Tabatha Mills

I hope you will join me in donating this Giving Tuesday to a phenomenal nonprofit organization. Transitional Youth Mobilizing for Change (TYM4Change) empowers youth 16-24 with the skills, training, and support to tackle important local problems through research, planning, partnership, and action. In the past year, TYM4Change youth and AmeriCorps members have partnered with Starbucks to bring much-needed sports equipment to Sunset School in the Vineland School District and muc...h much more! Currently our young leaders are working on a documentary about food insecurity in Kern County while simultaneously partnering with the Vineland School District to address food insecurity, provide online enrichment classes to students after school, renovate a house on the Vineland campus to serve as a family resource center, as well as renovate and improve the entire campus! Click below to check out the TYM4Change website to meet our amazing young leaders and read more about the projects they’ve undertaken! KUZZ News KGET - TV 17 Bakersfield 23ABC Bakersfield BakersfieldNow The Bakersfield Californian

Vanderbilt athlete, Sarah Fuller, becomes the first woman to take the field for a SEC Power 5 football team. Fuller is the goalkeeper for the Vanderbilt soccer team and is rostered as a kicker for the football team. https://www.espn.com//sarah-fuller-set-kick-again-breaking

Looking for a furr-ever friend? Help if you can!! These sweet pups need a loving place to call home!! #RescuedIsMyFavoriteBreed

In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we're sharing the inspiring story of Kayla McKeon, the first registered Washington lobbyist with Down syndrome who is... fighting for change on behalf of people with disabilities across the country! Kayla began working as the Manager of Grassroots Advocacy for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) two years ago, lobbying for laws that will make it easier for people with disabilities to be independent and thrive. She also hopes that her example will inspire other people with disabilities, especially people with Down syndrome, by showing them that they can achieve their dreams. "We are most definitely ready, willing and able to do anything we set our minds to getting a job, driving a car, going to college," she asserts. "We want to showcase our abilities, not our disabilities." Kayla, who is from Cicero, New York, was already familiar with the work of NDSS when the job opportunity came up: she was a member of the group's self-advocate advisory board and was named their self-advocate of the year in 2016. When NDSS President Sara Hart Weir offered Kayla the position, she was hesitant at first: it not only meant new responsibilities, but also a move to a new city, away from her parents. "In the beginning, I needed help with the metro," Kayla says, but now "I've been taking the metro independently in the morning. It's huge just to be independent." Today, she loves her work, which involves both lobbying elected officials and reaching out to NDSS members; as she says, "When I'm at the office I make phone calls after phone calls after phone calls... I love it because this is how we can get our message out." Kayla's work has already helped other people with disabilities enjoy greater independence; her work helped pass the ABLE to Work Act and the ABLE Financial Planning Act, which allows people with qualifying disabilities to work and save funds in a tax-advantaged savings account without losing state-provided benefits. "I feel the power. And how amazing it feels, just knowing I'm on Capitol Hill. And I get to talk to people that can help me enact laws," says Kayla. "Being a lobbyist on Capitol Hill, I don't realize how many lives I touch. This is why I love being a role model for others... Me being in Washington D.C. is just beyond every expectation I could ever dream of. I love my job. This has always been my dream and I'm following my dream." For books to help children and teens understand that diversity comes in many forms, including ableness, visit our blog post Many Ways To Be Mighty: 35 Books Starring Mighty Girls with Disabilities at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12992 Among the recommendations are two wonderful children's books about kids with Down syndrome both for ages 3 to 7: "My Friend Isabelle" (https://www.amightygirl.com/my-friend-isabelle) and "We'll Paint the Octopus Red" (https://www.amightygirl.com/we-ll-paint-the-octopus-red) For adult readers, there is also a touching memoir by the father of a daughter with Down syndrome, An Uncomplicated Life: A Father’s Memoir of His Exceptional Daughter at https://www.amightygirl.com/uncomplicated-life And, for two excellent books to give all Mighty Girls the confidence to pursue their dreams like Kayla, we highly recommend "The Confidence Code for Girls" for ages 8 to 12 (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-confidence-code-for-girls) and "The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens" ages 13 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-self-esteem-workbook-for-te)

If you need a smile today...Meet Cristobal!

Let us never forget.

Thank you KGET for allowing me to share Great Grandma Edie's story one final time https://www.kget.com//remembering-the-life-of-edith-mills/

As you can imagine, this is a challenging time for non-profit organizations and the vital services they provide to our community. Wounded Heroes Fund will hold a ‘Drive-In Movie’ fundraiser at the Kern County Raceway on Friday, July 17th. and is currently looking for sponsorships of $500 which includes admission and company logos prominently displayed for movie watchers to see while enjoying the fundraiser. Please see the flyer below for more information. Let me know if you are interested in supporting WHF!

I am so honored to announce I won an Emmy for the story I shared about Justin Patt, a local deaf man, and BakoBoy Enterprises!! The story was aimed at bridging the communication gap between those who are deaf and hard of hearing and those who are not. It was important to Justin that the story have complete ASL interpretation and we worked together to achieve that goal. Justin you’re inspiring!! Justin Patt and Mickey van Horn, I share this honor with you!! #emmyawardspsw #TheEmmyPSW

Don't miss the latest edition of BCSD News! Make sure to watch next week as we share a special edition dedicated to our beloved retirees!

A little flashback Friday to that one time Bonsai joined me on set...but behind the scenes! Miss him dearly

Congratulations to our graduates and retirees!

Check out the latest edition of BCSD News!

We are thankful for our teachers! We hope you enjoy this edition of BCSD news dedicated to our wonderful educators in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week.

In this edition of BCSD News: A new Education Hotline to answers your questions. A fun STAR WARS learning opportunity. A beautiful rendition of Lean On Me.... And much, much more! See more

It's time for BCSD News! Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Please note the use of new and archived video as we highlight and celebrate major accomplishments in our district.

We continue to be amazed by the dedication and commitment of #TeamBCSD. Please enjoy the latest edition of BCSD News.