<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1rgGSb_1FW5Jsi000" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1rgGSb_1FW5Jsi000" width="1024" height="1536" ><figcaption>Kari Tiger Disque ▲</figcaption></figure>Age: 34Occupation and title: Capital campaign coordinator and assistant grants manager at Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Kern CountyImmediate family: Husband, Brandon Disque; sons, Theodore and Jesse Tiger DisqueCommunity involvement: Dress for Success Bakersfield — board vice president; Plank Foundation — board member; Bakersfield East Rotary Club; advisory board member for Downtown Business Association and Downtown Bakersfield Development Corp.; Greater Bakersfield Chamber Leadership Bakersfield Class of 2026 (Team 3); Greater Bakersfield Chamber ambassador.What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?I’ve been lucky to have exceptional mentors throughout my life and career, but one piece of advice that has anchored me lately is, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” I’m someone who becomes passionate about new ideas and dreams very easily, and I like to be involved, so stepping back or saying no does not come naturally.This reminder has become a personal compass, grounding me in my own intuition and allowing me to commit fully to the people, projects and priorities that matter most without wasting time second-guessing the path not taken. Ultimately, there is no way of knowing what the future could be. There is no such thing as the perfect decision, but you can choose with intention and give everything to make that choice the right one.What is your proudest achievement of your career?My mission as a leader is to expand capacity for continuous partnerships, growth and improvements in our community. Looking back on the past few years, my proudest moments are when collaborative visions gained their footing and began making positive impacts. For example, I am endlessly proud of our incredible team at Dress for Success Bakersfield. Our team has shown true resilience and lets nothing stand in the way of empowering local women in the workforce. I am deeply honored to be a part of that work.Another proud milestone was my time as grants manager with Flood Ministries, an organization near and dear to my heart that provides critical encampment outreach, shelter placements and housing navigation for individuals experiencing homelessness. During my tenure, I secured significant federal funding to launch initiatives addressing youth homelessness throughout the county. Watching that program break cycles of generational homelessness is one of the most rewarding achievements of my career.Lastly, I am thrilled to have joined the Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Kern County and to support the development of our future Life &amp; Workforce Readiness Center for Teens and Young Adults. Being chosen to work alongside this visionary team is a huge honor. At BGCKC, the ceiling doesn’t exist — the sky is truly the limit, and I’m already learning so much as we build pathways to success for every youth who enters our doors.How do you find inspiration to do what you do?I love to put myself in rooms where I’m the least knowledgeable or experienced. My best inspiration and growth happens when I expose myself to higher-level strategy and bigger, challenging conversations. For someone who is passionate about coaching and mentoring, making an intentional shift to stay a continual beginner has been challenging. But by trying to stay teachable, I have been fortunate enough to become surrounded by leaders who love to teach! You don’t know what you don’t know until someone further along the path shares their insights, and I’m so grateful for everyone that has inspired me to expand my own capacity to give back to our community.What do you love most about the community? Where do you see the greatest need for change or improvement?What I love most about Kern County is the altruism of its people. There is no shortage of people ready to lend a hand, volunteer their time, or donate generously. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the challenges facing our society, I look around and can easily find the helpers who make the effort worthwhile. We are each other’s lifelines, and I look up to so many of my friends making an even bigger difference than I am.While so much meaningful work is already underway, we still have a long way to go. Further progress will require fighting back against extremism, misinformation and divisive rhetoric and building a practical, common-ground path forward. In the future, I hope to see more people turning to the leaders already doing the groundwork for insight, clarity and direction. I hope to see less competition for resources and even greater emphasis on collaboration.I see a future in which our community has immediate and accessible pathways for every youth to build a successful and sustainable future locally — to be represented in every field and treated with dignity and respect, unhindered by demographic or socioeconomic barriers.What advice would you offer a teenager who is trying to make decisions about their future?Say yes to the side quests! More often than not, unexpected opportunities (especially through service) lead to the skills, people and connections that can transform your life. You don’t have to be an expert to put your hand in the air and try; trust me when I say that you can become proficient at a beginner level in almost anything after a couple of weeks of focus and effort. Keep stepping through open doors, and stay relentless in your pursuit of knowledge.What is your favorite quote?“I dwell in possibility.”— Emily Dickinson</div></body>

Block Source: Bakersfield Californian

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

Occupation and title: Capital campaign coordinator and assistant grants manager at Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County. Immediate family: Husband, Brandon Disque; sons, Theodore and Jesse Tiger Disque. Community involvement: Dress for Success Bakersfield — board vice president; Plank Foundation — board member; Bakersfield East Rotary Club; advisory board...

20 Under 40: Kari Tiger Disque

NewsBreak

Occupation and title: Capital campaign coordinator and assistant grants manager at Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County. Immediate family: Husband, Brandon Di

20 Under 40: Kari Tiger Disque

Comments