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Our Mission
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our MISSION IS TO RAISE SELF-ESTEEM,
DEVELOP BASIC WORK SKILLS, WORK ETHICS, AND EDUCATION, AND PROMOTE
TEAMWORK FOR long beach AREA AT-RISK-YOUTH THROUGH A COMBINATION OF
WORK, CONSERVATION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
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Resources:
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CALENDAR |
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PARTNERS |
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CORPSMEMBERS |
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EVENTS |
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The History
Service and Conservation Corps
Launched in California in 1976, corps are state and local
programs that engage primarily youth and young adults (ages 16-25)
in full-time community service, training and educational
activities. Corps are heirs to the tremendous legacy of the
Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression-era program that engaged
six million young men in conservation work. From 1933-42,
President Roosevelt's "CCC boys" dramatically improved the
nation's public lands, while also receiving food, shelter,
education and a precious $30-a-month stipend that literally saved
many of their families from hunger in tough times. Like the
legendary CCC of the '30s, today's corps are a proven strategy for
giving young men and women the chance to change their communities,
their own lives and those of their families through service.
Today, the nation’s 118 corps operate in multiple communities
across 31 states and the District of Columbia. In 2002, they
enrolled over 24,000 young people who provided
their communities with 18.3 million hours of service
in year-round and summer programs. These corps mobilized
110,000 community volunteers who contributed an
additional 1.8 million hours of service.
The majority of corpsmembers come to the corps looking for a
second chance to succeed in life. Guided by adult leaders, who
serve as mentors and role models as well as technical trainers and
supervisors, crews of 8-12 corpsmembers carry out a wide range of
conservation, urban infrastructure improvement and human service
projects. In return for their efforts to restore and strengthen
their communities, corpsmembers receive: 1) a living allowance; 2)
classroom training to improve basic competencies and, if
necessary, to secure a GED or high school diploma; 3) experiential
and environmental service-learning based education; 4) generic and
technical skills training; 5) a wide range of supportive services;
and 6) in many cases, an AmeriCorps post-service educational
award.
In short, corps are amazingly versatile, cost-effective programs
that allow young people to accomplish important conservation,
community restoration and human service projects, while also
developing employment and citizenship skills. Indeed, a rigorous
multi-site control group evaluation, conducted by Abt
Associates/Brandeis University and funded by the Corporation for
National and Community Service, underscored the value of corps for
communities and participants. The report,
"YOUTH CORPS: Promising Strategies for Young People and Their
Communities," is available on this website.
Unlike the original CCC, corps are state and local programs
that have matured without a dedicated source of Federal funds. As
a result, corps became entrepreneurial organizations, skilled at
accessing resources. In 2002, corps budgets totaled $338 million
nationwide; 26% derived from a variety of Federal sources; the
balance came from state, county and municipal appropriations,
foundation and corporate grants and considerable "sponsored
projects" or fee-for-service revenue acquired through contracts
with public and private agencies.
Unfortunately, state and local budget deficits have placed
corps in jeopardy, with dramatic budget reductions or outright
abolishment. NASCC is working to gain federal agency support,
allowing corps to complete much needed projects on public lands
while also preparing young men and women for responsible,
productive lives.
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