The Bakersfield College Student Government Association hosted the first Future Leaders Conference in the Forum.
This conference was created to help local high school and BC students to develop leadership skills and get information on local, state and national government issues.
Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio, Mayor Harvey Hall, Dolores Huerta and Cal State Bakersfield University president Dr. Horace Mitchell all spoke to students about their experience in leadership.
Rubio thinks that bringing young people together is important.
“Challenges of the future community, county and nation require us to come together to find solutions and answers.in the end, people here today are ready for change,” he said.
As the first to graduate from college in his family from the University of New Haven in Connecticut, Rubio became the community organizer for kids and farm workers in Shafter. He then went up to Sacramento to work at the Capitol Building and later was the youngest director in the Capitol.
Although he was always told that he was too young to accomplish his goals, Rubio became Kern County Supervisor by an overwhelming win of 2 to 1. He then was the youngest supervisor elected to his position.
Hall spoke about his time serving Bakersfield. He said that being mayor is the “best job in America,” because all of his work is local, and it is all positive. Hall hopes to spread the message of community service to young students.
Dolores Huerta spoke about the Farmworkers Union she created with Cesar Chavez in 1962.
“Being a leader is to go against the grain,” she said.
The conference had nine workshops that students could attend.
From faith-based community activities to local and national government, attendees were able to listen to speakers in these workshops.