California Conservation Corps responds to the King Fire


 

THE CCC DISPATCHES 16 CREWS TO KING FIRE

This is one of the largest contingents of California Conservation Corps crews on one fire.  Sixteen crews — 214 corpsmembers — are assisting the U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire on the King Fire about 60 miles north of Sacramento.

The crews are providing both fire camp support and firefighting assistance on the wildfire.

An additional eight CCC crews are helping with logistical support at two other locations.

Since July 1, the CCC has devoted nearly 200,000 hours to fire response efforts.

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin pays a visit to Civic Works


 

Press Release from the Office of Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.)

August 29, 2014
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Sue Walitsky 202-224-4524/Tim Zink 410-962-4436

Cardin Meets Students, Employers at Civic Works’ Baltimore Center for Green Careers

“The green technology sector is one of the most overlooked growth areas of our economy. Opportunities are everywhere.”

BALTIMORE, Md. – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate committees on Finance and Environment and Public Works, today toured the educational facilities and met with current students and graduates of Civic Works’ Baltimore Center for Green Careers. The center is helping to build an inclusive and equitable green economy by providing job training in brownfields remediation, home energy efficiency retrofitting and green space beautification, among other programs.

Senator Cardin participated in demonstrations of the hands-on training laboratory for energy retrofit installers, attended a career fair for recent graduates of Civic Works’ brownfields remediation training and participated in a roundtable discussion with graduates, staff and supporters of the program.    

“Green jobs are helping our communities and, at Civic Works, providing a fresh start for those willing to work for it. More than 400 people have graduated from these programs since 2003 and the program maintains an average job placement rate of 85 percent,” said Senator Cardin. “That’s incredibly successful, especially considering that 9 of 10 graduates had a history of involvement in the criminal justice system. What’s more, by gaining skills in brownfields remediation and improving residential energy efficiency, the types of jobs done by the program’s graduates enhance the environment for all Marylanders.”

The Baltimore Center for Green Careers has a unique model that combines workforce development, social enterprise and demand generation. It is one of Civic Works’ key program areas; others include community improvement, workforce development, and education.

Civic Works builds partnerships between AmeriCorps members and the community. AmeriCorps members tutor and mentor students, create community parks and gardens, help homeowners conserve energy, grow food for low-income residents, rehabilitate abandoned houses, involve families in Baltimore City schools, make homes safer for older adults, and recruit volunteers. Civic Works also trains Baltimore residents for employment in the healthcare and green job industries.

“The program’s success shows what the power of partnerships can do for our communities,” Senator Cardin said. “It also proves that we can build greener communities and strengthen our economy at the same time.”

Job Corps Celebrates 50th Anniversary

To learn more about the 50th Anniversary of Job Corps, check out the anniversary edition of their newsletter, the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Courier. 

On Wednesday, September 17th the USDA hosted a celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of Job Corps. In attendance were students and staff from Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers in North Carolina, West Virginia, Colorado and Oregon. Each Center had a table in the USDA’s Jamie L. Whitten building to showcase some of their tools, as well as the products of their work. The displays demonstrated the variety of career training programs Job Corps offers: Schenk Job Corps exhibited tools and safety equipment used in their wilderness firefighting program; Harpers Ferry Job Corps demonstrated the software used by students in their IT training program; and students from Colorado displayed food from their farm and culinary programs. The event featured speeches from Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service; Tina Terrell, Job Corps National Director; Butch Blazer, Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment; and Meryl Harrell, Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
 


Wooden coin engraved by Job Corps students

 


Job Corps 50th Anniversary poster designed by Tiffany Gottberg, a student at Timber Lake Job Corps in Oregon.

Announcement of Grants Caps Big Week for 21st Century Conservation Service Corps

This week was a notable one in the continuing cultivation of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Initiative (21CSC). On Monday, The Partnership for the 21CSC hosted it’s 4th meeting at the Department of Agriculture’s Washington D.C. Headquarters.

On Wednesday, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell with Coca Cola North America President Sandy Douglas announced new 21CSC grants at an event on the Los Angeles River with several Corps in attendance. Keep reading below for more detail on what it means.

4th Partnership for 21CSC Meeting Focuses on Collaboration, Funding, and Celebrating Successes
Representatives from numerous federal agencies, partnering organizations, and 21CSC program operators met in Washington to discuss how to continue making the 21CSC a successful initiative. Most discussions were held in small groups, and focused on key themes including
  • how to find solutions to challenges and barriers that exist in inter-agency collaboration and internal communications
  • how to collect data that is consistent and meaningful across agencies and partners, as well as implement standards across 21CSC program operators to ensure high-quality programs and projects
  • how to identify and put sources of long-term federal funding in place for the 21CSC
  • challenges and opportunities for securing private funding to support the initiative, and how to negotiate meaningful public-private partnerships that are beneficial to all parties
  • federal legislation that would ensure 21CSC has staying power across political administrations
A public afternoon presentation celebrated the successes of the 21CSC to date, and featured speakers from numerous agencies and partners. The next Partnership for 21CSC meeting will be held during The Corps Network’s 2015 National Conference, which will take place from February 8-11 in Washington, D.C.  
New 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Grants Support 23 Projects in Collaboration with Six Department of Interior Agencies
On Wednesday, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced new Department of Interior 21CSC grants that were made possible by combining $530,823 private funds with matching funds to create project funds totaling $740,000. According to the Department of Interior, “The projects will employ approximately 160 youth and up to 10 veterans in conservation work benefiting our public lands. These projects will engage approximately 300 volunteers within the local communities and conduct restoration activities on over 200 miles of public land.”

The agencies that will partner with 21CSC organizations include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey.

Of the 23 projects, 19 are going to be completed by members or affiliates of The Corps Network. Many of the projects focus on traditional Corps work such as improving trails, restoring habitat, and environmental education. Some unique project highlights include

  • Conservation Legacy employing two AmeriCorps Environmental Steward program members in South Florida’s Everglades ecosystems to work with U.S. Geological Survey biologists to help research and control expanding populations of invasive reptile species.
     
  • Nevada Conservation Corps working with the Bureau of Land Management with six AmeriCorps members to clean-up and reduce the impacts of a recreational shooting range within the Coyote Springs Area of Critical Environmental Concern.
     
  • Utah Conservation Corps employing four Corpsmembers to work with the Bureau of Land Management to build a short trail around the Mill Canyon dinosaur track site to enable more visitors to see the dinosaur tracks while maintaining the site in good condition.
     
  • Arizona and Utah Conservation Corps employing two four-person crews to construct and install several micro-irrigation systems in the northern Navajo Nation that can help encourage gardening, an activity that has obtained renewed interest recently among local communities.

For more information on the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps initiative, please visit www.21csc.org

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National Public Lands Day 2014


 

In celebration of National Public Lands Day 2014, check out our video about Corps and their importance to America’s public lands.

David Muraki Honored as One of 20 AmeriCorps Trailblazers

Story submitted by the California Conservation Corps

California Conservation Corps Director David Muraki was honored as one of 20 AmeriCorps Service Trailblazers during a 20th anniversary AmeriCorps event in San Francisco last week.

David served as deputy director for CaliforniaVolunteers from 1996 to 2007, leading public policy efforts and supporting AmeriCorps national service and disaster volunteer programs.  He was also architect of a statewide system matching volunteers with organizations that need them. 

In 2007, David was appointed director of the California Conservation Corps.

Among those also honored as Trailblazers at the San Francisco ceremony were former first lady Maria Shriver and Sacramento Congresswoman Doris Matsui.

AmeriCorps 20th Anniversary: How Service and Conservation Corps Celebrated

Last week, AmeriCorps celebrated it’s 20th anniversary. Nationwide, champions, alumni, and current members joined forces to recognize the accomplishments of our national service program. There was even a little gathering at the White House.

Here are some of the ways that members of The Corps Network celebrated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Support The Corps Network Youth Council

During the month of September, The Corps Network is running a CrowdRise campaign to raise money to support the creation of our new Youth Council.

At our annual National Conference, The Corps Network honors a select group of young men and women from our member programs as Corpsmembers of the Year. These extraordinary individuals are strong leaders and excellent ambassadors of the Corps movement. We plan to build upon the Corpsmember of the Year model to establish a Youth Council.

We believe it is critical to solicit and include the input and ideas of the young people we serve. Therefore, through this campaign, we are seeking donations to develop our 2015 Corpsmembers of the Year into spokespeople who can influence programs and policy here at The Corps Network, as well as at the federal, state, and local level. The funds we raise will help offset their travel costs to Washington, D.C and allow these bright young adults to make their voice heard at the national level, get in front of important decision makers, and help steer the future of America’s Service and Conservation Corps. 

Your gift to The Corps Network will enable us to foster the next generation of America’s leaders.

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The Corps Network has a New Mission Statement!

The Corps Network provides critical leadership to the Corps movement and our nation’s Service and Conservation Corps as they harness the power of youth and young adults to tackle some of America’s greatest challenges and transform their own lives.

 


All throughout the month of September, we will highlight the many ways Corps tackle some of America’s Greatest challenges. The Corps Network and our member programs:

Restore and improve America’s detriorating parks and natural spaces

Provide valuable career training and work experience to curtail high levels of youth unemployment

Give low-income and disadvantaged youth access to education and pathways to improved economic opportunities

Combat climate change and natural disasters, and promote community resiliency

Transform lives

Provide critical leadership to the Corps movement

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Ellen’s Blog: Conservation Corps Respond


Washington Conservation Corps responds to Hurricane Sandy

Originally Posted on the Corporation for Nationl and Community Service Blog

As Hurricane Sandy bore down on the Northeast coast during the last days of October 2012, more than a dozen Service and Conservation Corps programs across the country were already mobilizing to help with the relief effort. Some Corps came from as far away as Montana, Washington, and Utah, while other programs served in their own backyard, in New York and New Jersey.

The extensive training Corpsmembers receive in Service and Conservation Corps programs prepares them to serve in numerous capacities in response to a wide range of natural and manmade disasters. Many Corpsmembers are trained in volunteer management and learn the professional skills needed to organize relief efforts and interact with victims and local responders in partnership with AmeriCorps’ Disaster Services Team.Corpsmembers cleared debris and downed trees, cleaned muck and mold from flooded buildings, and helped homeowners salvage personal belongings. They distributed emergency supplies, managed evacuation shelters, and, through their presence, offered reassurance that help had arrived and things would get done. In the two years since the storm, young people serving in Corps have completed an extensive amount of work to make homes livable, make parks and public lands safe for recreation, and make communities more resilient to the threat of future storms. Corps have re-planted damaged gardens and thousands of trees; planted many new trees to reduce erosion; and removed invasive species that took root in the months immediately following the storm. 

Some Corpsmembers gain wildland firefighting credentials, chainsaw operation certification, and wilderness first aid training, thus allowing them to respond to forest fires. Because Corps have the ability to travel where disaster strikes and bring their own disaster response and safety equipment, they can provide some of the earliest and most comprehensive service. Corpsmembers also have the land management skills to help damaged ecosystems recover once immediate needs are met.

Within just the past few months, more than 400 Corpsmembers responded to devastating forest firesin California, nearly 70 responded to forest fires in Washington state, and many others have responded to flooding in Missouri and Minnesota. In recent memory, young people serving in Corps assisted in the relief efforts after the landslides in Washington, the fertilizer plant explosion in West, TX, and flooding in Galena, AK.

When young people join a Corps program, they choose to serve. They make the decision to use their time and talents to help others. They embody an ethic of service that makes them extraordinary participants in disaster relief efforts. Corpsmembers are committed to making a difference and giving themselves entirely to the cause of putting damaged communities back together and helping families return to a normal way of life.  

The experience of helping someone who has just lost everything can be heart-rending, but it is also a chance to learn about yourself. One particularly telling reflection of the service experience is that when talking to Corpsmembers who served in disaster areas, you often hear some variation of the same phrase: “The people I helped did so much more for me than I could have possibly done for them.”