As a Supervisor for the Fifth District, San Bernardino County’s largest district comprised of San Bernardino, Rialto, Fontana, Bloomington, Muscoy, Rosena Ranch, and Devore, Joe Baca, Jr., is a champion for local youth and families, and has created a special message asking the community to support foster youth and encourage people to take an active role in supporting them. According to Supervisor Baca, Jr., “We have so many children in our system that need a loving home. If you are already considering fostering or adopting, your heart is already in the right place. Be the reason that child prospers.”
A loving father and devoted husband, Supervisor Baca, Jr. has always been passionate about helping youth succeed beyond all odds. According to Supervisor Baca Jr., his work as a teacher and as a high school softball coach, has helped him transform lives. “I had the pleasure to work as a teacher for 15 years. That experience taught me to meet the youth where they are. Going to school is not the only challenge many of our youth experience. Their experience in their homes and their relationships and mentors, or lack thereof, can make them or break them. I made it my mission to be there for them, as a teacher and a mentor.”
Always an inspiration for youth, especially those who are at-risk, Supervisor Baca Jr., provides these sincere words of encouragement: “Do not let your past define you. You are young and the possibilities are endless. Dream big and never stop on your pursuit of accomplishing your goals in life. Find your passion and go after it full-throttle.”
A revered role model in our community, some of the values Supervisor Baca, Jr. lives by today comes from what his parents taught him as a child. According to Supervisor Baca, Jr., “My parents always instilled in me the importance of hard work and discipline. I grew up always knowing that to accomplish my goals, I would need to work hard and diligently to make them a reality. I passed these values to the youth I taught and coached throughout the years.”
Although his parents instilled the importance of hard work, they also taught him about the importance of family. “In my life, being a loving husband and father is what I am the most proud of. Everything I do is for my family and they keep me humble. I can be the Supervisor for the 5th district but when I come home, I am dad to them, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As an influential father, some of the most important life lessons that Supervisor Baca, Jr. teaches his children include, “to treat everyone with equal respect. It does not matter where someone is from, what they look like, what they believe in or what they do for a living. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Another important lesson I teach my children is to always keep asking questions. The moment we stop learning is the moment we stop growing. This sometimes backfires when they ask me difficult questions, but I know this will help them grow into strong and independent thinkers,” says Supervisor Baca, Jr.
A highly sought-after community leader whose passion is inspiring positive change and uplifting others, Supervisor Baca, Jr. is determined to being remembered as “being the person you called when you needed help.” His motto is, “Just keep going! Life will always have highs and lows,” he says. “Not many things in life are that consistent. When I am experiencing difficult times, I like to remember a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.'”
While helping youth thrive is a top priority for Supervisor Baca, Jr., he is also committed to making other positive shifts in our community. “As a County Supervisor, I have an opportunity to serve the constituents of the 5th district which is close to half of a million people. I am honored to be able to serve the community through this role. I have big plans for the 5th district which includes advocating for the most vulnerable and underserved and ensuring we have our fair share of the resources made available through our County process.”
Highly active in his community to support a broad range of supportive services that are creating more opportunities for the people he serves, Supervisor Baca, Jr.’s office is hosting an Expungement and Hiring Event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 27, 2021 at The Way World Outreach, 4680 Hallmark Parkway in San Bernardino. As many as 40 businesses will participate, as will a variety of agencies that offer support services. Individuals with or without a prior conviction are invited to attend. Many of the employers will be offering on-the-spot job opportunities. You can sign up here or by calling the office at (909) 387-4565.
To find out of more events and/or resources Supervisor Baca, Jr. provides, please visit his website and add him on Facebook @supervisorbacajr, Instagram @supervisorbaca, and on twitter @SupervisorBaca.
If you want to learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent through Trinity Youth Services, please schedule a virtual Foster Care Orientation, by calling 909-825-5588 Ext. 230, or by sending an email to epowers@TrinityYS.org. Ready to start your foster care journey? Click here!
Eve Powers, Foster Care Marketing Specialist
Eve has a strong commitment to helping foster youth and their families thrive and live successful lives. A former foster youth, Eve obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Communications from California State University, San Bernardino, and is a certified Holistic Life Coach, motivational writer, self-help author and celebrity interviewer. Beyond the Trinity Youth Services blog, Eve’s articles can be found in numerous platforms including Foster Focus Magazine, Heart & Soul Magazine, BET Centric and Huffington Post. A passionate advocate for the LGBTQ community, Eve continues to educate, support and mentor foster youth throughout Southern California.
