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Cesar joined the Corps in 2023 and quickly excelled in his work, becoming a leader among his fellow corpsmembers. Interested in exploring his career options, Cesar signed up for our California Naturalist course. Moved by the course and earning his certification, he states, "It reawakened my love for nature, which I had forgotten." With his rediscovered passion, he set a new goal to become a park ranger, In October, he jumped at the opportunity to intern with the City, and in just three months, he was hired as a Park Maintenance Assistant. "I believe the Corps helped me get my job at the city because they made me the right guy for the job."

Veronica first enrolled at our Charter School in 2019 in hopes of obtaining her high school diploma. She had a child on the way and was given the option to return to school or work. She didn't think it was possible to do both at the same time, until she discovered the Corps. "No experience, no school, no history, no resume. I had nothing. I couldn't believe there was an opportunity like this." Check out her story below! She attended school while working part-time in a COVID-19 emergency shelter. Despite starting with zero credits, she was motivated to be a role model for her brother, who also attended the Charter School. They both graduated in 2023 and today, Veronica works as a Residential Services Coordinator at LifeMoves. The experience she gained operating one of the shelters as a corpsmember made her realize that she's passionate about supporting her community, and she's able to do so now by connecting clients with services and stable housing opportunities. Full video: https://youtu.be/4p80L49XbHs

When Justin first heard about the Corps, he was excited for the opportunity to work outdoors and put his Biology degree into practice. He was able to do even more than that, gaining leadership and communication skills after being promoted to Crew Lead. As he started preparing for his career after the Corps, he "was offered help with his resume, as well as opportunities to bolster it." Justin now works as an Agriculture Specialist in Customs and Border Protection at San Francisco International Airport. His job duties include asking passengers about the food they are bringing from their travels and deciding if it is safe to allow into the U.S. His experience at the Corps working on invasive species projects (which you can watch below) helped him realize the importance of the work he does now. "I'm trying to keep pests or invasive species out of the country before they even enter." He has been working as an Agriculture Specialist for about a year. "I couldn't ask for a better job.'

Sofia Jaquez is one of the Corps' Board Members, drawing from her lived experience as a Charter School graduate in 2019 and her social activism to advise the organization. Sofia sits on the board with the City of San Jose as well, including work2future and the Google fund commission. In addition to these accomplishments, Sofia co-founded the Youth Liberation Movement, a grassroots movement that aims to liberate young people from generational cycles of trauma and oppression by translating their lives into actionable solutions. However, her social activism does not end there. Sofia not only advocates for social justice in her work but in her art as well. She specializes in poetry, rap, and mural painting. She shares that what drives her to advocate is her family's involvement in the community. "I'm very proud that I'm able to open doors for my family and inspire them." Sofia has pursued a wide array of creative endeavors since leaving the Corps, including a music video funded by the Santa Clara County Office of Education to encourage young adults to participate in environmental activism, She states that "San Jose Conservation Corps is a great pipeline to green careers." Sofia is currently in pre-law at UC Berkeley and aspires to become a lawyer to further advocate for young people and continue her mission to create positive change. Check out her Green Careers Anthem video below!

When Cici joined the Corps, it was her first job outside of retail. She was drawn to the program because she was able to work outside and serve the community. "It was a different kind of service for the community, and I was very interested in that." Cici's biggest takeaway from her experience at the Corps was confidence, which she used to start over in a new field of work. After the Corps, she went on to be indentured into the NorCal Carpenters Union. Cici was sponsored to join Women in the Trades, which will ensure a spot for her in the union. "My main goal is to be extremely well versed in carpentry, figure out how to build homes, network with whatever contractors I can, potentially become a contractor myself, and get funding for areas with a high [rate] of homelessness." Cici feels that the Corps is a "great opportunity" for those who are looking to expand their career choices. She chose the Corps in order to focus on herself and get out of a dead-end career, and along the way, she found that she could also make transformational changes in her community at the same time.

Corpsmember Richard Suarez shares his story with CBS News! His powerful story shines a light on the challenges many young adults face in completing their education. After joining the Corps, Richard found the support and motivation he needed to get his high school diploma. His story is one that will resonate with residents throughout our community, particularly young adults who may be experiencing similar situations. "At first, it was a little hard coming back into it, after not being in school for so long. But they really helped me ease into it. The teachers were really great, and they really care about you. They care about your grades and you getting your education. That really helped me want to do better." Richard shares with a smile. Hear Richard's story below! We hope this message will reach many young adults and inspire them, whether it be earning their high school diplomas and/or pursuing a career in service. CBS News article here: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/man-credits-san-jose-conservation-corps-with-transforming-his-life/

Interested in making a difference in the community? Are you looking to take the next step in your professional journey? Then join us at our On The Spot Hiring event! RSVP below. San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School will host a hiring event on Thursday, February 23rd, 2022, from 9 AM - 2 PM at 1560 Berger Dr. in San José! Please help us spread the word and inspire people to sign up. If anyone cannot attend, we encourage others to apply at sjcccs.org/work All you have to do is bring at least two forms of ID 1) Learn about our organization (info session starts at 9:30 AM) 2) Fill out an application and participate in an instant interview 3) Receive your offer letter on the spot! Work with local non-profit organizations to help your community and protect the planet. Our paid job training program helps you develop personal, professional, and academic skills that give you the tools and support necessary to start your career. Paid job training program to gain skills & experience: - Be between the age of 18 - 27 - No prior work experience necessary - No minimum education requirements - All you need is the drive to succeed! Starting at $20.57 an hour, apply here or call us at (669) 220-4822! Questions about the job? Contact: recruitment@sjcccs.org (669) 220-4822 **Please note: Our job training program is designed to serve young adults in our community. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 - 27.** SJCC+CS is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage those above 27 to please apply to our open staff positions here: https://www.sjcccs.org/jobs Women, people of color, and LGBTQI+ people are always strongly encouraged to apply!

2023 was a year to remember for the San Jose Conservation Corps. Eight hundred sixty-nine young adults joined us on our mission to create transformational change for our community and our planet. In 2023, 869 corpsmembers dedicated over 350,000 hours of service to a wide range of projects, transforming our local community and regions far beyond. From clearing storm debris in Guam and Florida after devastating natural disasters to maintaining miles of trails and reducing fire risks in Butano State Park and the Santa Cruz Mountains, the corpsmembers' influence was felt well beyond the city of San José. Corpsmembers gained valuable skills, certifications, and career opportunities while making a difference for our environment and community. Explore the full impact report to hear from the corpsmembers and see their lasting impact. READ THE SAN JOSE CONSERVATION CORPS' 2023 IMPACT REPORT Are you having trouble viewing this document? Click the button below to download a copy of the 2023 Impact Report. We hope you are as inspired as we are by all that was accomplished in 2023. Join the San Jose Conservation Corps community as we continue to develop young adults to create transformational change for our community and our planet! Please consider donating today.

In late September, we held our annual fundraiser, but this time, in the form of a picnic! The Corps Picnic 2023 was a day to celebrate our corpsmembers and their incredible achievements during their Corps Journey. The event was held at History Park in San Jose with everything decked out in fall colors. It began with an opening ceremony followed by a land acknowledgment, led by Corina Herra-Loera, Community Advocate/Board of Trustee ARUSD, and Gerardo Loera, Director of Development at the Indian Health Center. The Youth Champion Award was presented by Josh Fryday, Chief Service Officer, on Mayor Matt Mahan’s behalf, and Bruce Saito, California Conservation Corps CEO. Corpsmembers Steffon Taylor and Belen Reyes gave speeches as well, and shared about their experiences and accomplishments at the Corps. The Corpsmember of the Year Award was received by Rosalina Lopez, who also shared her Corps Journey and her many accomplishments. Corpsmembers were able to network and socialize with the guests. This allowed them to share their Corps Journey stories firsthand! The day was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories. Thank you to everyone who made this a memorable and meaningful occasion. We look forward to another year of making a positive impact together! Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make corpsmembers' dreams and aspirations a reality. Watch the video below to look back on the Corps Picnic.

As the first month of the new year draws to a close, we are reflecting on the past year's accomplishments at the Corps. From creating pathways to post-secondary education, to receiving national recognition, networking with Corps across California, making housing affordable, responding in times of crisis, diverting waste from landfills, constructing and maintaining trails, and more, we have lived by our motto: Service to self, service to community, and service to environment. Dive into the highlights with our recap video below - a journey we're proud to share with you all. Here's to more achievements, growth, and unforgettable memories in 2024!

In late September, an Environmental Projects crew went on a spike at Butano State Park for a total of eight days. For those who are unaware, a "spike" refers to when a crew camps near a project site where a daily commute is not possible, typically lasting seven to ten days. "Spikes are fun. Spikes are hard. But they're worth the memories," says corpsmember José. “These three spikes have been life changing for me,” adds corpsmember Raymond. The Projects crew worked to restore trails and rehabilitate the burn area in the Santa Cruz mountains due to the CZU Complex Fire in 2020. “Dealing with the damage that the wildfire caused…it’s challenging work, and it’s dirty work,” Raymond states. Corpsmembers shared their experience, detailing the tools used and the skills earned, as well as the fun times that allowed the team to bond. “I think it’s a nice project,” says corpsmember Richard. “Seeing the forest as you’re hiking through, and seeing the progress you’re making as you’re going through each and every day.” For many of the corpsmembers, the skills gained from this experience can lead to a wealth of job opportunities. Jose states that he “definitely [does] feel that [he has] opened some different doors to different job opportunities,” and that “the jobs are endless.” Corpsmember Raymond recommends the Corps highly after going on three spikes, stating that “the work that we do is challenging but it builds character.” Learn about what a spike is and hear firsthand about the corpsmembers' hard-earned completion of this trail restoration project by watching the video above. Shoutout to all of the corpsmembers who helped out with this massive project!