FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2025
B-roll and interview footage included below.
MEDIA CONTACT: Katie Vavao, Katie.Vavao@cv.ca.gov, (916) 584-3620
Now Hiring: California Recruiting Paid Service Members to Meet Future Workforce Needs
What you need to know: California is recruiting 10,000 paid California Service Corps members to serve their communities, gain valuable experience and join the future workforce. These opportunities are launching fulfilling careers while meeting the state’s workforce needs.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Today, Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve) Director Josh Fryday and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson announced California is seeking 10,000 people to join the California Service Corps.
The event also featured a Corps to Career fair where over 40 public, nonprofit and business employers met with hundreds of California Service Corps members and recently hired alumni.
“As Californians, the spirit of service and giving back is in our DNA — it’s why we have the largest service corps in the nation. Larger even than the Peace Corps, the California Service Corps serves as a model for other states just as it serves our own residents,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “We consistently hear from businesses, nonprofits and local governments about the need to equip workers with modern skills and connect them to employers, and the California Service Corps and Corps to Career programs do just that.”
Over the coming year, California Service Corps programs will be over 10,000 members strong and serve nearly five million hours. Service members help communities with urban greening, wildfire resiliency, tutoring and mentoring students to help them succeed, supporting communities impacted by disasters, working to end hunger and connecting vulnerable people to vital resources and services.
In the LA area, California Service Corps alumni are connected to employers through Corps to Career, an innovative public-private partnership. The initiative is part of Governor Newsom’s broader strategy to create a California for all, furthering economic opportunity and workforce development throughout California.
“These are California’s future leaders, and we need their passion, energy and enthusiasm to address our greatest challenges,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “The Corps to Career initiative shows us when we invest in paid service opportunities, we invest in our future teachers, tradespeople, business leaders and the entire economy.”
Corps to Career is a component of Governor Newsom’s larger strategy to accelerate economic and workforce projects throughout the state. As part of the Master Plan for Career Education, Corps to Career ensures Californians have career pathways, develop the skills and find even more opportunities to power economic growth and create more resilient communities in priority sectors such as education, trades and climate.
“As a global leader in innovation and talent, California is always looking for new ways to strengthen the industries and workforce that will power our world-beating economy,” said GO-Biz Director Dee Dee Myers. “Along with the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, Corps to Career will help increase access to good-paying jobs while driving sustainable economic growth in communities across the state.”
California Service Corps is the largest service force in the nation, consisting of four paid service programs:
- #CaliforniansForAll College Corps
- California Climate Action Corps
- Youth Service Corps
- AmeriCorps California
Combined, it is a force larger than the Peace Corps and will be mobilized at a time when California is addressing post-pandemic academic recovery, rebuilding from the LA fires and planning for the future of the state’s workforce.
California Service Corps members gain skills and experience while connecting with others and making a positive difference. Additionally, service experiences foster a positive sense of connection and belonging — an answer to the loneliness crisis as defined by the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory.
Those interested in finding a paid service opportunity can learn more by watching this virtual recruitment event.
Learn more and join at CAServiceCorps.com.
INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH with GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. Contact Katie Vavao, Katie.Vavao@cv.ca.gov, (916) 584-3620.
Related footage and interviews:
- B-roll: Corps to Career Job Fair
- English Interviews: Go-Serve Director Josh Fryday and service members
- Spanish Interviews: Go-Serve Director Josh Fryday and service members
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson:
“Here in Long Beach, we’re proud to partner with Governor Newsom, Director Fryday and leaders across our community to empower the next generation of public servants. With programs like our Long Beach Public Service Corps, we’re creating pathways to meaningful public sector careers — giving young people the opportunity to serve their communities while gaining invaluable skills and experience. These opportunities aren’t just about service; they’re about building a stronger workforce that meets the needs of our state. By investing in these future leaders, we’re shaping a more resilient and service-driven California.”
Lena Gonzalez, State Senator:
“The California Service Corps provides valuable opportunities for people to give back to their communities while gaining skills and experience to boost their careers. I am deeply grateful to all the service members who recently supported Los Angeles fire relief efforts – truly inspiring. These programs represent the power of unity in action and progress toward a brighter, more resilient future for all.”
Josh Lowenthal, State Assemblymember:
“I am proud to stand behind the Corps to Career initiative and the extraordinary Californians who are stepping up to serve their communities. This program reflects our state’s unwavering commitment to equity, opportunity and workforce innovation. By connecting service to career pathways, we are able to build a more resilient, inclusive economy for all.”
Alysia Bell, UNITE-LA President:
“Aligned with our mission of equitable economic mobility, UNITE-LA has proudly placed six California Service Corps alumni into earn and learn opportunities associated with high-mobility careers in growing sectors. Through career development training and employer networks, the Corps to Career model equips service members with hands-on experience and essential skills employers value, making them highly employable.”
Janet Parga, College Corps alum:
“The #CaliforniansForAll College Corps supported my success as a student while developing skills necessary for a career change. Through the program, I have been introduced to the wonders of a blue economy, and I am now working at AltaSea as an Ocean Pathways coordinator, where I have the privilege to share my experience and hope to inspire others to pursue climate action.”
Kelly Cheeseman, Chief Operating Officer, LA Kings and AEG Sports:
“The LA Kings and AEG are proud to be inaugural partners of Corps to Career, an initiative of California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. The Corps to Career formula of combining service members with networks, deep employer partnerships and career development training on soft skills that employers value has the potential to be a model for not only Los Angeles but California and the nation.”
Rene Menchaca, College Corps alum:
“Because of College Corps, I gained skills and experiences that helped prepare me for the workforce. Since graduating last year, I have secured multiple certifications and career pathway placements through Corps to Career, including the opportunity to help my community during the recent LA fires.”
Terry Tamminen, AltaSea President and CEO:
“Our thanks to Governor Newsom and his team for prioritizing and creating real career pathways in the blue economy. This program will help provide the training and resources necessary for our next generation to have sustainable, good-paying careers. Corps to Career has already made an impact at Alta Sea — we have already hired a California Service Corps alumnus, Janet Parga, into a full-time role as Oceans Pathway Coordinator and she has been incredible. She has overseen the intern program bringing in outstanding talent into our organization. We see Corps to Career as critical to our ability to have the diverse, talented workforce we need to be successful in the future.”
Karen Perez Fernandez, College Corps alum:
“Corps to Career has supported my aspirations to become a physician’s assistant by connecting me with the right opportunities. Thanks to the program, I knew exactly where I was headed right after college — UNITE-LA’s My Pathway to Health career program.”
Victor Dominguez, President and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles:
“We are honored to be an inaugural partner in the launch of Corps to Career, empowering all Angelenos to access a career they choose. We deeply value this partnership and the diverse, values-driven potential employees it brings to our association and our city. Together, we are building a pipeline to develop community talent and creating a pathway for upward mobility for those who deserve it most.”
Nuria Meda Safar, College Corps alum:
“I am so grateful for California Volunteers and the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps team at CSU Dominguez Hills. I’m excited to have landed this opportunity and to be the first of hopefully thousands to come.”
Scott Graybeal, Caelux CEO
“Growing a domestic workforce for solar manufacturing requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. We’re excited to be partnering with California Volunteers and supporting the Corps to Career pipeline to get young graduates into well-paying, meaningful jobs.”
Leslie Calderon, College Corps alum:
“College Corps … supported me applying for jobs … even after college … I was able to find the internship working for the Mayor’s Office … Being able to go straight to the interview made me feel like the 450 hours were worth it. I never thought it would have so much impact until that day when a door with straight access was open.”
Stephen Cheung, President and CEO, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC):
“The Corps to Career initiative is vital to building a diverse career pipeline of the future for our region. To develop a robust career pipeline that aligns the demands of the private sector with the skillsets needed from our future workforce, LAEDC has been working closely with regional employers like Microsoft to establish certification programs in key areas such as AI that can create a clear career pathway for Angelenos. We hope more employers throughout the Los Angeles region will join in this effort to safeguard and bolster the vitality of our regional economy.”
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About California Volunteers, Office of the Governor
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.
