For Immediate Release: May 26, 2023

Media Contacts:

First Partner Siebel Newsom, Chief Service Officer Fryday, L.A. Mayor Bass Highlight Governor’s Youth Jobs Corps Budget Proposal, Recruit Members

#CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps provides pathways for meaningful careers


LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Today, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, local officials and community members joined the L.A. River Rangers to clean up parts of the Los Angeles River as they highlighted Governor Gavin Newsom’s youth jobs proposal in the 2023-24 FY budget and announced recruitment for the program.  

Newsom, Fryday, Bass

California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo participate in a Los Angeles River clean-up with the LA River Rangers to highlight Governor Gavin Newsom’s Youth Jobs Corps budget proposal and recruit new service members.

“In California, we lead with our values and one that unites us across communities is our commitment to service,” said First Partner Siebel Newsom. “Through California Volunteers, we’ve doubled down on this commitment and built a service corps larger than the Peace Corps. It’s so exciting today to see the investments in the Youth Jobs Corps expand to Los Angeles and make a difference in the lives of the service members and the communities they will serve.” 

The LA River Rangers program, funded at $5 million, is part of the $53 million grant from California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. The Governor has proposed $78.1 million for ongoing statewide funding for the Youth Jobs Corps program. 

“It is important that in Los Angeles we create fulfilling jobs that help our young people thrive. I will continue to work with partners in every level of government to ensure that we are doing all we can for future generations,” said Mayor Bass. 

The LA River Rangers program will hire more than 100 youth, ages 18-30, to care for 18 miles of public space along the L.A. River. The program is funded by #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps, an innovative partnership between the state and local government to help underserved youth and young adults, ages 16-30, find employment. 

California First Partner Siebel Newsom, Chief Service Officer Fryday, Los Angeles Mayor Bass and Assemblywoman Carrillo join California Volunteers service members to clean up weeds, graffiti and litter along the Los Angeles River to highlight Governor Gavin Newsom’s Youth Jobs Corps budget proposal and recruit new service members.

“The LA River Rangers program is a shining example of the Youth Jobs Corps’ success, simultaneously working to address the environmental needs of the L.A. River while granting increased opportunities to underserved youth,” said Assemblywoman Carrillo . “Los Angeles is home to many low-income, justice involved, and foster care transitioning youth, who will now have access to a pathway for sustained opportunity and growth. These grants administered through California Volunteers are a reflection of California’s commitment in investing in our shared future. The legislature, in partnership with the Governor, have prioritized the needs of young people in an effort to create a brighter future for the next generation of Californians. It’s an exciting time for our state.” 

Youth Jobs Corps members help cities and communities bolster their ability to address food insecurity, climate change and COVID-19 recovery.  As a service and career development program, participating community organizations offer wrap-around services such as job coaching and training while directly employing members. 

Officials and Youth Jobs Corps members performed a variety of clean-up activities along the L.A. River and adjacent pedestrian/bike path near Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park. Clean-up activities included litter abatement and the removal of weeds and graffiti.  

Over the course of the program, the City of Los Angeles aims to employ thousands of young Californians to work in various city and community based jobs. Youth Jobs Corps members in Los Angeles are working on projects like maintenance of the L.A. River, assistance to local food banks, planting trees, and tutoring and mentoring students, prioritizing those most affected by the pandemic.  

Other cities participating in the Youth Jobs Corps program include Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, San Jose, Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Stockton, Anaheim, La Puente, Long Beach, Maywood, San Diego, Santa Ana, Santa Monica, South Gate, San Bernardino, Big Bear Lake and Riverside. Participating counties include Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Nevada, Monterey, Merced and Stanislaus counties. Learn more about #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps at CAYouthJobsCorps.com and Los Angeles youth can apply at www.hirelayouth.com.

B-ROLL FOOTAGE:  

Remarks from speakers: https://vimeo.com/californiavolunteers/riverrangersActivity: https://vimeo.com/830719911


WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:  

Senator Steven Bradford: “As a former LA Corps Director, I know first-hand the value of these programs and projects. I am impressed by the work of the River Rangers team. This Youth Jobs Corps program allows young people to gain important work skills, serve their community, and earn money in the process. On top of that, the participants can immediately see the fruits of their hard work through the beautification of the Los Angeles River.” 

Senator Henry Stern: “The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Job Corps program enables thousands of young Angelinos to find employment, gain valuable skills, and serve their communities. I am proud to advocate for such a program that works to renew hope in a generation that has and continues to face much hardship from these past few years.” 

Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson: “I am pleased to express my strong support for #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps and the River Rangers initiative. The program provides essential support to young people and offers them a sense of purpose, self-worth, and an opportunity to develop their skills and abilities. I applaud the program’s organizers for prioritizing the holistic development of our community’s youth.”  

Assemblymember Laura Friedman: “When Californians work together, California wins. The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Job Corps is an impactful program that offers our youth a chance at resume building work while improving our communities. At a time when our problems require large scale responses, these youth are leading the way and showing us the values that make us great. As stewards of the LA River, the River Rangers are creating a blueprint on how to care for our incredible natural resources.” 

Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco: “Programs like this empower our youth to become part of the solution in tackling some of the most pressing issues within our communities. I am thankful to the Governor’s administration and all my colleagues in the Legislature for creating new opportunities that will ensure a better tomorrow, not just for our youth, but for all.”


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About California Volunteers, Office of the Governor   
Led by California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor empowers Californians to take action to improve their communities. California Volunteers is the state office tasked with recruiting young Californians to engage in public service.