BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Sheriff Donny Youngblood is working in collaboration with the MLK CommUNITY Initiative to assemble a Community-Wide Advisory Council.

“I want to make sure it represents the community we serve. We work for the people. We want to build a trusted relationship with those who depend on us to protect them,” said Sheriff Youngblood.

The collaboration will focus on educating and enlightening the community by bringing a diverse voice to the table.

Demographically speaking, the Council will be designed to be both diverse and culturally inclusive and will represent not just the greater Bakersfield area communities, but all Kern County communities.

Still in the planning stages, the initial Advisory Council with the Sheriff’s Office will consist of about 20 local leaders/organizations. The Council plans to add other community partner organizations over time. After guidelines and protocol are established for the Sheriff’s Office Community-Wide Advisory Council, other interested partners, community leaders, organizations and concerned community members will be added.