We can all help our communities safely with COVID-19
During these difficult times, Californians come together to help each other. You can start by joining the movement here:
In California, climate change is a threat to systems and people across the state. Climate change is an existential crisis. Each of us has a role to play. You can take meaningful action today to help communities across our state.
Our communities face different challenges and young people are stepping up to tackle local issues. Youth Service Corps members work directly with cities, counties and community based organizations to serve their communities while learning valuable job skills and developing a public service career pathways.
Low-income, former foster, justice-involved and unemployed youth deserve the same opportunities as everyone else—in California, we are making that vision a reality.
In partnership with local governments and community-based organizations across the state, Youth Service Corps engages young people to help tackle critical issues in priority areas: public service, food insecurity and climate action. Youth are supported with at least minimum wage and essential wrap-around services like case management, résumé preparation, special job training and other benefits to help ensure both their short- and long-term success.
Youth Service Corps has three core goals:
- Increase employment for underserved youth across California.
- Develop meaningful public service career pathways.
- Enhance local government capacity to address challenges in key focus areas.
Youth Service Corps Focus Areas
Public Service
Food Security
Climate
What our leaders are saying about the program:
“Building community has been a key goal throughout my time as an Assemblymember. Sometimes that means building up community engagement or developing leadership, both among youth and among our civic officials. This Youth Job Corps investment is another way the state will be helping everyone in Maywood, South Gate and our surrounding communities. The young people who sign on will develop skills for success and apply themselves to community issues. They are getting help and helping out at the same time. That’s a winning combination.”
— Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon
“This hiring program has the opportunity to change the lives of so many local youths, and the work they will be doing will positively impact even more residents.”
— Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes
“These programs enrich our communities through impactful community service, tackling issues such as climate action, food insecurity, educational disparities, and COVID-19 recovery. California is pleased to partner with colleges and universities, community-based organizations, and local governments across the state to implement these visionary programs.”
— Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins
“One Fresno cannot be realized until every Fresnan irrespective of age and any social barrier has an opportunity to thrive in our City. I was delighted to work with the Big 13 City Mayor’s and our Governor to secure $7.4 million dollars to launch our One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program. This program will provide countless training and livable wage career path opportunities to our most vulnerable young people ages 16 -30 in City jobs”
— Fresno Mayor, Jerry Dyer
“This is an opportunity for a new generation of civic minded community members to step forward and make a difference.”
— Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson
“Our youth are ready to help us tackle the most pressing challenges in our community including climate change, food insecurity, and our post-pandemic recovery, and I am thankful to all my colleagues in the Legislature, and the Governor’s administration for believing in our youth and creating new opportunities that will ensure a more prosperous and thriving future for all.”
— Senator Lena Gonzalez
“As Mayor, I have made investing in our youth a priority for the City of San Diego. Thanks to the State of California’s investment in this important program, we will be able to employ and empower young people in public service. Employ + Empower provides our youth a career pathway while compensating them for their work. Our goal is to show young San Diegans that there is a place for them in public service through a meaningful paid work experience that can give them the skills to eventually pursue a full-time career.”
— San Diego Mayor and California Big Cities Mayors Chair Todd Gloria
“#CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps is an investment in the future of California’s youth and the future of Oakland. We’re building on the successes of California’s Climate Action Corps to address environmental and urban challenges across our state’s largest cities while providing job opportunities for the next generation.”
— Libby Schaaf, Former Oakland Mayor
“The energy and talent from our young San Joséans in the Resilience Corps are helping us tackle many of our greatest challenges–from the pandemic to climate change to widening gaps in educational and economic outcomes.”
— Sam Liccardo, Former San José Mayor
“We’re at our best when we empower young people and remove any hurdles standing between them and their dreams.”
— Eric Garcetti, Former Los Angeles Mayor
“California’s youth are smart, they are energetic and they are eager to get to work on one of the most pressing global challenges — and that is climate change.”
— Congressman Robert Garcia (former Mayor of Long Beach)
“#CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps is creating intentional employment opportunities for low-income, former foster, justice-involved, and unemployed youth who traditionally may not have access to these jobs. I’m thrilled to see this program I envisioned come to fruition because our underserved youth deserve to have the same career resources as everyone else.”
— Michael Tubbs, Special Advisor for Economic Mobility and Opportunity to Governor Newsom
Participating Locations
Learn more about local Youth Service Corps programming and apply using the links below! If your location does not have an application link, please check back soon as programming begins at different times throughout the state.
City of Anaheim
City of Bakersfield
City of Big Bear Lake
Contra Costa County
City of Fresno
City of La Puente
City of Long Beach
City of Los Angeles
Marin County
City of Maywood
Merced County
Monterey County
Nevada County
City of Oakland
City of Santa Ana
City of Santa Monica
Sonoma County
City of South Gate
Stanislaus County
City of Stockton
Youth Eligibility Requirements
The Youth Service Corps prioritizes hiring youth, 16-30, who may not have access to traditional career-building resources. Priority will be given to youth applicants who are:
- In or transitioning from foster care.
- Formerly or currently justice-involved.
- Engaged with the mental health or substance abuse system.
- Low-income.
- Having difficulty finding employment.
- Unemployed and/or out of school.
- Have not participated in an AmeriCorps program.
What Youth Service Corps Members are saying:
Carlos, South Gate, CA
“The Youth Jobs Corps and Conservation Corps of Long Beach helped me be more confident, interactive, and a brighter person. It also helped me with my anxiety and nervousness. I was recommended to the Youth Jobs Corps by the Compatior Counseling Center, and the recommendation really helped me. I am also able to help my parents with bills and payments, and I’m glad to be here.”
CJ, San Jose, CA
“I work at Rocketship Spark Academy with the partnership of the Boys and Girls Club. Working at RCA opened my eyes towards youth extended learning. I’m really grateful I’m impacting our youth’s lives each day I come to work. RCA has helped me hone my skills with the workshops this program provides (financial literacy, résumé building, etc.). The living wage impact with this job helps me to be more sustainable, successful, and confident towards my own financial goals (investments and emergency saving). At the end of the day, I was able to create impactful experiences and memories for the students I teach while being able to continue to have a growth mindset towards building my own dream career pathway as a future Public Health Educator.”
