Building Healthy Communities 
monthly newsletter 
July, 2014 
Welcome to the first issue of our new monthly newsletter. Over the last three years, South Kern communities are feeling the impact of our collective efforts. So much has been achieved already, but we have a long way to go. 

With this newsletter we not only hope to cover the breadth of Building Healthy Communities South Kern (BHC-SK) issues, but also lift up the good work being done by our Action Teams, partners and community.
 
For the inaugural issue, we are highlighting work from our Education and Health Action Teams. BHC-SK has achieved several victories in the areas of education and health. Today, we are exited to share the progress that we've made. We hope you enjoy this newsletter and the others to come.
Building Healthy Communities South Kern places education as a top priority and is working closely with education leaders, parents, and students to create positive learning environments where children and youth can thrive. We believe that students will excel when they have access to quality school food and beverages and can incorporate exercise in their school day. In addition, when schools re-think their discipline policies, students will demonstrate improved behavior and better decision-making.

In just three years we have added water filtration systems for
clean drinking water in the Arvin Union School District and
in all five Head Start programs. We have increased physical
education and daily activities while also improving food
quality in the Arvin, Greenfield, Lamont, and Vineland School
Districts. These same districts have adopted a positive school
discipline approach to improve school climate.

Take a look at our newest video on school nutrition:

SCHOOL NUTRITION











BHC-SK's partnership with Bakersfield College:
 
Our partnership with Bakersfield College has increased college-going for youth in the South Kern area. Since 2009, South Kern has made great strides in the number of young adults, high school students and residents improving their lives through education.


Click here to see the BHC-SK Report Card.


Garden Pathways: Healing Boys and Men of Color

The Sons and Brothers initiative continues to develop as Garden Pathways identifies the needs of young men of color in South Kern.

Garden Pathways' approach of "building community from the inside out," incorporates trauma-informed prevention activities for Boys and Men of Color (BMoC). The program focuses on mentoring, education, violence prevention, parenting support/education, and job preparation. The goal of the program is to begin the healing process and enable young men to move towards health, educational advancement, employment, self-sufficiency, and a safer community.

Garden Pathways looks forward to opening discussions with school administrators and parents about what has been learned in the Sons and Brothers work in South Kern. 

 

In South Kern, the community faces many struggles including poverty, unhealthy air, unemployment, and low educational attainment.  Residents, youth, businesses, and organizations are leading the BHC-SK effort to positively change the health of our communities through a shared vision, goals and action plan that guide our work

Join us in making a healthy South Kern! 
  • Identify what needs changed in our community
  • Review and update BHC-SK's vision and goals for 2020
  • Help us find the strengths we can build our future on
  • Join us and share your voice 

Saturday, August 23th 2014

10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Rexland Park

425 E. Fairview Road, Bakersfield  

 

Let's work together to make a bigger, more focused impact on the future of our communities and create a brighter future for our children.  To get involved, call 661-845-2724 or visit our site. 

About Us

 

Building Healthy Communities is a comprehensive community initiative that is creating a revolution in the way Californians think about and support health in their communities.  Residents are proving that they can make health happen in their neighborhoods, schools and with prevention-and in doing so, they are creating a brighter future for their children.

 

Over 2,000 residents, youth, businesses and organizations are leading the BHC-SK effort to positively change the health of our communities through a shared vision, goals and action plan. Residents in Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch and the unincorporated areas of Greenfield are proving that we have the power to make health happen in our communities.

 

BHC-SK is promoting healthy change in the areas of:

  • Education: Improving education from pre-K through adult education
  • Environment: Creating a healthy environment with clean air and water
  • Health Access: Increasing access to a better health care system
  • Recreation: Improving recreational activities, facilities and parks

 

We have the power to build healthy communities for the next generation.

 


 
In This Issue
Education and Health Snapshot
Healing Boys and Men of Color
Save the Date: BHC-SK Annual Celebration
South Kern Sol Launches Print Publication
Quick Links

South Kern Sol launched their print publication earlier this month. The publication was distributed as an insert in the Lamont Reporter and Arvin Tiller. Print copies can also be found at the Lamont and Arvin Family Resource Centers and all Kern County Libraries.

 
Health Happens Here
  In partnership with
The California Endowment