Children First 2024 Impact Report

Impact Report 2024

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Children First:

Uplifting East Bakersfield Through Literacy, Outdoor Learning, and Belonging In 2024, at Children First, our work reached farther and deeper than ever before. From placing books in the hands of thousands of children through literacy initiatives to leading students beyond classroom walls with our Outdoor Equity Grant, we created experiences that nurtured learning, joy, and connection. Our community-centered events celebrated culture, belonging, and the power of education. Through it all, we remained rooted in our mission: to break the cyce of intergenerational poverty by seeking out opportunities for East Bakersfield children and families to thrive—in school, at home, in nature, and in life.

This report tells the story of our impact through numbers, partnerships, and the lived experiences of the children and families we serve. You’ll see the results of your support, dedication, and belief in the power of community. Together, we are building a future where no child is left behind.

15,043

Individuals Served

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2024 PROGRAMMING BY THE NUMBERS:

3,200 Attendees

Total Households Served Total Pounds of Food Total # of Volunteers

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3,148.0 162,640.5 315.0

1,043

A Free Community Event, featuring: 50 Community Vendors

12 Artisan Vendors 9 Food Vendors 68 Volunteers 10 Sponsors and $23,500 raised for Children First Programming!

Students served

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348 lbs

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520 Jefferson Elementary Students 523 Williams Elementary Students

Each student received a $20 voucher to purchase books thanks to a grant from the Virginia and Alfred Harrell Foundation.

596

Total youth served

4 Quarterly Cleanups 118 total Volunteers Type of Events Art in the Park (3) Williams Elementary ELPAC Picnic Williams Elementary 6th Grade End of Year Celebration Summer Intern Week of Activities (4) Fall Resource Fair Total Events 10 Total Adults Served 220 Total Youth Served 596

www.childrenfirstbakersfield.org

T U R N I N G PA G E S

Williams Elementary Data Summary

At Williams Elementary, the Children First Community Reader Program supported 35 students—primarily English Language Learners—through individualized tutoring and mentoring. The 25 core participants made an average of one year and one month of reading growth in just 18 weeks, with third graders reducing their literacy gap with peers from two months to one. Teachers reported strong confidence in the program, rotating students in as needed, while an additional 10 students facing challenges such as homelessness, foster care, or chronic absences benefited from mentoring that improved attendance and behavior. Students not only achieved measurable reading gains above schoolwide averages but also developed a stronger love for reading, directly supporting BCSD’s goal of ensuring proficiency by third grade and reclassifying English Learners by fifth grade.

Impact Snapshot •

35 students served across four program cycles

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25 core students received 54 individualized sessions over 18 weeks

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+1 year, 1 month average reading growth (STAR Reading)

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3rd graders reduced literacy gap with peers from 2 months to just 1 month

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10 additional students mentored (foster/homeless, IEPs, chronic absences/behavior), improved attendance & fewer behavior issues

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3 extra months of growth compared to last year’s 3rd grade participants

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Students reported an increased love for reading and increased active participation in classroom lessons

Tutor Talk! Quotes From Our Reading Tutors: “I had a little girl who left to Mexico for a full month, and when she returned, we had to start from the beginning. We were reading 1.0 level books again. She had lost a lot of progress by being out of school for so long. By my last week, she was reading 3.0 level books with minimal help. She gave me several hugs on my last day. She said she would miss me.”

“When I met one of the students, she didn’t know how to read at all, and we started off with just sight words. Then she could finally read to me and tell me about her stories. I would let her take a book home. When I came back, she was so excited to let me know that she finished it and was ready to start something new.”

“Seeing the students reading progress made me so happy for them! I also got to see how a lot of them finally realized that reading wasn’t boring. You just had to find what works best for you, how engaging it can actually be and how important of a skill it is.”

www.childrenfirstbakersfield.org

THE 2024 LITERACY PROGAM

Jefferson Elementary Data Summary

At Jefferson Elementary, the Children First Community Reader Program provided individualized literacy support to 30 students, through one-on-one or one-on-two tutoring. Students participated in 54 sessions across the school year, resulting in an average of 1.13 grade levels of growth and 84 points gained on STAR Reading assessments. More than half of participants (57%) achieved at least one full year of progress in less than a school year.

Growth was especially strong among third graders, who averaged +1.24 grade levels, with nearly 7 in 10 advancing a year or more. Second graders gained +1.1 grade levels on average, with half meeting or exceeding one year of growth. These results demonstrate that the program not only prevented widening gaps but also actively closed them, helping English Language Learners and others accelerate toward gradelevel proficiency.

Among the 30 students served were 8 English Learners (EL), 3 students with 504 Plans, 2 students reclassified as fluent English proficient (RFEP), 1 student receiving Special Education services, and 1 student identified under the McKinney-Vento Act. These demographics highlight the program’s reach in supporting some of the most vulnerable student groups on campus.

Impact Snapshot •

28 students served across four program cycles

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+1.13 grade levels average growth (STAR Reading)

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+84 points average scaled score increase

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57% of students gained ≥1 year of reading growth

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3rd graders: +1.24 grade levels, 69% gained ≥1 year

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2nd graders: +1.1 grade levels, 50% gained ≥1 year

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Students developed a stronger love for reading and Principal demonstrated confidence in the program through support

Teacher Talk!

Quotes from Williams and Jefferson Elementary Teachers: “Having a tutor for students has had a great impact with my struggling readers because it is building their confidence, and they are excited when they are able to read their book or when they share what they read.”

“A strength I observed was student engagement. I noticed that students would participate more in class by giving more discussions about texts.”

“From a student’s point of view, most students were excited to work one on one with someone. It’s usually hard to do in class and in small groups, the students with the community readers were happy with the attention ” www.childrenfirstbakersfield.org

O P E N I N G PAT H S

Outdoor Equity Program

OUTDOOR EQUITY COMMUNITY PARTNERS David and Jill Hanley, Retired Science Teacher

Jill Hanley, Wife and assistant of David Hanley Boys and Girls Club Williams Elementary Kern Astronomical Society 3G Activities Outsiders Nation Mobile Impact Hillside Mushrooms Sketch2Studio White Wolf Wellness Foundation Panorama Vista Preserve Sierra Club of Kern County Youth2Leaders CA Native Plant Society CALM Zoo Kern Nature Center Little Hikers of Bakersfield Clagg’s Kayak Rentals Doug Lemmons (Reptile Specialist)

In 2024, families engaged in a wide variety of outdoor learning experiences that blended science, art, and recreation. At our Family Nature Days, children explored the science of sight through optical illusions, dissected owl pellets to learn about bone anatomy, and investigated fundamental physics concepts like Boyle’s and Bernoulli’s Laws. Seasonal activities such as planting seeds, painting pots, and crafting encouraged creativity, while summer intern–led projects promoted sustainability through a pop-up thrift shop and healthy lifestyles with active play at our Make a Splash event. Family Nature Walks and CALM Zoo outings offered hands-on opportunities to connect with nature, from bird-feeder making and reptile demonstrations to kayaking and paddle boating, inspiring curiosity and wonder at every step.

These experiences were made possible through strong community partnerships that brought expertise and unique opportunities to East Bakersfield. Guest educator David Hanley led interactive science explorations, while the Kern Astronomical Society guided families in safe solar viewing and astronomy. Collaborations with the Kern Nature Center, Little Hikers of Bakersfield, Claggs Kayak Rentals, and Outsiders Nation Mobile Impact enriched programming with guided hikes, STEAM activities, and creative resources for families. Through these events, children and parents not only deepened their connection to the outdoors but also built confidence, learned new skills, and shared meaningful experiences together — creating lasting memories and fostering a stronger, more connected community.

Total of

616 Youth Served

Total of 150 Adults Served

12 Family Nature Days

Serving 490 youth and 100 adults in their community at David Nelson Pocket Park and Jefferson Park.

4 Family Nature Walks and Field Trips Serving 126 youth and 50 adults at Camp Okihi,

Panorama Vista Preserve, CALM Zoo, and Hart Park. www.childrenfirstbakersfield.org

The Children First Team: Staff: Gabriel Arellano

PROGRAM MANAGER

Board of Directors: Natasha Felkins CHAIRWOMAN

Carlos Bello VICE CHAIR

Guided entirely by volunteers, our board, alongside one staff member, ensures Children First’s programs make a lasting community impact.

Daisy Torrez SECRETARY

Abel Moreno TREASURER

Tere Aldos Julissa Bhakta Ed De La Vega Jennifer Cordova Victor Palacio Anycia Reyes

Follow us! @children_first1 @eastbakersfieldfestival @cf_literacygala

www.childrenfirstbakersfield.org

Serving the children & families of

¡Sirviendo a los niños y las familias del Este de Bakersfield!

www.childrenfirstbakersfield.org