Letter from our Executive Diector
When I started working here at the Club, I asked the program director to describe the ultimate Club experience they felt a Club Kid should have. They responded, “Fun and a place to hang out.” They were right, the Club should be fun and a place to hang out, but I questioned, “Is that all the Club can be to our kids?” Fortunately, we had other team members like Barry Hill (now our Associate Executive Director) who had other ideas of how to impact children through fitness, community service and social bonding. Over the years our programs and strategies have evolved as brilliant and caring people on our team, our board, and community contributed to the growth, development and sophistication of our programs. Our fine arts program started with an idea from Castle & Cooke. Our community garden started with the encouragement and investment of Kaiser Permanente. Our teen program was fostered by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and many other young adult driven programs locally, regionally, and nationally. Our STEM program was inspired by multiple companies including CRC, Aera, Chevron, ARRC Technology, and the CSUB Tech Center.
As I reminisce over the last 26 years, I marvel at all of the voices of encouragement, the investment of resources, and the intellectual capital that has created what we know as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County. But, what about the leadership component? What have we done and what do we do to cultivate and give our children the tools to develop into leaders? Leaders in the Club? Leaders in their school? Leaders with their friends? Leaders in their internships and/or part-time jobs? For me, it started with a mission moment at the Jack & Monica Armstrong Center. I was meeting with a rambunctious 15 year old young man who was in a bit of trouble. He sat across from me in my office with an infectious grin on his face. Although we aren’t supposed to have favorites, I do admit this kid was definitely a stand out with his sense of humor, charisma and great energy. I asked him, “Where do you see your future self?” With the intent of addressing his recent breach of our rules of conduct, he responded with his brows knitted and a serious gaze, “Someday I’m going to be in your seat, sir.” Any intent on reprimanding him melted away. In actuality this got me thinking, what DO our kids have planned for the future and what are the obstacles that most kids face that we work with?
From then on, our programming took a different approach. With “Fun” always on our radar, we began planning activities with an intentional purpose. We challenged our team to create activities that met certain protective factors such as a sense of belonging, a sense of influence, and a strong sense of self. Our goal was to not only create engaging experiences, but actually affect positive change by building confidence and a sense of purpose. Our driving principle is this, while in our care we will provide life changing experiences that foster new skills, knowledge, talents, and help children develop a plan and a path for their future. We continue in this mode and cultivate leadership in the classroom, on the playing field, and in the community This will be our 3rd year of a formal celebration naming a Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County and providing a college scholarship for the recipient – one more way of setting a high, but reachable leadership bar for the kids we serve.
If you are wondering whatever happened to that 15-year-old who announced he wanted my job, he went on to lead our first chartered Keystone Leadership Club, then he worked for us during junior college. He served two tours of duty in the Marine Corps and now, 20 plus years later, Chris Molina is our Director of Operations and second in line in our succession plan for the Executive Director’s position.
Zane Smith Executive Director
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I was five years old when I first started coming to the Boys & Girls Club during its Summer Day Camp. My mom had gotten a full-time job and wanted me and my brother to have a safe place to spend our summer days. At first, I was scared. I have always been close to my mom—a bit of a momma’s boy, I guess. But at that time, I was only five and she was my everything. I had never been away from her for too long. Imagine walking through the doors of the huge Club—a scared little boy that didn’t know anyone. I know now that this was hard for her too, but my mom wanted what was best for me. She needed the Club…maybe as much as I did. Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to get comfortable and I spent most of my time in the gym learning to play basketball. I also found a great male role model in Henry, my coach, mentor, and at the time… the closest thing to a father figure. He was silly, but firm. He made me feel 6-feet tall. Although I was surrounded by people who cared about me, I was just shy and never had a lot of friends.
Sadly, my biggest fear was rejection, so it was easier just relying upon the Club adults and the few kids that played ball with me.
As time passed, I developed another strong relationship with Mac, one of the coolest team members at the Club. Mac was the director of and the first person to use the brand-new recording studio. I spent long days at the Club going between the gym and the studio which made me feel like I belonged. I would walk in every morning at 7:00 am feeling sharp in my cargo pants and boots waiting to see what fun I was going to get into. The outfit was to give me confidence and part of the everyday excitement was hearing the compliments from the adults at the Club…people who really knew me and made sure I felt special. Over the years, I continued to struggle making friends, again because of my fear of rejection and low self-confidence. The Club continued to provide me with great people in my life and surrounded me with other kids that I could spend time with and really get to know. We were growing up together.
Then, during the summer I turned 12, the fear of rejection was suddenly gone. I joined the other kids that were involved in the Club’s art studio and had this group of amazing artistic friends who were focused on creating art to support the Club’s art lessons, as well as kids from the Homeless Shelter. Some of you know the event where these art pieces are bought—we call it Farm to Table(aux)— something I could have never dreamed up. I also met Taya, the art instructor, and my new mentor. She was so kind, gentle and fun. She taught me how to paint, mix colors and see the world from an artist’s perspective.
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Robert (Bobby) Branton receiving his 2023 Youth of the Year Award
Mayor Karen Goh with 2023 Youth of the Year
Bobby Brandton
Bobby receiving his scholorship check.
The following year, I joined the Club’s organized sports programs starting with playing flag football. My confidence grew and was now based on me being an athlete, a painter, a recording artist and most of all, a kid that the Club cared about. Part of the Club’s experience is that they really get to know you. You are seen! You are accepted! When you walk through the door, your name is cheered. Hearing “Bobby” yelled out every day and them knowing exactly who I am makes me feel special, confident, and part of something important. This helped me overcome the fear of rejection—in all the years at the Club, I have only felt acceptance, encouragement, and safe to be me.
Through the Club, I have had so many amazing people as part of my Club family, community, and local leaders. These experiences have taught me about leadership, communication, STEM, art, giving back and having a voice in who I am and what is important to me. I know that I will continue to apply all these things in my daily life as I finish high school and begin college. At 16, I already look back at the faces of the wonderful people who welcomed a scared, scrawny 5-year-old and encircled me with support, kindness, friendship and most important—a feeling of being special and loved.
So, who am I now. I am Bobby Branton—forever a Club Kid! Through the Club’s outreach program and community clean-ups, I know that I can make a difference, I now have the confidence from Job Shadowing, to give tours and talk about the Club’s programs that have meant so much to me. Through tutoring younger Club members, I know that I can have an important impact on another person’s life and create the same bond that Henry, Mac, Taya, and the other Club mentors built with me. Today, I am Robert Branton, approaching adulthood and wherever I go and whatever I achieve, I will know that my mom changed my life forever by choosing the Boys & Girls Club for my home away from home and creating my Club family.
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Bobby delivering his acceptance speech.
My first day of work in July 1996, I arrived at the Boys & Girls Club housed at a church on the corner of Monterey and King streets. I felt uneasy as one of the gates was unlocked and left wide open for anyone to enter. I stepped inside to survey the area and immediately found a gentleman precariously balancing himself on a large swamp cooler attached to a frame outside of the main building. On his 5’4 frame, he wore a huge tool belt and was busily wrestling with it while atop the swamp cooler. Imagine my relief thinking that we had a handyman to address the needs of a well-used Club House— given my skills were limited to lightbulb changing at best. As he climbed down, I noticed a couple of pens in a red plaid pocket that had been secured with a robust amount of purple thread.
He stuck his hand out and with a very serious look introduced himself, “I’m Jack Armstrong. You must be the new guy.” Although my dreams of having someone on the team to literally keep the lights on and the doors open were quickly dashed, I gladly shook the hand of man who had adopted the Club as family and committed his time, talent, leadership, resources and dreams to creating a future for the Boys & Girls Club and its children.
Jack was brilliant, focused, and worked tirelessly in everything he did. He was a successful self-made businessman, a devoted husband to his lovely Monica, committed to
service in the community, and a pretty good square-dancer. Fortunately, his passion for success led to creating a vision for a state-of-the-art Boys & Girls Club facility at the corner of Niles and King streets—just across the alleyway from the church from where the Club was operating in a neighborhood known for economic disparity. As part of this, Jack and Monica, along with some of their friends gathered a significant contribution and established the first Boys & Girls Club of Bakersfield Foundation with a separate Board of Directors and 501(c)3 non-profit status. The goal was to build the Foundation to $5 million as an endowment fund that would create unrestricted operating dollars and provide the Club with resources to expand facilities, programs, the number of children served, in additional to accounting for future needs of generations to come.
It is bittersweet that Jack and Monica never got to see the fund grow to the $5 million goal, but they were present for the ribbon cutting for the new Club House and even received a Beautiful Bakersfield Award through the Chamber of Commerce for purchasing the land, fundraising for the building, and establishing relationships with stakeholders that are still active today.
Through support from local leaders and the stewardship of Legacy Board Member Jason Cohen, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County Foundation (changed the name to align better with its commitment to our children) voted to partner with the Club to create the E.L. Jack & Monica Armstrong Fund with over $1 million in assets and growing. The ultimate purpose of this fund is to provide the Club with the resources to continue opening its doors to children throughout the community. With this fund the dream of serving more kids in more locations with all of the resources to do so is now becoming a reality. The Club is committed to building a source of unrestricted funds that allow it to be agile and swiftly address the needs of children in the community. Jack and Monica inspired us to dream big and act bold! I think they would be proud of the fund that will help us do just that.
To contribute to the new E.L. Jack & Monica Armstrong Fund, contact Ed Jacobs, Director of Development at 661-325-3730 ext. 242.
Jack and Monica Armstrong, along with some friends conducting groundbreaking for the Armstrong Youth Center.
Board of Directors and Youths of the Year presenting Endowment fund check.
E.L. Jack and Monica Armstrong Youth Center.
Active 20-30 Club of Bakersfield
Justin & April Ahart
Timothy & Caitlin Ashlock
Ariel & Abby Auffant
Alan Avery
Alex M. Balfour
Larry & Kay Bardin
Adam Belter
Cathy Bennett
Aimee Blaine
Sonia Bonilla-Mendoza
MacKenzie Boone
Greg & Rose Broida
John & Jean Browning
Charles & Theresa Bush
Juan & Sabrina Cazares
Gary & Donna Cross
Mickey & Alex Cushine
Mike & Maggie Cushine
Matt Damian
Chelsea Dow
Ken & Marjorie Dow
Karla Espinoza
Melissa Fortune & Bruce Beretta
Christine Frazier
Fanny Gama
Monica Gonzales
Renee Goodwin
Robert & Jerry Haner
Matthew & Shelly Hewett
Barry & Eashell Hill
Cynthia Huggins
Edgar Jacobs
Larry Koman
Allan Krauter & Anna Agenjo
Bernie & Lynn LeBeau
Ryan & Frances Lewis
Andrew Lopez
Christopher Lowe
Zachary Martindale
Erlinda Martinez
Natalie Martinez
Renee Massey
Janice Meek
Karinna Mendoza
Peggy Miller
Ruth Miranda
Chris & Jovan Molina
Alex & Kristin Monsibais
Jonathan & Mary Anne
Mueller
Shannan Ogilvie
Randy & Mary Richardson
Saber Insurance Agency
Darin Schwicker
John & Christina Sistrunk
Paul Skarphol
Zane & Amy Smith
Bryce & Ashley Sterling
Carol Sugimori
Linda Sullenger
Robert Tafoya & Sandra Serrano
Dan & Rhesa Tate
Josh & Susan Wall
Deborah Wood
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Dale Oprandy
SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
The past few years have been incredibly difficult as kids and teens faced school closings, social isolation, heightened uncertainties and more. With the pandemic exacerbating a decade-long rise in youth mental health concerns, it’s more important than ever that young people have safe, nonjudgmental adults they feel comfortable approaching about tough topics.
Due to restrictions and disruptions caused by the pandemic, young people experienced higher instances of food insecurity, housing insecurity, isolation, and lack of access to vital mental health services leading to these rising rates of anxiety and depression. Supporting the physical and emotional health of kids and teens is more important than ever.
8 2 %
7 out of 10 child ren rate their ab ility to cope w ith challenges as m ed ium to very low of C lub m em b ers (ages 12-17) report earning A 's and B 's
ACADEMIC RECOVERY
For over 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs have prioritized the academic success of youth by cultivating high expectations through supportive relationships and high-yield activities and programs which are designed to empower youth to excel in school and lead healthy, productive lives. Clubs provide a safe space for youth to go when school is not in session, keeping them learning, growing and having fun.
Through the ongoing support of elected officials, Clubs can address the disparate academic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that exacerbated academic inequities, particularly for youth of color, and have yet to close achievement gaps, particularly within these disproportionately impacted communities. Every day, Clubs provide youth with access to vital programming and services around academics and mentoring that give them the tools they need to define their own success.
With your generous support, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County creates opportunities to help more kids and teens achieve great futures. To make a donation or to learn about other ways you can help, contact Zane Smith, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County at 661-325-3730 or by visiting www.bgclubsofkerncounty.org
H O W C A N Y O U H E L P ?
I M P A C T R E P O R T 2 0 2 2
801 NILES STREET BAKERSFIELD, CA 661.325.3730 BGCLUBSOFKERNCOUNTY.ORG 1. Afterschool Alliance (2020). America After 3PM. 2 USDA 2022 Food Security in the United States 3 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth Right Now 4. 2022 National Youth Outcomes Initiative, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 3 4
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County recently teamed up with No Kid Hungry to bring together community leaders at a Food Convening event aimed at finding methods to end youth hunger in Kern County.
BGCKC Nutrition Coordinator, Chelsea Dow, spoke at the breakfast gathering informing the attendees that through grants from No Kid Hungry, the Club has been able to purchase much needed equipment. This equipment allowed BGCKC to expand immensely, especially during COVID with the graband-go services that were allowed during this time. Dow also added that
the club provides over 4,500 free meals to kids across the county on a daily basis, including outlying areas such as Frazier Park and El Tejon.
“Being able to have those grab-andgo meals where the kids can grab them, take them back home, eat them in the safety of their house or with their parents has been tremendous,” Dow said.
No Kid Hungry is a campaign run by the parent nonprofit, Share Our Strength, which provides grant funding for everything related to school meals, from meal carts to
refrigerators and delivery trucks.
Thank you No Kid Hungry for your continued support in helping to provide the needed meals to our members and children in our community.
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Born in Bakersfield and raised in Arvin, Sarina Sierra is a valued manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County who is now making a real impact in Tehachapi. Sarina graduated from Arvin High School, earned an associate degree from Bakersfield College and a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Bakersfield.
Six years ago, Sarina needed a part-time position while attending college and was hired by the Club as a substitute activity leader. In 2019, Sarina became the STEM coordinator at the Lamont Club which allowed her to attend the STEM Mentoring National Training in Mystic, Connecticut. In this role, she traveled to Mystic, but this time leading a group of teens who participated in the Peer Mentoring Leadership Academy at Mitchell College. These teens then went on to mentor other Club youth in STEM programs. Sarina became permanent activity leader at the Lamont Club and then went on to establish a Boys & Girls Club with San Lauren School in Bakersfield.
While Sarina wasn’t a Club kid herself, she understood the value of afterschool programming because she participated in the afterschool programs offered by her elementary and middle schools. Sarina also credits much of her outlook on life to her close family and friends. Sarina is one of six children, but she is considerably younger than her siblings which resulted in her becoming an aunt at just nine years old. This allowed Sarina, at a young age, to help raise and guide children which ignited and cultivated her interest of working with children. Sarina also learned about the rewards of hard work from her parents. Her father worked in agriculture and her mother worked in education as a bilingual tech at Arvin High School. Her homelife taught her the value of hard work, family,
Sarina Sierra
Hometown Girl Making a Difference
and community. She says that she is inspired by the positive words and support from not only her own family and friends, but also from the Club’s youth and their parents.
With so much talent and experience, Sarina was asked to work with the Tehachapi Unified School District in establishing a new Boys & Girls Club Teen Center in the former junior high school facility. She was instrumental in building a team, recruiting students, and developing a teen oriented program based on the needs of the kids in Tehachapi. Through her leadership, the Club continues to grow and expand in the number of young adults served and the outstanding educational, enrichment and character building programs.
When asked what she likes about working at the Club, Sarina replied, “Overall, I like that the Boys & Girls Clubs after-school program is memorable and fun. Seeing all the effort that is put into helping the youth and empowering them to excel academically and in life.” My favorite part of working at the Club is seeing the amazing impact every team has on the parents and students attending the Club or afterschool program. It’s such a heartwarming feeling knowing that every team gives so much to make afterschool time a great experience for the youth.” Sarina’s advice to anyone considering joining the Club staff is, “Do it. It’s the most rewarding job that will give you the best life lessons and experiences.”
Outside of her rewarding career, Sarina does have an international travel bucket list and someday hopes to visit places including Greece, Paris, and Rome. She feels that a trip to any of these places would be good for her as it would take her out of her comfort zone and inspire her to see, taste, and try new things. Sarina also has a talent for eyelash extensions and microblading and dreams of eventually building her own business for these services someday.
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Sarina lead Extended Learning Program members in the annual Christmas Parade.
Lamont Club Members celebrated Sarina’s Graduation from Bakersfield College.
BENEFITING BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF KERN COUNTY
Hosted by Castle & Cooke
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 6, 2023 • 6 - 10 PM
HIGHGATE AT SEVEN OAKS
FARMTOTABLEAUX.COM/BGCKC
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” ~ Picasso
Feast on farm-to-table cuisine • Indulge in artisan cocktails, craft beer and boutique wines
• Enjoy creative Tableaux Vivants • Enter the Mystère Box Raffle • Bid on artful auction items and more!
Our Mission:
To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
For more information contact Ed Jacobs: 661-325-3730
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www.bgclubsofkerncounty.org
ext 242 | ejacobs@bgclubsofkerncounty.org
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801 Niles Street PO BIN 5J Bakersfield,
CA 93385
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