FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

September 23, 2023  

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Katie Vavao, Katie.Vavao@cv.ca.gov (916) 584-3620 

Riverside Unites for Climate Action: Community Day with California Climate Action Corps Fellows and Volunteers

Community Climate Action Day “Put the River Back in Riverside” event combines the forces of California Climate Action Corps Fellows and hundreds of volunteers during day of service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Today, California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday joined Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, local leaders, community organizations and  California Climate Action Corps Fellows and volunteers for a day of climate action in Riverside.   

“Volunteers, fellows, 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 the City of Riverside, Tree People, Inland Empire Waterkeeper, and others to hold Community Climate Action Day – Put the River Back in Riverside, a day of service to fight climate change. During the event held at Martha McLean Park in Riverside, hundreds of California Climate Action Corps Fellows and volunteers planted trees and native plants, removed invasive plants and conducted a river cleanup. 

“Green spaces are some of the best ways to keep our city cool and the Santa Ana River plays an important role in combating heat in Riverside,” Mayor Lock Dawson said. “Actions like the ones we took today make us all part of the solution and we are grateful to have the assistance of the California Climate Action Corps Fellows.” 

The day also marked a special occasion in which Assemblymember Cervantes administered the AmeriCorps oath to more than 300 California Climate Action Corps Fellows, kicking-off their year of service. This new group of fellows will earn up to $43,000 in living stipends and money for school for successfully completing 1,700 hours of service in communities throughout California. 

“Administering the AmeriCorps oath to over 300 California Climate Action Corps Fellows was an incredible honor, and I am excited to have played a role in kicking off their year of service. By embarking on a journey to mobilize communities through climate action, volunteer engagement, and educational service projects, these fellows will help reduce the impacts of climate change on the environment and improve the health and quality of life for Californians throughout the state,” said Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes. “It is inspiring to see so many young people committing themselves to taking meaningful action to protect our planet and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.”

The event highlighted California Volunteers’ commitment and momentum to scale up to tens of thousands of service members and volunteers in the coming years.  

“Climate change demands urgent action now to combat extreme heat with shade, drought with water-saving measures, and historical inequity through long-overdue investments. TreePeople will continue to take action through urban greening, environmental education, mountain restoration, and equity-based environmental programs. We are proud to be a partner for Community Climate Action Day ‘Put the River Back in Riverside’ as we make a positive environmental impact on both Martha McLean Park and Riverside,” said Cindy Montañez, Tree People CEO. 

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.  

California Volunteers, Office of the Governor has a service force larger than the Peace Corps and administers #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps and AmeriCorps California programs including #CaliforniansForAll College Corps. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to investing in programs like AmeriCorps and the recently announced American Climate Corps initiative doing pivotal work to address climate change. Through their service, AmeriCorps members play a key role in improving our environment and mitigating the effects of climate change, while gaining critical skills to prepare them for good jobs. I am grateful to all the CCAC Fellows leading this transformation in California and thrilled to join AmeriCorps members at the Community Climate Action Day,” said Sonali Nijhawan, Director of AmeriCorps State and National. 

Applications are now being accepted for the 7.5-month-long 2024 Climate Action Corps Fellowship, which begins in February. Learn more at ClimateActionCorps.ca.gov or sign up to find a local volunteer opportunity at CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov.   

INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH:

California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. Contact Katie Vavao, Katie.Vavao@CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov (916) 584-3620 

Livestream of Press Conference:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkv9CJGEBYA   

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 young Californians to engage in public service.