Taft

I am Dr. David Cothrun. I am 86 years old and retired from the Taft College presidency in 2001 after 21 years. I have now lived in Taft for 37 years and am quite content to live here. Why? Because this is a community that cares and gives back. Examples: If you are undergoing treatment for cancer or need dialysis and have to travel to Bakersfield for treatment, the Taft Soroptimist Club will give you funds for transportation for your treatment; the Rotary Club of Taft puts on wonderful Health Care Fair for some 600 folks every spring and is funding the transportation for Westsiders to attend the Bakersfield Community Concert series. All of our local service clubs are funding scholarships for students, plus many other activities supporting local citizens, young and old.

When I came here in 1980, somehow at age 50, I had never been around or knew anyone with disabilities. That changed with my first meal in the Taft College cafeteria, which has for many years provided jobs for students with disabilities. Three of those workers became my friends for life. They were accepted throughout the community, leading me to say publically, that if you have disabilities, then Taft, California, is one of the best places to live. This atmosphere led to the Taft College TIL (transition to independent living) program, a two-year residential program to teach students with disabilities the skills to become independent and able to live alone. The program is unique in the U.S. and the world. The statistics of their job success after leaving the TIL program are amazing.