Civicorps

07/20/2026

Last week, we had the privilege of spending a morning with State Senator Jerry McNerney at Pleasant Ridge Regional Park. Together with our friends from East Bay Regional Park District, we introduced the Senator to our Trails Crew and shared details of our special parks projects. Since 2023, our Trails Crew work has inspired and prepared numerous Corpsmembers to apply for Park District jobs. The targeted training EBRPD has provided for our Trails Crew bolsters their qualifications for certain positions available through EBRPD and other land management agencies.

Our Corpsmembers shared their career aspirations and chatted with the Senator about what they love most about working at the Corps. With special guest Nicholas Mueller from Greater Valley Conservation Corps, we shined a spotlight on the work of the local corps movement in the Senator's district across Alameda and San Joaquin Counties. We also heard from Rangeland Specialist Allison Rofe about the importance of pond restoration in our parks. Special thanks to our friends at EBRPD who made this visit so informative and engaging: Max Korten, Patrick Demmons, Dennis Waespi, Olivia Sanwong, Erich Pfuehler, Elsa Grandvoinet-Pellegrini, Jessica Kauzer and Bruce Henry.

Civicorps, Greater Valley Conservation Corps and the California Association of Local Conservation Corps deeply appreciate Senator McNerney's support with Senator María Elena Durazo's $25M GGRF request that helps expand workforce development programs for local corpsmembers across the state, including those in SD05. We're so grateful to have a leader on conservation and green economic development advocating for us in Sacramento. We look forward to continuing our work in SD05.

06/11/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 👏

Recently, Civicorps wrapped up 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 and celebrated a new group of Corpsmembers promoted to 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏.

This promotion reflects the leadership, growth, and responsibility they have shown throughout their time in the program. As Crew Leaders, they will take on greater responsibility in the field and continue building their leadership skills.

Congratulations to our new 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 on this next step.

Crew Leader Academy was supported by the 𝐀𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 awarded to Civicorps by Beneficial State Bank in collaboration with the 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨.

06/08/2026

Our logo is a rainbow this month, and we want to say why. The young people who come through our doors, our Corpsmembers, and many of our staff include members of the LGBTQIA+ community. For over 40 years, our job has been to show up for young adults who've been let down by other systems, and that means every young adult, no exceptions. Supporting our people matters to us beyond this month — it's part of the training our team does and how we try to show up for every young person here. June is just when we say it a little louder. 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 from all of us at Civicorps. 🏳️‍🌈

04/22/2026

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🌎

As we celebrate 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲, we’re reflecting on two meaningful events Civicorps was proud to be part of this past weekend.

Through Keep Oakland Beautiful, our team joined a community-wide effort to help beautify Oakland. During the day, 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, beautiful murals were created, and our team had the opportunity to be recognized alongside Barbara Lee. It was an honor to be part of such a meaningful day centered on service, stewardship, and community pride.

We also supported the 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐣𝐨 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐲, where our crews helped make a major impact through waste collection and disposal efforts. Together, the team collected 𝟕𝟐𝟒 𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬, including several large tractor tires, filled a 𝟓𝟑-𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫, loaded another 𝟓𝟑-𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 and 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐱 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐬 full of e-waste, and, in collaboration with the Conservation Corps North Bay, filled a another trailer with mattresses.

We’re proud of the hard work, teamwork, and dedication shown across both events. Earth Day is a reminder that caring for our communities and environment takes all of us, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make these efforts possible.

04/15/2026

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 🌲

A big congratulations to our Corpsmembers who recently completed 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 at 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 in Santa Rosa.

Throughout the weekend, our Corpsmembers built and practiced 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬, including camping safety, tent and camp kitchen set-up, outdoor cooking, map and compass navigation, and team-building. They also had the opportunity to connect with staff from Sonoma County Regional Parks and learn in a hands-on outdoor setting.

Bay Area Wilderness Training (𝐁𝐀𝐖𝐓), an organization that helps expand access to outdoor leadership development and adventure-based learning opportunities. By completing the course, our Corpsmembers are now certified through BAWT and have access to a wide range of outdoor gear and resources to support future trips.

These Corpsmembers are also part of Civicorps’ new 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐀) committee, which is helping organize, plan, and implement outdoor trips and adventures for their peers in 2026. We also want to thank the California Natural Resources Agency for the 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 for helping make COLA possible.

We’re proud of the energy, leadership, and commitment our Corpsmembers brought to this experience, and excited

04/13/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐬𝐂𝐨𝐧 + 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐚𝐲 👏

𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤, local corps from across California came together in Sacramento for 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐬𝐂𝐨𝐧, through workshops, leadership development, and shared experiences.

To close it out, Corpsmembers took the 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐥 for 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲, meeting directly with legislators and agency leaders to advocate for the impact of local corps programs.

During the day, our Corpsmembers had the opportunity to meet with 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐫 from Assemblymember Anamarie Avila Farias office, CalRecycle 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐙𝐨𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫, and 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧.

We’re grateful for the time, attention, and encouragement each of these leaders shared with our Corpsmembers. These moments matter, 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

04/10/2026

We loved having Gigantic Idea Studio, Inc.visit our Job Training Center this week!

It’s always special to create space for folks to connect directly with corpsmembers, learn about their day-to-day, and share more about their own work. We’re grateful for the time, conversation, and openness to building together.

04/06/2026

We’re honored to celebrate California Invasive Plant Council Executive Director Doug Johnson as a California Association of Local Conservation Corps Environmental Advocacy Partner of Impact Award recipient.

Through our partnership with Cal-IPC, Civicorps has helped us expand access to hands-on, ecology-based training that prepares Corpsmembers for careers in conservation. From foundational courses in local ecosystems, climate, and plant identification to advanced training in invasive species management, this collaboration has transformed how Corpsmembers learn and engage in the field.

With Cal-IPC’s support, these trainings are now embedded into orientation for all Corpsmembers and continue to evolve through hands-on projects, leadership development, and innovative approaches. These efforts—and so much more—continue to support our Corpsmembers as they build skills, confidence, and pathways into conservation careers.

We’re incredibly grateful for this partnership and the lasting impact it continues to have on our Corpsmembers and communities. 🌱

04/01/2026