The Jim Burke Education Foundation has been investing in Bakersfield's youth since 1975. This year, I was given the opportunity to join the Ford Family as one of thirty-two students chosen for the Ford Dream Builders program. 

 

The Ford Family operates with a service before self mentality in order to create a lasting impact in the Bakersfield community. To achieve this goal, the Dream Builders program pairs students with local businesses to foster practical skills that are then used to help the public. Each year's group of thirty-two is split into four teams, and every team designs and produces an original project to benefit a cause in the community. Last year, the Class of 2026 had service projects that ranged from promoting healthier digital habits to creating food pantries for local families.  

 

Those projects showcase the impact that students can make locally, empowering them to believe in their capabilities. Students are also given the opportunity to meet leaders from local business, government, and nonprofit sectors throughout the year. Those relationships are a core part of what the foundation offers. 

 

The people behind Ford Dream Builders are hands-on and extremely helpful from the start. Even during the interview process, board members treated my peers and I with the utmost kindness and like professionals rather than incompetent teenagers. The community they foster from day one is the biggest reason the program is effective and why they produce such outstanding results. 

 

The Ford Dream Builders alumni network is a direct result of the work of the advisors. From doctors to local community leaders, hundreds of graduates have gone through this process and come out with stronger ties to Bakersfield's professional community. The foundation has also awarded more than $574,000 in scholarships to local seniors and supported 85 student-led community projects since 2003. That number grows with every class, and the impact of the program with it.  

I truly encourage anyone who can apply, because it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity that has countless benefits.