FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
January 20, 2025

MEDIA CONTACTS
Katie Vavao, katie.vavao@cv.ca.gov, (916) 584-3620
Crystal Young, crystal.young@gov.ca.gov
NOTE: B-roll and interview footage available at the bottom of this release.

California Service Corps Activates for MLK Day of Service and Giving

What you need to know: In the wake of the LA Fires, volunteers and the largest service force in the nation take inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for a day of service and giving.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and GO-Serve Director and California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday spotlighted the many recovery efforts and “ways to give” as the Los Angeles region recovers from the recent fires.

“The best of California is on display here in Los Angeles,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Thousands of Californians joining hand-in-hand to help total strangers who just lost everything to this firestorm. That’s the California way. Jen and I can think of no better way to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

The “California Love. California Strong.” campaign is an effort to support those affected by the fires and provide opportunities to make a difference.

“Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by coming together as one California — showing up for Angelenos through service, love, and solidarity,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “Through California Love, California Strong, we are seeing the power of kindness and collective action as we help impacted communities rebuild and heal. Whether it’s giving your time, gratitude, resources or compassion, every act of service makes a difference in strengthening our communities and our state.”

“In the wake of the devastating Los Angeles fires, it lifts our spirits to see people coming together,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “Today, we are seeing all the ways people can ‘give’ to show love and demonstrate how strong California is.”

Director Fryday joined local officials working alongside California Climate Action Corpsfellows and hundreds of volunteers to plant trees, sort food and perform habitat restoration and community beautification as part of a Community Climate Action Day in Long Beach.

“Times of disaster, like the fires in Los Angeles, highlight the importance and necessity of caring for your local ecosystem and giving your time,” said California Climate Action Corps fellow Danni Brookfield. “California Volunteers enables communities to work towards a more sustainable future. Through actions like tree planting and habitat restoration, we are able to fight climate change while simultaneously boosting disaster prevention and recovery.”

Director Fryday also visited California Service Corps members deployed to the YMCA in Sierra Madre, the Disaster Recovery Center in Pasadena and LA Works at the LA Coliseum. Each site was filled with volunteers and an outpouring of support for people affected by the Los Angeles Fires.

“I’m grateful I can help those affected by the fires. Seeing the community band together to help support those in need with much-needed resources is the most heartwarming,” said College Corps fellow Mysaiah Duke. “One of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s greatest missions was to uplift those in need and as someone whose family was directly impacted by the Eaton Fire, the opportunity to serve and support others feels like the only thing grounding me in these difficult moments.”

For all Los Angeles Fire resources, visit CA.gov/lafires and to find volunteer opportunities and ways to help, visit CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov.

California Service Corps is administered by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor and consists of four paid service programs: #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, California Climate Action Corps, Youth Service Corps and AmeriCorps California. Combined, it is a force larger than the Peace Corps and is deployed to support California’s most pressing needs.

FOOTAGE: California Volunteers, Office of the Governor: #CALoveCAStrong Activities

INTERVIEW: GO-Serve Director and California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday

LIVE INTERVIEW REQUESTS (English/Spanish) contact Katie.Vavao@cv.ca.gov

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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 Californians to engage in public service.