Just days before Christmas, East Brundage Lane in Bakersfield was filled with laughter, music, and the unmistakable excitement of children clutching brightly colored Santa gift bags. But this time, Santa Claus came in the form of neighborhood mothers.
Mothers Against Gang Violence (MAGV) hosted its seventh annual Christmas Toy Giveaway in the neighborhood, bringing together families, volunteers, and community partners to celebrate children and remind residents that hope can take root even in places shaped by trauma.
The location was intentional.
East Brundage Lane is located in an area that has historically experienced high levels of gang activity and gun violence, which disproportionately affect African American and Latino youth.
Bakersfield, once ranked among California cities with the highest homicide rates linked to gang violence, is a reality that has deeply shaped the lives of many MAGV members, including its founder.
“I was raised in this neighborhood,” said Xenia King, CEO and founder of Mothers Against Gang Violence. “So I know firsthand what goes on in these households. I’ve seen people get murdered. I’ve seen families torn apart.”
King’s commitment to the work is deeply personal. She lost her younger brother to gun violence when he was just 16 years old.
“He wasn’t a gang member,” she said. “He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
That loss became the driving force behind MAGV, an organization made up of women who have experienced similar pain and are determined to interrupt the cycle of violence for the next generation. And to show children in at-risk communities that they are valued and loved.
“This is not only killing our young men,” King said. “It’s sending them to prison for life. And these young people are our future. If we don’t guide them now, there won’t be a future left to protect.”
This year’s Christmas giveaway also received support from the Nigerian community in Bakersfield, highlighting the continued role immigrant communities play in local community initiatives and empowerment efforts.
Michael Eghre-Bello, a community organizer and secretary of the Nigerian American Association of Bakersfield, who DJs as a hobby, volunteered his DJ services to create a festive atmosphere in the neighborhood.
“When I saw that this was about helping kids avoid gangs and look forward to a better life, I knew I wanted to support it,” Eghre-Bello said. “The Nigerian community was also excited and ready to help where necessary.”
In addition to music and volunteer support, Eghre-Bello offered free educational counseling opportunities for parents, focused on pathways that could help their children attend college while minimizing or avoiding students loans.
“That’s a big deal to be educated,” he said. “If kids are engaged, educated and supported, they’re far less likely to find their way into gangs. Education changes everything.”
The collaboration reflects a broader understanding among communities of color about the importance of mutual support. While the event welcomes all community members, its focus remains on addressing the specific challenges facing Black and Brown youth in neighborhoods where opportunities have been historically limited, and gang violence has taken a devastating toll.
This year’s Christmas giveaway focused on both immediate relief and long-term impact.
Every child who attended received a Christmas goodie bag filled with toys and other gift items, including blankets. Beyond the guaranteed gifts, excitement built around a raffle draw, where children won bicycles, scooters, additional toys, and cash prizes.
MAGV spokesperson Melissa Madrigal said the event is about more than gifts; it’s about dignity and possibility.
“We grew up in this neighborhood. We know things can be good, and they can be really bad,” Madrigal said. “But we want families to see that there’s always a solution. It’s about leading by example and showing that change is possible.”
She said one of the most meaningful moments is watching entire families smile together.
“It’s not just the children whose faces light up,” she said. “We see mothers and fathers who are struggling, just trying to make their kids happy. When we see the whole family smiling, that’s the fulfillment.”
As Christmas music played and the noises of excited children filled the air, East Brundage Lane briefly became not a reminder of what had been lost, but a glimpse of what could still be saved.
For King, that transformation is the heart of MAGV’s mission, and with hope in their eyes, their futures would be brighter.
“Always stand for our children,” King said. “They are our hope. They are our future. If we put them in front of us, I promise you things will change.”
