Issue Issue Summary Desired Outcome Strategies Recommendations Community Health Air Quality:
Bakersfield scored first out of 199
metropolitan areas across the nation for
annual particle pollution (chronic exposure
to particulates caused by pollutants such
as soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals,
and aerosols) and scored second in annual
number of high ozone days. The majority
of disadvantaged communities (DACs) have
elevated levels of pollution for ozone,
particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5
microns or less (PM 2.5), diesel particulate
matter (PM), and lead pollution. Asthma
and other respiratory diseases were
identified as one of the top three health
problems facing Kern County, and high
rates of asthma are concentrated in
Downtown, East, and Southeast
Bakersfield. These areas have high
concentrations of industrial uses, as well as
a convergence of several state highways
that run through these neighborhoods,
which likely contributes to poor air quality
and high asthma rates.
1. Reduction in the amount of particulate
matter, ozone, and lead pollution.
2. Reduction in number of asthma
hospitalizations
1. Pollution reduction and prevention and
promote sustainable transportation:
Reduce emissions from industrial activities
and transportation through methods such
as strengthening air quality regulations,
promoting the use of cleaner technologies,
and improving public transportation
infrastructure, with priority on DACs. These
strategies will limit pollution exposure and
reduce asthma hospitalizations.
1.A. Update the zoning code to require
that siting, design, and location of new
development, including the use of buffer
zones and development requirements,
minimize adverse impacts to air quality.
1.B. Avoid inappropriate location of
residential uses and sensitive receptors in
relation to uses that include, but are not
limited to, industrial and manufacturing
uses and any other uses which have the
potential for creating a hazardous or
nuisance effect.
1.C. Increase and protect urban greenery
by adopting urban greenery development
standards.
1.D. In conjunction with the San Joaquin
Valley Air Pollution Control District
(SJVAPCD), develop standard methods for
determining and mitigating project air
quality impacts and related thresholds of
significance for use in environmental
documents.
1.E. Consult with the SJVAPCD during CEQA
review for projects that require air quality
impact analysis and ensure that the
SJVAPCD is on the distribution list for all
CEQA documents.
2. Raise public awareness about pollution
and exposure risks: The City can use
various communication channels (social
media, public events, news outlets, etc.),
and collaborate with community
organizations to raise public awareness
about pollution and exposure risks. The
community can be empowered to take
individual preventive measures and
advocate for collective efforts regarding
pollution exposure.
2.A. Partner with schools, community
organizations, and Kern County Public
Health Department to disseminate
information on asthma triggers and early
detection.
2.B. Develop and promote a city-led
program to provide free lead tests to
households using funding from the US
Department of Housing and Urban
Development’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard
Control Grant Program (LBPHC), and
provide resources to remove lead in homes
when found.
2.C. To increase protections for workers’
health and safety during bad air quality
Quality of Life
days, coordinate with Cal/OSHA to
increase enforcement and trainings for
employers of outdoor workers and
warehouse workers.
2.D. Work with Cal/OSHA to strengthen
enforcement of existing PPE and break
requirements and expand those
requirements to include PPE and indoor
breaks on poor air quality days.
2.E. Integrate air quality alerts as a part of
the City’s existing notification system
coupled with a public education campaign
partnering with local schools to assist with
disseminating information to students and
parents on air quality.
2.F. Collaborate with the public and private
sectors, local news, and media to educate
on air quality concerns and City efforts to
reduce air pollution.
2.G. Inform the community on the health
issues/leading symptoms of air pollution,
preventative measures to reduce health
impacts, and resources for serious air
quality related health issues.
2.H. Coordinate with the Health
Department to identify funding sources to
expand services that provide masks and
other PPE for public use in grocery stores,
schools, libraries, City-owned facilities, and
other frequented locations for direct public
access.
3. Upgrade existing structures and
implement remediation programs:
Structural upgrades and remediation
efforts can mitigate air pollution sources,
enhance environmental quality and public
health, and address disparities in air
pollution exposure.
3.A. Create a community organization
partnership focused on providing air filters
and cooling mechanisms in low-income
homes.
3.B. Establish an Innovation Incubator
Fund to support and promote new air
quality improvement technologies such as
industrial air pollution control technology
and community clean air refuge centers.
Particulate Matter Reduction:
Many communities in the City of
Bakersfield rank in the high 80th and 90th
Reduce DAC exposure to diesel truck
particulate matter.
4. Reduce Exposure to Diesel Particulate
Matter: Consider strategies that reduce or
eliminate new polluting uses near DACs
4.A. Prohibit the establishment of new
truck routes in local or collector streets
located within DACs.
percentiles for diesel particulate matter.
These communities contain many of the
city’s factories, mechanic shops, truck
yards and overall industry and truck traffic.
Residents testify that large commercial
trucks continually travel throughout East
and Southeast Bakersfield, primarily
through Union Avenue and highway 58
that act as connectors to highway 99.
and residential areas, and work to identify
and mitigating existing polluting sources
can help to improve health outcomes and
the overall quality of life of residents.
4.B. Conduct a study to identify current
truck routes and their effects on the
nearby residential communities and
reroute existing truck routes if significant
adverse impacts are found.
4.C. Ensure clear signage is posted to
identify truck routes, truck parking areas,
and appropriate idling facilities to help
guide truck drivers and ensures adherence
to designated routes.
4.D. Upon the issuance of a certificate of
occupancy for a business overseeing
warehouse operators, fleet operators, and
truck drivers, provide the business with
truck route maps as a part of the
permitting package to promote awareness
and compliance.
4.E. Collaborate with regional
transportation and air quality agencies to
ensure that truck routes align with broader
regional plans and environmental goals.
4.F. Establish a local ordinance that
exceeds the state vehicle idling
restrictions, including restrictions for bus
layovers, delivery vehicles, trucks at
warehouses and distribution facilities,
particularly when these activities take
place near sensitive land uses (schools,
healthcare facilities, affordable housing,
and elder and childcare centers).
Pesticide Exposure:
Exposure to high levels of some pesticides
can cause immediate illness or delayed
conditions such as birth defects and
cancer. Concentrations of pesticide
exposure are higher on the outskirts of the
city, where residential households are in
close proximity to County agricultural
lands. Nitrate contamination is also found
in Bakersfield, caused by fertilizer or
manure leaching into groundwater and
contaminating wells.
Reduce community pesticide exposure
from agricultural operations in the city.
5. Land use controls: Farmworker families
and other people who live near fields can
be exposed to pesticides, both outdoors
and inside homes. The city can establish
land use controls to reduce impacts from
pesticide on sensitive populations.
5.A. Coordinate with the County
Agriculture Commissioner to connect
agricultural operators to technical
resources, funding programs, and training
that promote minimization of agricultural
pollution spray and runoff, including
organic farming methods, integrated pest
management strategies, bioswale and
groundcover vegetation plans, and field
location and orientation.
5.B. Evaluate the required buffer between
residential and agricultural uses to ensure
continued effectiveness and consistency
with modern best practices.
6. Support alternatives to pesticides and
educate/connect farmers to resources:
The City can support alternatives to
pesticides by connecting farmers to
educational resources. Promoting
alternative pest management methods
could reduce the reliance on chemical
pesticides. Educating and connecting
farmers to relevant resources that could
help implement sustainable practices
would increase resilience and minimize the
risks associated with the use of pesticides.
6.A. Coordinate with the County
Agriculture Commissioner to reduce
contaminated runoff by assisting
agricultural providers near DACs with
integrated pest management technique
transitions by connecting them to
resources for technical assistance and
grants, such as those offered through the
California Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA) Organic Transition Pilot
Program.
6.B. Require buffering and screening
requirements as part of the development
review process for all new potentially
pollution producing land uses proposed to
be located adjacent to existing sensitive
land uses that have historically been
associated with heightened levels of
pollution. These land uses associated with
pollution include industrial land uses,
agricultural operations using pesticides
applied by spray techniques, wastewater
treatment plants, and landfills and waste
treatment facilities.
6.D. Coordinate with Kern County to seek
funding to provide financial support to
employers and households with high
pesticide exposure to obtain pesticide
reduction aids, such as HEPA filter
vacuums.
7.A. Engage with local business owners to
identify constraints to locating grocery
options and farmers’ stands, particularly in
DACs.
Healthy and Affordable Food and Physical
Activity:
The City of Bakersfield has level of service
(LOS) standard of 4.0 acres of parks and
open space per 1,000 residents. However,
the City is currently providing an LOS of
Increase residents’ access to open space,
public spaces, and healthy and affordable
food in order to enhance the physical
health and health outcomes.
7. Expand access to fresh and nutritious
foods: Expand access to fresh foods to
alleviate food insecurity and improve
health, particularly in areas on the
outskirts of the city that are underserved
by supermarkets and farmers markets,
7.B. Create partnerships with local and
regional agencies to establish community
garden programs at community centers.
7.C. Connect with local schools and identify
funding sources to add school gardens
and/or greenhouses to school properties
2.06 acres per 1000 residents, which
means there are not sufficient park
facilities. The majority of Bakersfield also
has a tree coverage of 0 to 6 percent.
Downtown and East Bakersfield have
higher access to parks and higher tree
coverage than the rest of the city.
A significant portion of Bakersfield is
underserved by parks that can be accessed
within 15 min of walking or biking,
particularly on the outskirts of the city.
A needs assessment conducted during the
Recreation & Parks Master Plan planning
process revealed that residents were
concerned about safety and vandalism,
routine maintenance, park cleanliness,
broken amenities and facilities, restrooms,
and worn or outdated
equipment/structures.
Kern County has some of the highest rates
of obesity in the state, which is related to
poor diet and limited access to physical
activity. Southeast and Downtown
Bakersfield areas have the highest
percentage of individuals living near
supermarkets, while the outskirts of the
city have the lowest percentage. However,
community members noted that there is
still limited access to fresh foods in
Downtown Bakersfield. The majority of the
Farmers’ Markets are located in areas that
have relatively high supermarket access.
The majority of Bakersfield has lower
walkability than at least 50 percent of
California census tracts. Only a small
percentage of people commute via active
transportation.
through incentive programs, public-private
partnerships with food retailers, flexible
design standards, and flexible zoning.
that could be overseen by the school to
teach students about growing, biology, and
nutrition.
7.D. Establish a working relationship with
grocery store retailers to encourage the
location of new stores in underserved
areas.
7.E. Improve public awareness and
increase enrollment for food services and
resources for communities in need.
7.F. Work with communities to understand
what types of food programs would feel
most supportive and implement those
programs once determined.
8.A. Support school districts and local
communities in the development of
Walking School Bus or Biking School Bus
programs for schools to improve bike and
pedestrian access to schools, especially in
Disadvantaged Communities.
8. Educational programs for nutrition and
healthy lifestyles: Implementing
educational programs for nutrition and
healthy lifestyles, such as walking groups
and nutrition classes, aims to reduce the
prevalence of diet and exercise-related
health issues. This strategy not only
addresses health disparities but also
contributes to the overall well-being of
Bakersfield's residents.
8.B. Improve the affordability of
recreational activities by identifying
funding for and expanding youth and
senior recreational activities such as team
sports, exercise-related courses, and other
recreational lessons to provide these
services at low- or no-cost to participants
and provide financial support to families
enrolling their children in team sports.
8.C. Establish a city-wide health and
wellness day in coordination with local
CBOs to offer linguistically and culturally
accessible recreational or nutritional
activities throughout the city and learn
about health and wellness.
8.D. Continue to build and promote the
City’s Health and Wellness webpage for
residents to have additional information
on services offered and best practices for
healthy living.
8.E. Connect residents with information on
the Community Action Partnership of Kern
to access information on food
distributions, farmers markets, and
nutrition courses.
8.F. Identify funding and teachers, such as
local business owners or the Community
Action Partnership of Kern, for low-cost
nutritional food cooking courses hosted at
community centers and schools.
9.A. Create a prioritized list of parks and
open space projects to direct funding and
investment in DACs, so that when such
funding is available and secured
improvements can be implemented
quickly.
9. Expansion and accessibility
improvements for park facilities with a
focus on prioritizing equity: Improve the
accessibility of park and recreational
resources through increased park space
and availability, decreased park access
costs, improved transit and connectivity to
and between recreational resources, and
identification of underutilized plots
throughout the city that can be targeted
for park conversion.
9.B. Increase the availability of accessible
open space by identifying underutilized
rights-of-way within DACs to be converted
into parklets or natural open space,
particularly in areas near existing or
planned high density residential uses.
Funding sources could include the Outdoor
Recreation Legacy Partnership Program,
Route to Parks Grants Program, and
Outdoor Equity Parks Program. Prioritize
park development in gap areas identified
in the RPMP, with a goal of providing
neighborhood or community parks within a
1/2- or 3/4-mile travel distance in all areas.
9.C. Promote low-cost and free open space
recreation opportunities in the city by
establishing and promoting city-wide park
play days that provide residents with a
variety of sports to play with their
community.
9.D. Meet annually with GET to analyze
existing gaps in the city’s transit system
and collaboratively strategize to improve
transit access in DACs. Utilize Parks
California’s Route to Parks grants program
to connect DACs with parks and open
space.
9.E. Review and, if needed, update the
comprehensive Active Transportation Plan
every five years to continually enhance the
city’s bicycle and transportation system.
9.F. Promote the use of new and improved
bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
through bike to work days, ride to school
days, and other programs that encourage
the use of active and public transportation
options.
9.G. Utilize the park nexus study to re-
evaluate park development to identify
areas within the city in need of park
improvements and potential funding
mechanisms for such improvements.
9.H Increase City's parkland goal to a
minimum of 3 acres per 1,000 residents to
maintain consistency with State standards
and service ratios.
9.I. Evaluate opportunities to charge
impact fees associated with non-
residential development to offset impacts
associated with employee and visitor use.
10.A. Conduct a study to identify
opportunities to adapt underutilized,
community-focused spaces into resiliency
centers. Identify funding sources such as
the Public Safety and Vital Services (PSVS)
fund.
10. Adaptive Reuse for public facilities:
Adaptive reuse of underutilized buildings
for the use of public facilities limits urban
sprawl and reduces the impact of new
construction. Focusing on increasing access
to community facilities, such as resiliency
centers to combat effects of extreme heat
days.
11.A. Partner with GET to identify gaps in
multi-modal connections and bus stop
locations within DACs and craft
recommendations to close gaps as a part
of GET’s bus stop improvement program,
implementation of improvements at
priority locations, and multimodal
connectivity plans.
11. Increase public transit and active
transportation infrastructure: Increasing
connections through public transit and
bike and pedestrian infrastructure
throughout the city addresses issues of
inequity by providing accessible and
affordable mobility options for all residents
and connecting them to resources and
11.B. Partner with GET and Kern Regional
Transit to identify opportunities to
improve accessibility features for those
with disabilities, making it easier for those
with various abilities to utilize existing and
planned services.
11.C. Update the City’s Bicycle and
Pedestrian Safety Plan at least once every
opportunities. Additionally, the expansion
of active transportation infrastructure
promotes a healthier lifestyle by
encouraging physical activity.
five years in order to capture changes in
the transportation system, transportation
technologies, and changes in the safety
and flow of the city’s circulation system.
11.D. Identify areas near schools that need
expanded sidewalk and crosswalk
improvements and seek opportunities to
improve pedestrian access to schools in
conjunction with other infrastructure
improvements such as new sewer lines, as
feasible.
11.E. Review and update development
standards to include active transportation
amenities.
12.A. Expand and promote programs to
remediate homes found to have toxins
such as paint and pipes containing lead,
ensuring that all families have access to
these programs.
Safe and Sanitary Homes
Hazardous Materials Exposure in Homes:
Access to safe and sanitary homes is
critical to the general health of a
community. Poor quality housing resulting
from structural aging, overcrowding, or
neglect, may expose community members
to contaminants and health hazards that
can impact health and life expectancy.
Community members in Bakersfield can
live in safe, toxin free homes.
12. Reduce At-Home Exposure: Reduce
exposure to pollutants in the home by
providing financial assistance for needed
remediation or upgrades and education on
safely managing toxins in the home.
12.B. Identify funding in partnership with
the Bakersfield Fire Department to create
a program to equip homes with free or
low-cost carbon monoxide detectors and
other fire resiliency upgrades and devices.
12.C. Continue to promote the City’s free
smoke detector program to ensure
residents are prepared for and properly
alerted of in-home fires.
12.D. Provide information and resources
regarding tenants’ rights and home safety.
Partner with local trusted community
partners to assist in providing information
and hearing concerns from tenants.
12.E. Coordinate with the Health
Department to improve public education
and awareness of household toxins
through informational programs and
resources, including examples of low- or
non-toxic products. Prioritize informational
campaigns in DACs and those most
impacted by household toxin exposure.
13.A. Partner with local organizations and
collect input from community members to
provide comfortable and considerate
scheduling and location options when
planning City engagement opportunities.
Community Engagement
Engaging with Diverse Communities:
Residents in DACs face a variety of
challenges when it comes to participating
in civic engagement and the government
decision-making process, including
residents who are elderly, non-English
speakers, or lack sufficient broadband
internet access.
Equitable engagement opportunities for
people for all residents within Bakersfield.
13. Diversify Engagement Options: By
providing various times, locations, and
language services and other accessibility
features the City can create more
opportunities for diverse groups of people
to engage with the public decision-making
process.
13.B. Create engagement opportunities
that provide for co-creation of policy and
program design so that DACs are a part of
the decision-making process in policies and
practices that impact their neighborhoods,
their lives, and the community as a whole.
13.C. Improve accessibility features for
elderly and disabled individuals.
13.D. Ensure that promotion of community
events and engagement opportunities are
provided in various mediums to reach
different age groups.
13.E. Provide adequate language services
in all civic engagement activities.
14.A. Consider establishing community
advisory boards with diverse community
members to provide ongoing input and
guidance on city projects and policies.
Encourage cross-collaboration and
ownership of community members in the
public decision-making process.
14. Center Community Voices: The City
can more effectively address community
concerns and needs when community
members are directly involved in the
decision-making process. By uplifting
community voices, the City has an
opportunity to learn from its constituents
and foster trust between residents and
City staff.
14.B. Develop a policy on how to provide
fair compensation for community
members participating in engagement
activities, such as travel and childcare
costs, reimbursement for meals, and
reimbursement of parking fees.
14.C. Conduct community needs
assessments to identify priorities and areas
for improvement.
14.D. Use community feedback to track the
effectiveness of community-led initiatives
and adjust strategies accordingly.
15.A. Establish a cross-departmental
community academy to provide an
environment that supports learning,
participation and collaboration by raising
awareness and understanding of City
functions, processes, programs and
services.
Civic Involvement:
Civic involvement is a barrier for many
residents due to complex governmental
organization and a lack of clarity on
processes. Improving this understanding
can foster critical thinking, enhance
political awareness, and promote social
responsibility. Secondary school students
in particular would benefit from greater
civic involvement and knowledge, as it
improves diverse input in government
decision-making and helps develop
leadership skills, build confidence in public
speaking, and contribute to creating more
engaged, proactive communities.
Empower residents, particularly students,
to learn more about their local
government and community.
15. Engage with Students: Organizing
opportunities to have students and other
young people learn about the way their
local government works can inspire future
generations of city leaders and improve
social and political involvement from
younger people.
15.B. Partner with local schools to organize
field trips to city departments or allow
department members to present to
students to teach about the civic process
and city duties.
15.C. Work with local schools to identify
opportunities to integrate civic education
across various subjects such as history,
social studies, English and STEM courses to
offer a holistic understanding.
15.D. Partner with local schools to
encourage students to participate in
community service projects or internship
opportunities tied to civic learning
objectives.
15.E. Promote the importance of civic
education through public awareness
initiatives to engage parents and
community members.
16.A. In the design of the physical
environment, promote the inclusion of
artistic considerations in local decision-
making.
Community Art and Culture Art:
Bakersfield’s art history is deeply rooted in
the local community and reflects the city’s
diverse cultural influences. The Bakersfield
Museum of Art, established in 1956, has
played a significant role in showcasing
regional and contemporary art, often
highlighting works by local artists. The city
is also home to various public art
installations, murals, and galleries that
celebrate both its agricultural heritage and
the multicultural makeup of its residents.
Preserving art culture in Bakersfield fosters
creativity, strengthens community identity,
and promotes cultural understanding. It
enriches the local economy, supports
artists, and provides a platform for diverse
voices, ensuring the city’s cultural legacy
continues to thrive and evolve.
Integrate the arts as a necessary
component of the quality of life for all
residents in Bakersfield and promote their
importance for the economy and spirit of
the city.
16. Promote an Arts Culture in the City:
The City has a deep history with the arts.
By increasing public awareness of arts
programs and investing in local artists or
art programs, particularly in historically
disinvested communities, the City can aim
to strengthen and build upon that history.
16.B. Increase public awareness of the arts
in Bakersfield through greater promotion
of existing art programs and services in the
community and schools.
16.C. Support a stable funding base for
small, medium, and large arts
organizations and develop new funding
sources to enable arts organizations of all
sizes to respond to demand for services.
16.D. Assist in the improvement of arts
organizations' facilities and access to
enhance the quality and quantity of arts
offerings.
16.E. Continue to support and increase the
promotion of the arts and arts activities
throughout the City for the benefit of
visitors, tourists, and residents.
17.A. Work with the Arts Council of Kern to
establish and promote existing and new
culturally-based arts programs, such as the
Council’s Common Ground Program.
17. Foster New Partnerships: Encourage
the growth of public art and practice of the
arts in the city by partnering with local
organizations to expand the reach of
existing programs and create new
programs for public enjoyment.
17.B. Identify and address the needs of
arts programs and facilities for various
segments of Bakersfield by identifying and
prioritizing funding for arts programs that
center DACs.
17.C. Continue to increase City support for
organizations and developing institutions
that reflect the diverse cultural traditions
of the Bakersfield population.
17.D. Foster public art through
partnerships and promotion of local artists
and artist programs in with city.
18.A Review, revise and coordinate city
permit policies and codes to better meet
the needs of the arts.
18. Create New Opportunities for Arts
Spaces: Streamlining the City’s permitting
process and utilizing other land use
strategies can allow for more public arts
programs and art displays.
18.B. Support and expand programs
directed at enabling arts organizations and
artists to comply with City building and
safety codes and to rehabilitate arts
spaces.
18.C. Increase the use of City owned
neighborhood facilities for the arts.
18.D. Preserve existing performing spaces
in Bakersfield.
18.E. Identify opportunities for developers
to include arts spaces in private
developments.
19.A. Identify a single point of contact
between the music community and the
city, such as a music liaison, to help
facilitate communication and mediate
conflicts.
Music:
Bakersfield, California is known as the
"Country Music Capital of the West Coast"
and is the birthplace of the Bakersfield
Sound, a subgenre of country music.
Bakersfield is defined by its influences
of rock and roll and country, and its heavy
use of electric instrumentation and
backbeats. Keeping this culture alive is an
Ensure that opportunities to experience
music are provided to people of all ages
and abilities and encourage musicians to
visit Bakersfield through the provision and
promotion of music venues and spaces.
19. Increase Opportunities for Music-
sharing Activities: Improve the availability
of opportunities for musical performances
and events by improving communication
between the City and artists, establishing
easier pathways for event creation, and
providing spaces for music sharing
throughout the city. This, in turn, could
engage with community with surrounding
19.B. Identify opportunities to provide and
add a range of venue spaces to offer
opportunities for smaller, local and larger
artists to perform in the city.
19.C. Streamline the permitting process for
music to be hosted at local businesses and
community events.
20.A. Preserve the cultural identity of
neighborhoods through historic
important part of the city’s history, culture,
and economy.
businesses and activities and improve the
social quality of the city.
preservation and adaptive reuse of
buildings.
Cultural Celebration:
Celebrating the diverse cultures of
Bakersfield is essential to recognizing and
honoring the city’s rich heritage and the
contributions of its various communities.
The city’s population is a vibrant mix of
ethnicities, each contributing to the
region’s identity. Celebrating these
cultures through festivals, events, and local
traditions fosters understanding and unity
among residents while preserving the
unique histories of these groups.
Create spaces for diverse local groups to
promote, celebrate, share, and engage in
their culture.
20. Save Space for Cultural Activities: The
City can foster a culturally respectful and
responsible city by encouraging and
promoting various culturally based
programs and facilities. Creating
partnerships with local cultural
organizations provides opportunities for
those groups to highlight their knowledge
and heritage.
20.B. Identify opportunities to add in new
cultural appreciation centers, such as
museums or galleries showcasing local and
international artists.
20.C. Consider the establishment of
cultural districts or zones that aim at
preserving historical building repurposed
for cultural uses, encourage foot traffic,
and have a high concentration of cultural
venues and creative businesses.
20.D. Work with local cultural groups and
organizations to host annual events for
groups to showcase their culture and
organizations offerings.
21.A. Work with local schools and colleges
to identify free and low-cost learning
opportunities open to the public and
actively promote those programs to
residents seeking additional educational
opportunities.
Lifelong Learning Educational programs:
Bakersfield has historically had a lower
level of educational attainment compared
to the statewide average in California.
Many residents hold high school diplomas,
but the city also has a significant portion of
the population with less than a high school
education. Additionally, a substantial
number of adults in Bakersfield do not
have a college degree or other forms of
formal training.
Foster meaningful partnerships with higher
education institutions to provide additional
opportunities for community learning.
21. Encourage Higher Education: Working
with local colleges on improving the
promotion of and the affordability of
college-level courses for interested
residents will open up new educational
and economic opportunity for community
members, while also drawing in new
students for these schools.
21.B. Work with colleges to promote
financial assistance programs for those
starting or re-entering college.
21.C. Partner with colleges to expand and
promote college-readiness programs for
high school students, particularly those
who would be first-generation graduates
or are in economically disadvantaged
families. Include financial planning and
tuition assistance information as part of
these programs.
22.A. Identify funding to provide diverse
learning options for adults to cater to
different learning styles and abilities on a
variety of topics and skills.
Adult Education and Skill Building:
Adult education programs, including those
focusing on literacy and vocational
training, are key to addressing these gaps
and supporting workforce development in
the region. Providing additional
Provide a variety of adult learning
programs.
22. Provide New Learning Opportunities:
Continued education for adults can inspire
personal and economic growth. By
providing free and low-cost courses,
counseling, and other adult learning
opportunities, the City is investing in its
22.B. Partner with local businesses to
provide skills training aligned with industry
demands.
22.C. Work with the Kern County
Department of Social Services, the
Community Action Partnership of Kern,
educational opportunities can foster a
more educated workforce, reduce poverty,
and strengthen the local economy.
Additionally, adult education encourages
lifelong learning, which can improve
overall community well-being and
resilience.
people learning new skills they can carry
home, into the job market, or into the
public decision-making process.
and other career guidance organizations to
provide counseling and job placement
services.
22.D. Identify funding to provide grants for
residents to take college-level courses
and/or stipends for school supplies to
assist residents in their learning efforts.