Op-Ed by: Joey Williams and Lori Pesante
Hagare’ Naam (Hello in Kawaiisu),
There was much excitement two years ago when community members were asked if they had an interest in running for the California Jobs First Governance Council (“GC”), formerly known as CERF, to select projects for $9 million in CJF Catalyst funding. For me, Joey Williams, born and raised in East Bakersfield and my Nuwa ancestors buried in the earth at Sand Canyon (Tehachapi) for time immemorial this felt like a great opportunity to serve Kern communities, the same for Lori Pesante, who became our Chair…