In a continued effort to confront systemic inequities and elevate community voices, the California Racial Equity Commission returned to Bakersfield on Tuesday, July 15, drawing residents, students, and local leaders into a powerful conversation about justice, access, and lasting change.

The event, sponsored by Kern County Healthcare and Building Healthy Communities, was part of an ongoing effort to gather community feedback and share updates on the Commission’s work.

Residents, students, and local leaders spoke about the issues affecting their neighborhoods, helping to shape the Commission’s statewide racial equity framework.

Jourdan Ringgold and Dylyn Turner-Keener, senior program analysts for the Commission, shared key takeaways from the 2023 community meetings. They highlighted the concerns, needs, and lived experiences voiced by residents across the state.

In communities like Lamont, Antelope Valley, Imperial Valley, and Riverside, residents told the Commission that affordable, quality housing, gentrification, and displacement were major concerns.

Marginalized and non-English-speaking communities in areas such as Oakland, Imperial Valley, and Fresno reported a severe lack of mental and physical health services.

Meanwhile, residents from rural areas like Lamont, Antelope Valley, and Arvin described barriers to essential services, including access to education, employment, healthcare, transportation, and infrastructure.

Community members also called for schools to introduce culturally relevant curricula and improve language access across healthcare, legal, educational, and public services.

After presenting their findings, Ringgold and Turner-Keener asked attendees to break into small groups to answer questions and share their concerns. Participants later shared their thoughts publicly, providing additional insights for the Commission.

People attended for various reasons. For Cy Escobedo, a senior at West High School, the draw was hearing a wide range of community voices.

“I heard there’s going to be a lot of diversity and a lot of different conversations, especially with what’s going on in the USA right now,” Escobedo said. “It’s very tragic to hear that every single day, there’s always something new. Hearing a lot of different points of view is always a good thing, and it keeps your mind open.”

Community members voiced a range of concerns and frustrations, underscoring the complexity and nuance within their neighborhoods. Common themes included diverse community needs, the challenges faced by migrant and immigrant populations, and barriers to essential services like housing, education, and healthcare.

“It’s California—it shouldn’t be divided, it should be united,” one community member said.

Participants emphasized the importance of recognizing the distinct experiences of different communities. For example, rural areas located within city boundaries often face different realities than their urban counterparts. Regional differences—such as those between the East and West—also significantly shape how communities function and interact with support systems.

Many attendees stressed the often-overlooked role of community leaders. While these individuals are key drivers of local change, government institutions frequently fail to acknowledge or support their efforts.

Participants also spoke about the deep fear undocumented individuals face, especially when doing everyday tasks like going to work or buying groceries. This fear has a lasting emotional impact on children, many of whom live with constant anxiety that their parents may not return home.

“Hearing my people—Mexican or Hispanic people—having a space where they can share their stories and express what they need from their community,” said Aryam Estrada, a senior at West High School.

Estrada added that most Spanish-speaking residents need translation services but often don’t have opportunities to speak up in safe spaces.

To support inclusivity, the Commission provided Spanish translation throughout the event.

Looking ahead, the Commission will continue developing its racial equity framework and will share the information with state entities and local governments to help advance equity efforts.

“The work that we’re doing requires innovation,” said Ringgold. “This work is not going to stop… we want to work ourselves out of a job. We want these quote-on-quote basic needs—which is what they are—to be incorporated into our systems.”

Ringgold added that she hopes, by the end of this process, communities will be met where they are—not where others expect them to be.