 21st from 4-6pm for our community food distribution event! 🍲 We’re coming together to provide essential support to our neighbors in need. But we can’t do it alone! We’re calling for volunteers to lend a hand from 2-6pm. Let’s make a difference together! 💪 #CommunitySupport #VolunteerOpportunity

**The food distribution will start earlier if we see that the line is creating a problem for the pocket park neighbors. The start time is also dependent on the readiness of the food at the event. Please be kind to our volunteer members and the community members that live in the area.**

Save the Date: Our upcoming Neighborhood Cleanup i

Save the Date: Our upcoming Neighborhood Cleanup is scheduled for March 16, 2024! If you're available to volunteer next Saturday, we invite you to register by clicking the link in our bio page. The registration form awaits you with additional details inside. Your participation makes a positive impact on our community! #community #service #volunteering #eastbakersfield #cleanup #volunteer

This afternoon marked our second Family Nature Day

This afternoon marked our second Family Nature Day of 2024, a vital part of our Por Amor a La Naturaleza program. Guided by Science Educator David Hanley, the students learned about bone anatomy, explored owl pellets creation and contents, identified them using a bone anatomy handout, and bravely dissected owl pellets to craft their own bone monsters. A big shout-out to Williams Elementary School for their ongoing collaboration enabling 37 students to participate in the activities today. Until next time, East Bakersfield!

This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.
#outdoorequitygrantsprogram #eastbakersfield #outdoorlearning #stemactivities #stemeducation

On 2/24, we teamed up with @outsiders_nation_mobil

On 2/24, we teamed up with @outsiders_nation_mobile_impact to bring an exciting Art in Park event at our pocket park! It was a blast, and we’re thrilled to announce more events throughout the year. Stay tuned for details on the upcoming March event! Big thanks to Outsiders Nation Mobile Impact for making it a memorable experience, contributing fantastic art activities, and providing valuable services/resources for our East Bakersfield community! #eastbakersfield #community #outdoorartactivity #childrenfirst #outsidersnation

Flipping through the pages of our 2023 Literacy Ga

Flipping through the pages of our 2023 Literacy Gala like 😍! Get ready to write the next chapter with us in 2024!

Big thanks to @charizma.co for our beautiful event documentation.

And Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors:
California Resource Corporation
@drodriguezlaw
Pros Inc.
@kernfamilyhealthcare
Sanchez Immigration Law
@tricountiesbank
@luvspuncandyfloss
@paletacompany
@elcaminobakery
@xochitlwines
@willisandwilliams
Medica Billing Solutions

Hello East Bakersfield! Join us for our final eve

Hello East Bakersfield!

Join us for our final event of the month at David Nelson Pocket Park featuring Outsiders Nation Mobilize Impact. This mobile platform brings innovative hands-on education and arts programs to our community, including our local Juvenile Hall. Through pop-up classrooms, at-risk youth and underprivileged families gain access to mentors, artists, and leadership development opportunities. Attendees will rotate through various activities, including free haircuts, refreshments, art supplies, art activities, and warm clothing giveaways.

Date: This Saturday 2/24/24
Time: 11 AM - 2 PM

Please take a moment to visit their page and website to discover more about who they are and the contributions they're making to our community.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity for learning and community building!
@outsiders_nation_mobile_impact @kdacreativecorps #outdooreducation #community #eastbakersfield

Another Food Distribution event completed in East

Another Food Distribution event completed in East Bakersfield! A big thanks to @wswfoundation for all the hygiene kits and the Bombas socks too! Gratitude to all the dedicated volunteers, including @joshy_sqwashy, @jvrobles5, @b_gacs, and more. Save the date for our next food distribution in East Bakersfield on 3/21/24! 🌟 #foodinsecurity #eastbakersfield #volunteering

Save the date! Our 2024 Children First Literacy Ga

Save the date! Our 2024 Children First Literacy Gala will be held on Friday, November 1st. This year, we will be paying homage to the “Heritage of Words,” as we celebrate literacy and Dia de Los Muertos.

Sponsorships available — Support a worthy cause and get eyes on your business at our unique and art-filled celebration!

We were so grateful to host a sold out event in 2023. Turn on notifications to be the first to know when tickets and tables go on sale for 2024.

#bakersfieldnonprofits #diadelosmuertos

A special acknowledgment to our Literacy tutors fo

A special acknowledgment to our Literacy tutors for resuming their work at Williams Elementary School last week! All nine tutors, who participated in our recent Fall session, are enthusiastic about continuing their service.

Our program is dedicated to delivering personalized literacy support through small group interventions and structured engagements. Specifically designed for students grappling with reading and comprehension challenges, our aim is to enhance their literacy skills.

As we embark on this semester, let’s extend our best wishes to these dedicated tutors, recognizing the vital role they play in supporting students during this crucial phase in their early education.

Thank you Principal Mendez for the ongoing support and collaboration at Williams Elementary School! @amen.dez_2017
#literacy #tutoring#earlychildhoodeducation #childrenfirst #eastbakersfield

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