California Association of Local Conservation Corps

Meet Malaki E. Hayes; his story will stop you in your tracks. 🙌 Malaki faced serious setbacks early in life, including time in prison. When he was released, he came to San Diego, determined to finish school and build something new. His sister suggested Urban Corps of San Diego County. He hesitated, then signed up anyway. In August 2024, Malaki became a Corpsmember. He joined our Community Improvement Services team, earned his driver's license, and got to work. In June 2025, he walked across the stage and earned his high school diploma. 🎓 "Getting my diploma meant a lot to me. I always thought I was a failure. This accomplishment was the start of opening a new door for me." Today, Malaki works in construction during the day and attends Summit College's plumbing program at night. He's on track to finish in spring 2026. 💪 "Urban Corps took care of me. It felt like family and a place you can call home." That's what this is all about. 💚🌿 #CorpsmemberSpotlight #UrbanCorpsSanDiego #SecondChances #YoungLeaders #ConservationCorps #WorkforceDevelopment #SanDiego

Meet Nicole Flores, Urban Corps of San Diego County's Corpsmember of the Year! 🌟 Nicole joined Urban Corps in 2023 after a friend told her it was a place where she could go back to school and earn money while learning a real skill. She quickly became an essential part of our Green Build Construction team — building trails, installing solar panels, and transforming spaces across San Diego. "I wish we had 100 Nicoles on our Green Build team. She listens well, is willing to do any task, and takes great pride in her work." — Construction Manager Kyle Freeland Nicole graduates in 2026 with plans to pursue a career in electrical engineering or contracting. We couldn't be prouder. 💚🌿 #CorpsmemberOfTheYear #UrbanCorpsSanDiego #GreenBuild #YoungLeaders #ConservationCorps #WorkforceDevelopment #SanDiego

Corpsmembers from the Conservation Corps of Long Beach are restoring habitat at Willow Springs Park in Long Beach 🌿, planting 180 native plants, removing invasives, and improving trails to reduce erosion. Funded through Prop 68 via the California Conservation Corps grant. This is California's local corps model in action. 💪🌎

All 14 local corps have arrived in Sacramento for our annual Government Education Day! 🌿🏛️ Come meet our Corpsmembers on the West Steps of the State Capitol TODAY, 10am–3pm. We'd love to see you there! #CALCC #GovEdDay #CaliforniaConservationCorps #Sacramento

CALCC is proud to honor Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes with the 2026 Senate Champion Award 🏆 Thank you for consistently championing investments that improve climate resilience and deliver environmental and economic benefits to communities across California. 🌿💪 @SenEloiseReyes

CALCC is proud to honor @cal_ipc and Executive Director Doug Johnson with the 2026 Stewardship in Action Award 🏆🌿 Exceptional leadership in invasive species management and impactful collaboration with local corps programs to protect and restore California’s natural landscapes. Thank you. 🌱💪

CALCC is proud to honor the Hearst Foundation with the 2026 Angel Investor Award 🏆✨ Thank you for supporting service learning opportunities and life-changing experiences for young adults building brighter futures through the local corps movement. 🌱💛

CALCC is proud to honor Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel with the 2026 Assembly Champion Award 🏆 Thank you for your legislative leadership expanding opportunities for Corpsmembers and advancing workforce development and environmental stewardship across California. 🌿💪 @AsmJesseGabriel

CALCC is proud to honor Senator @BenAllenCA with the 2026 Senate Champion Award 🏆 Thank you for years of support and your leadership in authoring Prop 4 — a landmark investment benefitting the conservation corps and communities across California. 🌿💪

CALCC is proud to honor the @CA_Coastal Conservancy and Executive Officer Amy Hutzel with the 2026 Agency Champion Award 🏆🌊 Outstanding leadership expanding opportunities for Corpsmembers while advancing coastal conservation and climate resilience across California. Thank you. 💙🌿 @ca_coastal

CALCC is proud to honor Senator Angelique Ashby with the 2026 Community Improvement Leader Award 🏆 Thank you for your unwavering support for the local conservation corps and the young people and communities at the heart of this movement. 🌿💛 @SenatorAshby

CALCC is proud to honor @caborecycles and Director of Advocacy Nick Lapis with the 2026 Environmental Advocacy Partner of Impact Award 🏆♻️ Thank you for years of partnership and advocacy in support of the local conservation corps. We are deeply grateful. 🌿💛

CALCC is proud to honor @CAL_FIRE and Director Joe Tyler with the 2026 Agency Champion Award 🏆🔥 Thank you for years of partnership supporting the local conservation corps. Corpsmembers across California are making a difference alongside CAL FIRE every day. 🌲💪

CALCC is proud to honor Assemblymember David Alvarez @AlvarezSD with the 2026 Assembly Champion Award 🏆 Thank you for your work enabling the local corps mission — especially your leadership this year in ensuring Prop 4 funding reaches communities across California quickly. 🌿💪

CALCC is proud to honor Resources Legacy Fund with the 2026 Angel Investor Award 🏆 Thank you for helping create service learning opportunities and life-changing experiences for young adults building brighter futures. Your investment in the local corps movement makes a real difference. 🌱💛

CALCC is proud to honor Assemblymember Juan Carrillo with the 2026 Community Improvement Leader Award 🏆 Thank you for championing climate-resilient infrastructure and investments that protect the environment and create opportunity in frontline communities. Your leadership strengthens the local corps mission. 🌿

A huge thank you to @SenMariaEDurazo, and to the 17 additional Senators and Assemblymembers who signed on in support, for championing a legislative budget request to appropriate $25M annually to the California Conservation Corps and Local Conservation Corps. This proposed investment would expand career pathways for young adults while supporting important climate resilience projects across California. We’re so grateful for your support for the conservation corps and the next generation of California’s climate workforce, and hope to be celebrating success later this year 🤞🏽! #LocalCorps #ClimateWorkforce #CaliforniaClimate #GGRF

Huge congrats to Marx A., Sonoma Corpsmember of the Year! 🏆 Since Feb 2024, Marx earned his HS diploma and became a Firefighter Type 1 & Sawyer 3 pro with @CCNorthBay. He is part of the workforce protecting California from wildfire risk. 🔥🛡️ #WildfireResilience #WorkforceDevelopment #SonomaCounty

The 14 local corps came together this week to collaborate and discuss our continued work providing valuable services and support to corpsmembers and communities throughout California. Special thanks to our partners at @TheCorpsNetwork, California Conservation Corps, @CAStateParksOHV, @CalRecycle, and Local Corps Collective for joining us. We are stronger together!

Concrete walls ➡️ Thriving wetlands. 🌾 Our CCNorthBay crews are restoring Corte Madera Creek to protect against sea-level rise. High-impact climate resilience work, powered by the next generation of conservation leaders. #ClimateAction #30x30CA #Prop4 #Marin