Leadership Development

In 1998, a small group of grassroots individuals came together with an idea to form a program that would help foster leadership skills in neighborhoods and communities in an effort to better serve children and families. They decided this program should nurture natural grassroots leaders in communities and organizations where they were already engaged in local collaborative groups and community mobilization efforts. Since 1998, nearly 500 individuals from communities and organizations throughout Kern County have graduated from this Leadership Development training program.

Specific goals of this Program are to:

  • 1) educate participants by increasing their understanding of public issues and human relationships,
  • 2) mobilize participants to lead others effectively in areas of community health and well-being and
  • 3) organize participants by assisting them in building a network of allies and peers linked to other citizen action groups with common interests.

    The Leadership Development Program includes 56 hours of instruction time in nine subject areas including:

    • powerful public speaking
    • effective time management
    • facilitating effective community and organizational meetings,
    • strategic planning for communities and organizations
    • conflict resolution practice
    • community mobilization techniques
    • resource development
    • media and marketing relations
    • legislative advocacy

    Participants learn how to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves and how to pass these skills onto others. Participants also develop a network of allies among fellow team members and trainers who can be called upon for advice, assistance and guidance. Each participant is expected to take what they have learned back into their own neighborhood, community and organization - helping make positive systems change for children and families in Kern County. Additionally, participants are encouraged to seek out new and upcoming grassroots leaders to mentor in their own communities or organizations. Working within a small group of fellow classmates, participants select and complete team projects benefiting children and their families in our communities. In addition to offering participants a chance to work closely with classmates towards a common goal, these projects also provide participants opportunities for community involvement and increased public awareness. Each project provides a window of opportunity for solving community problems and making positive changes in a small facet of our society.

    Quotes from former Leadership Development participants:
    “I learned that I have abilities with interpersonal communication that I never truly tapped into before.”
    “[The program] made me realize that I’m in the right field and that I can really make a difference.”
    “I have so much more confidence, especially around ‘the suits.’ We are all just people that care.”
    “I have a fresh perspective on how each of us can make a difference in a child’s life if we just try!”
    “This class has helped me get over my lack of confidence in myself. I always had a small thought in my head that I couldn’t do certain things, but now I know I can!”
    “I have more confidence in expressing my opinions and I feel I have more tools that I can use to effect positive change in the community.”
    “I have gained my motivation back to further my education and become more active in my community.”
    “I truly feel like I can be one of those community leaders I look up to.”

    The 2010 Leadership Development Class

    Aguirre, Cynthia Kern County Probation Department
    Anglin, Shelda CASA of Kern County
    Arzaga, Lupe Kern County Department of Child Support Services
    Baier, Babette Bakersfield Police Department
    Brueggeman, Julie Family Preservation Community Services
    Burns, Tammy Early Childhood Council of Kern
    Castellanos, Hilda Kern County Department of Public Health/Haven Counseling Center
    Castillo, Clara Community Action Partnership of Kern
    Cervantes, Claudia Community Member
    Cesmat, Sabra Kern County Department of Child Support Services
    De Alba, Ricardo Community Action Partnership of Kern
    Dodd, Derrick Housing Authority of the County of Kern
    Estell, Linda Clinica Sierra Vista/Southeast Neighborhood Partnership
    Fuentes, David Boys and Girls Club
    Hernandez, Freddy Clinica Sierra Vista
    Hernandez, Sandra Owens Valley Career Development Center
    Huizar, Gabriella Community Connection for Child Care
    Jeans, Dawn Department of Veterans Affairs
    Jimenez, Bertha Haven Counseling Center
    Lee, Raquel Greenfield Union School District
    Martinez, Evonne Shafter Healthy Start/Differential Response
    Mata, Veronica McFarland Unified School District
    Mendoza, Liz Beardsley School District
    Mendoza, Lucina AmeriCorps/KernCorps
    Munoz, Veronica Kern County Department of Child Support Services
    Olvera, Adriana West Side Family Resource Center/Differential Response
    Pilkington, Danielle H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection Family Resource Center
    Pruitt, Christina Kern County Public Health - Childrens Services
    Recendiz, Veronica Housing Authority of the County of Kern
    Rephan, Rob Haven Counseling Center/Kinship Support Services Program
    Rosso, Dianne Kern County Department of Human Services
    Rucker, Yolanda Haven Counseling Center
    Stallone, Susan KUSD Family Resource Center
    Stokes, Rebecca Bakersfield Police Department
    Vargas, Enriqueta HealthNet
    Vasquez, Hilda Owens Valley Career Development Center
    Wegis, Ryan Kern County Probation Department


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