FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2025
Barstow Community College and IEHP Foundation Launch a Three-Year, Community-Driven Health Initiative in Barstow
Barstow, Calif - June 3, 2025 – Barstow Community College (BCC) is proud to announce a new partnership with IEHP Foundation to launch Vibrant Villages, a community-driven health improvement initiative in Barstow through a three-year investment of over $600,000. The college will partner with IEHP Foundation to lead a collaborative initiative aimed at improving health and wellness in the region by working with Barstow community members to identify the critical health priorities for students and all residents of Barstow.
To identify pilot cities and trusted community agencies to spearhead the effort, IEHP Foundation conducted an in-depth feasibility study exploring several possible program sites in 2024 in collaboration with Inland Empire Health Plan, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and SAC Health. As a result of a combination of socioeconomic, social and environmental factors, Barstow was selected as the first location for this collective impact strategy.
According to the data, 22.5% of Barstow residents live below the poverty line (American Community Survey, 2018-2022), 11.8% of households don’t have access to a vehicle (American Community Survey, 2018-2022), 39.8% of adults are obese (CDC Places 2021), 34.8% of adults have high blood pressure (CDC Places 2021), and 14.4% of adults have diabetes (CDC Places 2021). These figures highlight the critical need for a community-driven approach to address the area's health disparities and ensure access to resources that improve overall wellness.
Through a series of community listening sessions conducted by IEHP Foundation, it was clear that there is a desire from Barstow residents and local community leaders to improve community health for future generations. The college was consistently mentioned as a trusted partner to help lead the effort to improve health outcomes across the region.
“At Barstow Community College, we know that success in college is more than just maintaining good grades. Our students and our families have many needs, and we are committed to offering support beyond the classroom, including access to healthy foods, mental and behavioral health services, and overall wellness,” said Dr. Eva Bagg, Superintendent- President, Barstow Community College. “This new partnership with IEHP Foundation to launch the Vibrant Villages project will help us address students' basic needs and offer the resources needed to succeed in and out of the classroom.”
Throughout the project, ongoing community feedback and data collection will guide planning, measure impact and inform a long-term sustainability plan. The community-empowered initiative will invite leaders from across sectors, including business, health, education, transportation and local community members to help co-design the goals and strategies.
“We are thrilled to partner with Barstow Community College as a trusted community partner with a track record of implementing successful projects not only focused on educational outcomes, but also to drive positive change among basic needs, economic development and the overall health of the community,” said Greg Bradbard, Chief Executive Officer of IEHP Foundation.
Focus areas will be shaped by local input and may include improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, strengthening mental health, expanding access to food and housing, and supporting economic opportunities through education and job training. Next steps include identifying and hiring an executive director for the Vibrant Villages project in Barstow fulfilled by an executive consultant at Barstow Community College. Interested candidates can apply here.
This partnership extends and expands several Barstow Community College initiatives to better serve its campus and the high desert region. Already a nationally recognized leader in implementing mental health programs and services through the 2022 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award, the college is actively working to expand and establish long-term, accessible programs focused on basic needs and overall wellness.
“Programs like this are so important because they meet people where they are and respond to real needs. Engaging directly with students and the community through meaningful partnerships like this is key to better health and career outcomes,” said Dr. Bagg.
About Barstow Community College
Barstow Community College (BCC) is a two-year public college in California’s high desert that serves a wide range of students from Barstow and surrounding communities, including Lenwood, Newberry Springs, Yermo, and Baker. BCC offers programs to help students transfer to four-year universities, train for careers, or improve basic skills in math, reading, and writing. The college also provides workforce training that meets local job needs and supports military personnel and their families through its center at Fort Irwin. Learn more at barstow.edu.
About IEHP Foundation
IEHP Foundation works with local community-based organizations to advance the health and wellbeing of the Inland Empire. Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) founded IEHP Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in 2021. The Foundation strives to ensure all individuals in the Inland Empire have access to Vibrant Health — extending beyond traditional healthcare services and addressing the social drivers of health for the region's most vulnerable populations. Learn more about IEHP Foundation at iehpfoundation.org and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Media Contact:
Amanda Simpson
Barstow Community College
2700 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311
Phone: (760) 252-6727
IEHP Foundation Media Contact:
Deanna Hendrick
Communications and Public Affairs Manager, IEHP Foundation
Deanna.hendrick@iehpfoundation.org
909-204-1673
