On Tuesday, April 23rd, San Bernardino County celebrated Government Day hosted by Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. by welcoming students from Colton Joint Unified and Rialto Unified School Districts to observe a live board meeting. The event featured engaging presentations and direct interactions with representatives from County Administration, Legislative Affairs, and Human Resources, highlighting the importance of local government in enhancing our community.

“These students are our future—who will one day run and work in our county. By inviting them into our government center, we hope to showcase the amazing opportunities our county has to offer,” said Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. “Today is so impactful because it connects the dots between civic engagement and how it applies to the real world. We want to inspire them to recognize they are our community’s future.”

Diana Alexander, Assistant Executive Officer in the San Bernardino County Administrative Office, highlighted “These students are our future. They’re in school now to learn how they can be part of our society. We hope today’s experience ignites a passion for public service and encourages them to bring their innovative ideas and skills to help fulfill the county-wide vision,” Alexander noted.

“It’s essential to let our young people know they have a voice in legislation that can profoundly impact our community’s prosperity,” said Megan Kidwell, from the County Legislative Office.

Reflecting on the importance of youth engagement in local government, Jose Mancilla, from the County Human Resource Department, shared, “We are doing the invaluable work of reaching out to the next generations—the future leaders who will run or work for the county. It’s crucial they understand what local government can do for them and the opportunities it holds,”

After the day’s activities, students took a moment to reflect on what they learned, sharing insights and ideas

Andrew Boyd, a student from Rialto, found the day to be eye-opening. Sharing that day has inspired him to think about a career where he can help improve our community, like our parks and neighborhoods.

San Bernardino County and Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. are committed to inspiring the next generation, ensuring that today’s students become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators in the community.