FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
April 20, 2024  

MEDIA CONTACT
Cassandra Kester, Cassandra.Kester@cv.ca.gov, (279) 220-0688

California Climate Action Corps Helps Golden State Go Green for Earth Month

Community Climate Action Days in Oakland and across California combine of California Service Corps and thousands of volunteers for days of service.

OAKLAND, Calif. – This month, thousands of Californians will gather at hundreds of locations to take climate action for Earth Month. Today in Oakland, Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday joined community partners and hundreds of volunteers for a day of climate action, including environmental stewardship and education activities.   

“Volunteers, service members, community organizations and local and state leaders joined together today to take action against our greatest existential threat — climate change. It is a testament to the power of service to unite us and create real, lasting change,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “California will continue to organize, lead, and engage our communities in climate action because we need everyone involved.”  

California Volunteers, Office of the Governor partnered with HandsOn Bay Area, the City of Oakland and other community organizations to host the event at Liberation Park where California Service Corps Members and hundreds of volunteers participated in invasive plant removal and native planting.  

“Earth Day is an amazing opportunity to come together to celebrate and honor all that Oakland has to offer by taking steps to clean, invest and cherish our beautiful open spaces,” said State Assemblymember Mia Bonta. “Climate Action Days show our deep commitment to make our communities safer, greener and help to ensure that for decades to come all can call Oakland, California, and the world home. Happy Earth Day and Climate Action Day. Special thanks to California Volunteers, Office of the Governor, the City of Oakland, Black Cultural Zone and the various community partners.”  

In honor of conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday, California Climate Action Corps has committed to planting 90,000 trees and native plants across the state. The Oakland Community Climate Action Day included tree and native species plantings to honor Dr. Goodall’s legacy. Explore opportunities to participate in reaching the goal by visiting the California Volunteers’ website. 

“As Mayor of Oakland, I’m proud to highlight the California Service Corps, led by the State of California, which not only supports our communities but also cultivates future leaders. With Oakland hosting the largest Climate Action Corps contingent, this program offers invaluable experiences for our youth, fostering skills and pathways to long-lasting careers in public service,” said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Through hands-on engagement in critical initiatives like disaster recovery and tutoring, Corps members develop leadership and teamwork skills essential for success. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for California while empowering the leaders who will guide us there.” 

California Climate Action Corps is part of the California Service Corps and organizes Community Climate Action Days throughout the state. Governor Gavin Newsom launched California Climate Action Corps three years ago as the nation’s first state-level climate service corps with the mission of empowering Californians to take meaningful action to protect their homes, health and communities against the harshest impacts of climate change. The program is led by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor.   

“Each Earth Day, we recommit to prioritizing the health and welfare of our beautiful planet and all its inhabitants. This year’s theme, Planet vs. Plastics, comes at a time when over 500 million tons of fossil fuel-derived plastic is produced each year, contributing to air and climate pollution and ending up in our rivers and oceans,” said State Senator Nancy Skinner. “What better way to commemorate this year’s Earth Day than to join with California Service Corps Members for a day of local action cleaning and beautifying Unity Park in Oakland.” 

California Service Corps is the largest service force in the nation, larger than the Peace Corps. It is administered by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor and is made up of #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps, California Climate Action Corps and AmeriCorps California. Learn more at CAServiceCorps.com.  

“Every year, Earth Day provides an incredible opportunity for Oaklanders to stand together and honor our community’s natural beauty and commit to safeguarding it for generations to come,” said State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. “Through collective action and partnership, we are taking meaningful steps to address the urgent challenge of climate change. It is through our combined efforts that we pave the way for a greener, safer future for Oakland and beyond.”

“When we come together and are united by our shared goal of building climate resiliency, we are investing in our community’s future,” said California Climate Action Corps Team Leader Mariel Schmitt. “This Earth Day event embodies the true essence of community and what we can achieve together and inspires me to continually take direct action in my community.” 

Find a local volunteer opportunity at CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov.

INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH: California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. Contact Cassandra Kester, Communications Manager, Cassandra.Kester@cv.ca.gov, (279) 220-0688. 

Livestream:

YouTube  

B-Roll:

Community Climate Action Days  

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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.