CAREER BEGINNINGS

Building a bridge of knowledge, support, and hope for our youth.

MissionTo increase the likelihood of low-income and other

disadvantaged students to remain in school, graduate from high school and either participate in post-secondary education or obtain employment with a career focus.

The key to success is never to give up!

 

Program Objectives• Career Beginnings brings together key agencies, high

schools, businesses, non-profit agencies and local colleges in working partnerships, which provide career and college preparation, summer work/study experience, school-year work experience, special academic tutoring, counseling and supportive services, and the individual guidance of adult mentors from the business and professional communities.

• Career Beginnings engages the entire community in a group effort that helps students overcome their educational and social deficiencies by exposing them to the college environment and the professional world in a personal way.

The Summer Academy− Challenging work/study program− Students receive 10 High School

credits at completion− Courses offered includes: College

Preparatory &General- English, Algebra, Geometry, and Life Skills.

− Participants are given paid work experience and job-training within the County.

− Transportation is provided for the outlying area students.

− Prominent community leaders are invited into the classrooms.

− Field trips to local businesses & agencies are pursued.

− At the Summer Academy’s conclusion, an awards ceremony recognizes participant achievements.

The Year-Round Component− Members of the Career Beginnings staff will offer monthly workshops at schools or

CSUB to assist you with: − Academic Advising− College Admission Forms− Financial Aid Workshops− Resume Writing− Interviewing Skills− Job Applications & Job Search

− We currently have students enrolled at the following local high schools:

Arvin BHS Centennial East Foothill Golden Valley Highland Kern Valley McFarland North Ridgeview Vista Continuation Vista West Continuation Wasco West

Out of School Youth ProgramCareer Beginnings at CSUB offers a year round program for out of school youth

between the ages of 16 and 21. Participants are rewarded with paid work experience as they pursue their educational goals. Workshops are offered on Campus covering many topics. These are some of the topics addressed during the year:

Academic Advising Choosing a Career

Post-Secondary Alternatives Financial Aid Information

Goal Attainments: Reading and Math Resume Writing Interview Skills

Students earn their work experience hours by participating in the workshops, community service and enrolling in secondary completion programs, post-secondary educational institutions or accredited training program.

Community InvolvementCareer Beginnings students participate in career fairs, workshops, and community

service activities.

Events throughout the year: − Great American Cleanup− Relay for Life− Mayor’s Freeway Cleanup− Make A Difference Day

Career Beginning Involvement In the City Of Bakersfield

2008 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients

Every year Keep Bakersfield Beautiful (KBB) recognizes the volunteers it may rely on the most to carry out its mission.  The KBB Committee and City of Bakersfield Solid Waste Division staff nominate volunteers to be considered for an award.  Nominees must participate in more than one KBB event a year, and/or lead a KBB activity or event, and/or actively participate in a KBB sub-committee in order to be considered.  The KBB Committee decides who will win.  The winners are celebrated during a ceremony at the annual Great American Cleanup™ in April.  In 2008, State Senator Dean Florez’s office and the Honorable Mayor Harvey Hall also presented certificates of appreciation to the winners during the ceremony.

The mission of Keep Bakersfield Beautiful is to engage individuals to take greater

responsibility for improving their community.

Charlie Alvary IV, is committed to community service, because he recognizes the value of volunteer work.  He started volunteering for Keep Bakersfield Beautiful (KBB) about two years ago through the Career Beginnings Program at Cal State University, Bakersfield.  Since then, he’s learned he should highlight his volunteer work experience when applying for jobs.  He’s also a teenager who understands he can be a positive example to his peers and younger children.  “[One is] a role model to the younger generation by showing them that caring for the community is important,” said Alvary.  His favorite KBB activity is the Highway 99 Tree Planting Project.  Alvary said, “…trees help the environment by filtering Carbon Dioxide, making Oxygen, and providing habitats for birds and other wildlife.”  He says another positive point to trees is that they can reduce noise pollution in neighborhoods.  When he’s not volunteering, Charlie enjoys spending his free time playing basketball, playing tennis, and working on cars.

Career Beginning Involvement In the City Of Bakersfield

The Career Beginnings Program (CBP) at Cal State, Bakersfield strives to teach high school students to take pride in their community and be positive role models to their peers.  “I felt that we should give back to the community that has supported us for 22 years,” said Peter Rivera, director of CBP.  Over the last five years or so that goal has become reality though CBP’s commitment to Keep Bakersfield Beautiful (KBB) and the City of Bakersfield.  CBP volunteers for a variety of projects year round, such as cleaning up litter along local freeways for Mayor Harvey Hall every month, KBB’s Litter Index Survey in the summer, Make A Difference Day in October, and the Great American Cleanup™ (GAC) in April.  GAC is the group’s favorite KBB event.   “The number of people working for one common goal is a very impressive community building activity,” said Rivera.  In 2008, approximately 3,000 local GAC volunteers picked up litter, cleaned up illegal dump sites, painted over graffiti, planted trees, and more together throughout the city.  CBP’s mission is to motivate low-income and other disadvantaged youth to graduate from high school and continue their education afterward, or get started on a career path.

Career Beginning Involvement In the City Of Bakersfield

Community Service Participation 2007-2008

September 29, 2007October 13, 2007October 27, 2007November 17, 2007December 1, 2007December 13, 2007January 12, 2008February 9, 2008March 15, 2008April 5, 2008April 12, 2008April 17, 2008April 19, 2008May 3, 2008

Adopt A HighwayMayor’s Freeway CleanupMake A DifferenceMayor’s Freeway CleanupMayor’s Freeway CleanupToys-4-Tots Mercado LatinoMayor’s Freeway CleanupMayor’s Freeway CleanupMayor’s Freeway CleanupCPS 3 TrainingMayor’s Freeway CleanupCPS 3 TrainingGreat American CleanupRelay for Life/ CPS Tent

Contact Information

Career Beginnings Program

California State University, Bakersfield

46 MOD

9001 Stockdale Hwy

Bakersfield, CA 93311

Phone: 661-654-6777 Fax: 661-654-6502

Peter Rivera

Program Director

Jasmine BañuelosAcademic Advisor

& Office Assistant