Youth Volunteers, Job Fest and Key County Meeting Lead Bakersfield Headlines

Bakersfield is moving through a busy midweek with service projects, hiring events and county business all unfolding across the city. From college campus volunteerism to a major job fair downtown, Wednesday reflects a community focused on both opportunity and civic engagement.

Youth Volunteers Rally at CSUB

More than 100 young volunteers gathered in Bakersfield for the first California Service Corps Connections event held in Kern County. Participants represented AmeriCorps, the CSUB College Corps and several local youth programs, beginning their day at California State University, Bakersfield.

The effort centered on hands-on service. Volunteers assembled hygiene kits for youth served by Mission at Kern County, helping provide essential items for those in need. Others headed outdoors to CSUB’s Edible Garden, where teams built garden beds, planted produce and worked to improve the space for students and the broader campus community.

City and university leaders highlighted the event as a meaningful example of youth-led service and regional collaboration. Organizers described the day as an opportunity not only to give back, but to strengthen connections between young people and the communities they serve.

Bakersfield Job Fest Draws Crowds Downtown

Across town, job seekers made their way to the Dignity Health Arena and Convention Center on Truxtun Avenue for the March Bakersfield Job Fest. The event runs from 9 a.m. into the early afternoon and brings together employers and applicants under one roof.

The hiring fair connects residents with local businesses representing a range of industries. Employers are recruiting for both seasonal positions and longer-term roles as companies prepare for the spring and summer months.

Organizers encouraged attendees to arrive prepared with resumes in hand and dressed professionally, underscoring the event’s focus on making direct, in-person connections between applicants and hiring managers.

County Retirement Board Meets

Meanwhile, county business is underway at the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Association. The Board of Retirement is meeting this morning at its River Run Boulevard boardroom.

Trustees are reviewing agenda items tied to oversight of the retirement system and benefits for county employees. The meeting is open to the public, and residents have the option to listen or view proceedings remotely.

Together, the day’s events reflect a city balancing service, economic opportunity and the steady work of local governance.

Sources

• https://news.kern.org/2026/03/youth-volunteers-leave-their-mark-at-bakersfields-first-california-service-corps-event/
• https://www.kerncountyfamily.com/PublicCalendarDetail/3421/March-Bakersfield-Job-Fest-2026
• https://www.kcera.org/files/d96cf2a15/26-03-11%2BBOR%2BMeeting%2BAgenda_web.pdf