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| Karen Goh previously served as Executive Director of Garden Pathways, a community-based non-profit in Bakersfield, CA that provides mentoring, training, and education for all ages. Karen has been instrumental in expanding and increasing accessibility of services that enable children, young people, and adults in Kern County to find lasting freedom from poverty and at-risk conditions as they discover dignity and self worth, take responsibility for their choices, and develop life skills. Through extensive collaboration and leveraging of volunteers and resources, Garden Pathways has helped to transform the futures of hundreds of at-risk youth and families who are transitioning from welfare-to-work and child protective services programs, as well as emancipating and emancipated foster youth, and gang-impacted youth and families.
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| Born in India, Karen moved with her family to Bakersfield at age seven. She attended local public schools and graduated from Bakersfield High School. A University of Southern California undergraduate and graduate school alumna, Karen majored in music and music education. |
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| After college, Karen taught music at Bakersfield Christian Life Schools while also serving as a music consultant for Macmillan Publishing. |
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| Recruited by Macmillan to its New York City headquarters, Karen led the development of two of Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s best-selling music textbook series. At The McGraw-Hill Companies’ elementary school publishing division, Karen served as Editorial Director, Managing Editor, Vice President of Editorial Administration, Vice President of Administration, and Vice President of Publishing Operations. |
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| In 2005, Karen returned to Bakersfield to serve the community where she grew up. The experience of having witnessed the tragedy of 9/11 from her Manhattan office window heightened her awareness of the uncertainty that tomorrow would be at her disposal to do what she did not act upon today. Karen chose to move back to her hometown to invest in the lives of people. |
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| An advocate for mentoring and education, Karen leads a broad spectrum of community initiatives to assist the at-risk, marginalized, and underserved of Kern County towards educational advancement and self sufficiency. Karen serves as a Commissioner on First 5 Kern – strengthening efforts to ensure that all children are healthy and prepared to enter school. As a board member of Community Connection for Child Care Foundation, Karen helps to enhance the lives of children and professionals in the Kern County child care community. Karen also serves on the executive committee of Kern Leadership Alliance to mobilize the faith community to address Kern County’s most pressing needs. Additionally, Karen is an advisor to Every Neighborhood Partnership – equipping churches to partner with and serve impoverished elementary school neighborhoods through their active presence in the community. |
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| In concert with the Joint City/County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence, Karen helped in the development of the strategic plan to reduce criminal gang activity and violence in Kern County. Karen participates on the Meth Reduction Task Force that is developing recommendations for a methamphetamine reduction strategic plan for Kern County. |
- First 5 Kern - Commissioner
- Community Connection for Child Care Foundation - Board Member
- Kern Leadership Alliance - Executive Committee
- Every Neighborhood Partnership - Advisor
- Rotary Club of Bakersfield
- Joint City/County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence
- Meth Reduction Task Force
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