Matthew Barnes brings hometown knowledge to UCCE in Lake, Mendocino County

LAKE CO., Calif. — Matthew Barnes grew up in Upper Lake, along Clear Lake’s “North Shore,” and lived near several of the seven federally recognized tribes in the Lake County region. Although he counted several Native Americans among his diverse childhood friends and was very familiar with those communities, Barnes was still nervous when he was named the first executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Pomo Nation in 2009.

Barnes—a non-Native of European and Filipino descent—distinctly remembers the chief visiting him on one of his first days on the job. “He said, ‘Hey, you have two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you speak and you’ll be fine,’” Barnes recalls. “And that definitely stuck with me.”

That approach will continue to guide Barnes in his new role as director of University of California Cooperative Extension for Lake and Mendocino counties. He will guide and support research, outreach and educational activities to meet the region’s needs in agriculture, natural resources, and youth and community development.

Since starting in May, Barnes has been getting a crash course from UCCE consultants and staff on viticulture research, pest control, 4-H camps and a host of other projects and programs, while meeting with local communities to discuss the region’s most pressing challenges.

“What I’ve done — and will continue to do — is just listen and learn, and when I can add value to a conversation or a project, I do,” Barnes said. “But leadership for me starts with the relationships we build — with our staff and with the community.”

Bringing a range of experiences in youth programs and social services

One area where Barnes will certainly add value is developing youth and community programs. During his time at Boys & Girls Club of the Pomo Nation, it was one of three Boys & Girls Clubs established on tribal lands in California. In that role, Barnes faced the unique challenge of integrating Boys & Girls Club curriculum into a community for which it was not originally designed.

By adapting the curriculum to include culturally relevant topics, Barnes transformed the program into a model that eventually led to the creation of a Native American-focused department: Boys & Girls Clubs of America Native Services.

“This initiative now serves as the national standard for boys and girls clubs on tribal lands,” Barnes said.

He later became director of California Tribal TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), a program that provides direct cash assistance and support services to Native American families in 17 counties across the state.

During his decade of TANF work, Barnes launched career development programs, alcohol and other drug counseling programs, and cultural revitalization initiatives. Some of the programs are still running and serving communities today.

“The trick is to make those programs something that participants see value in,” Barnes explained. “And to do that, you go into the communities and talk to people and listen to what they need — rather than telling them what they need.”

Barnes’ experience working with Native American communities is just one of the many strengths he brings to UCCE and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“We are very excited to have Matthew join the UC ANR family,” said Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, UC ANR’s director of County Cooperative Extension. “His personal knowledge of Lake and Mendocino Counties and his previous work with Native peoples will be a tremendous asset as we expand and enhance our work.”

Immediately prior to joining UC ANR, Barnes was director of Lake County’s Upward Bound program, which helps students from three local high schools gain experience and prepare for college.

“What drives me personally is the opportunity to make an impact on communities, on youth and on people in general through program development and management,” said Barnes.

Inspiring young people as mentors

Barnes’ passion for youth development—and the impetus for his bachelor’s degree in social work from Cal Poly Humboldt—can be traced to his AmeriCorps experience while attending Mendocino College. He spent two years tutoring youth, first in Lake County and then Sonoma County, and saw firsthand the difference educators and mentors can make in their lives.

“You could say I caught the bug: it’s just a matter of seeing that light bulb goes on when you help a young person of that age,” Barnes said.

From there, Barnes took a position as director of teen programs for the Boys and Girls Club of Healdsburg, where he began to fully appreciate the importance of having trusted adults simply “being there” for young people as a listening ear for whatever they wanted to talk about.

Among the many teenagers Barnes worked with was “Rodrigo” a high school student who was seen by his school and community as someone who could “slip through the cracks.” Rodrigo was the last one home at the end of each day, and Barnes would talk to him—answering his questions about life or simply chatting about a new rap album.

“I realized I was ‘that person’ for him – that person outside his house, outside his school,” Barnes said.

Even after Barnes left the Boys and Girls Club, Rodrigo—en route to college—invited him to his high school graduation. Barnes said it’s immensely satisfying to know he played a “small part” in shaping the path for Rodrigo—and countless others.

“Their success is still theirs; it’s not necessarily because of me,” Barnes added. “My job is to do what I can right now to hopefully plant some seeds that can germinate in the future.”

Barnes now lives in Middletown, not far from his hometown, where he and his wife are raising two children. He is now in a position to help Lake County thrive and Mendocino County become resilient.

“I feel like my previous experiences, both in life and in my career, have prepared me for this,” Barnes said.

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC Information and Practices to all 58 counties in California. Through research and cooperative extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu.

–UC Agriculture and Natural Resources