For Immediate Release
August 29, 2022
Contact: Katie Vavao, Katie.Vavao@cv.ca.gov, (916) 584-3620
Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday Joins Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell and Local College Leaders to Kick Off #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Recruitment in Long Beach
New service initiative helps low-income students graduate college on time and with less debt
LONG BEACH, CA – Today, Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday joined Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell, and campus leaders from CSU Long Beach and CSU Dominguez Hills to encourage students to apply for the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program. This program offers thousands of California college students an opportunity to serve their communities in critical issue areas such as climate action, education, and food insecurity.
Students will benefit from two opportunities to strengthen their future at the same time: $10,000 for completing a year of service and gaining valuable experience by serving their community. This groundbreaking program intends to unite young Californians of all backgrounds in service and will create opportunities for AB 540 CA Dream Act Students to serve their communities.
Over the next two years, College Corps will engage 6,500 California undergraduates in service — roughly the size of the entire Peace Corps. Thanks to Governor Newsom and lawmakers who helped make funding possible, this service and career development program will help build a diverse class of leaders set to transform California for the better.
Applications opened April 1. Students can learn more and apply by visiting www.cacollegecorps.com
“Students are graduating with crippling debt. This service and career development program helps to create a debt free College pathway while promoting service. If you are willing to serve your community and give back in a meaningful way, we are going to help you pay for college. This is a win-win-win: helping to pay for college, gaining valuable work experience, and having a meaningful impact on their community,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday.
Jane Close Conoley, CSU Long Beach President:
“Cal State Long Beach is proud to be a CaliforniansForAll College Corps partner. It is an extraordinary program offering solutions to many challenges facing college students and our communities. This effort will help create debt-free pathways to college by bridging some of the financial aid gaps faced by many low-income students. Simultaneously, it will empower students to pursue service-oriented career paths and serve their communities.”
Senator Lena Gonzalez, State Senator, District 33:
“As a California State University Alum, I am proud to support the Californians For All College Corps program. This historic initiative will help create a pathway to debt-free college for thousands of low-income students. I would like to thank Governor Newsom, California Volunteers, and all of our higher-education partners for making this incredible opportunity for our students possible. I am excited to see the impacts the program has on our state and the community service-oriented career paths our students choose to pursue.”
Patrick O’Donnell, Assemblymember, District 70:
“This innovative program will highlight the best of California. As a high school teacher and Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, I see how students struggle to afford a college education. I also know the positive impact that can be achieved when Californians come together in service to our great state. I was proud to support AB 540 in 2019 and I am happy to see the transformational College Corps program harness the power of young Californians, wipe out college debt, and make a better future for our state.”
Thomas A. Parham, CSU Dominguez Hills President:
“This historic investment in service learning will allow our students to engage with and support the very communities and organizations that have nurtured and supported many of them. CSUDH is committed to creating and maintaining a culture of care that reaches far beyond our campus, fostering mutually uplifting relationships with the communities around us. We pride ourselves on not just being in the community, but of the community.”
Sierra Darwin (she/her), Chief Government Relations Officer, Associated Students Inc. California State University, Long Beach:
“With the College Corps leveraging the talent of our student body, including our Dreamers, to solve statewide challenges, we will enable the State of California to be a leader in taking advantage of a truly untapped resource – the entrepreneurial spirit and growth mindset of my fellow students.”
LIVESTREAM RECORDINGS:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/UjN9zVJj1Jo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaVolunteers/posts/371286248379393
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Led by California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor empowers Californians to take action to improve their communities. #CaliforniansForAll is a California Volunteers service initiative launched in response to COVID-19 to establish a volunteer corps to support the state’s response to emergencies and disasters.