Dear Friend of the Corps,

I hope you’ve found some time this month to recharge and enjoy the last days of summer. As vacations wind down and students return to school, it’s a natural moment to reflect on all that’s happened over the past few months.

We are especially grateful for the site visits from our partners and elected officials—scroll down to see a few highlights. I also invite you to take a moment to watch our fire mitigation video, featured below.

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for a busy and exciting fall, and we can’t wait to be out in the community and connect with you. More on that soon.

In gratitude and hope,

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Fire Fuel Reduction in Calabasas

Please take a moment to watch our video highlighting a fire fuel reduction crew at work in Calabasas.

Our West Valley Corpsmembers, in partnership with the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA), are clearing dry brush on a hillside to help reduce the risk of future wildfires spreading through the area.

This effort is part of a larger project focused on reducing fire fuel in high-risk zones along the 101 Freeway in the West San Fernando Valley. The Thousand Oaks Acorn recently published a great article about this project—we encourage you to give it a quick read. Click here to read their article.

A big thank you to our amazing Corpsmembers and staff for their dedication, working tirelessly in the summer heat of the San Fernando Valley to keep Los Angeles County safe. We’re proud to play a role in protecting our local environment and communities from wildfires. After the Eaton and Palisades Fires this past January, it’s clear this work is more important—and impactful—than ever.

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Site Visits with Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, and Assemblywoman Sade Elhawary

Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez visited our sidewalk repair crew in the San Fernando Valley. Her office created a fantastic video showcasing the crew and our partnership with her—click here to watch it on Instagram.

She launched and funded this sidewalk repair initiative, which not only addresses the critical need for safe sidewalks in the San Fernando Valley but also provides young adults with valuable job training and career skills.

Through this program, Corpsmembers gain hands-on experience in the concrete industry, opening the door to future employment opportunities with the City and private contractors.

Our CEO, Wendy Butts visited Loma Alta Park earlier this month and met with LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and LA County Parks Director Norma Garcia-Gonzalez. Recently, our Corpsmembers worked alongside volunteers across Los Angeles County to help restore Loma Alta park for the residents of Altadena.

We discussed ongoing efforts to restore the habitat and parks impacted by the Eaton Fire and we are excited to build on our partnership with the Supervisor.

Assemblymember Sade Elhawary visited the Russell Kantor Center in South LA and spoke with our CEO Wendy Butts and Sr. Program Director Robert Skillman about the importance of creating opportunities for young adults and building a cleaner, greener city for everyone.

During her visit, the Assemblywoman toured the classrooms at this historic site, where young adult students in the LA Education Corps are working toward their high school diplomas and building brighter futures.

We’re grateful for the Assemblymember’s support in our mission to create equitable opportunities for young people to grow, build resilience, and make a positive impact in their communities through work, education, and support.

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Corpsmembers Working in the Sequoia National Forest

Recently, a group of Corpsmembers spent 10 days off the grid in Sequoia National Forest, working to refurbish a firebreak trail that firefighters and first responders can use to combat future wildfires.

They cleared fallen trees and removed brush that could block emergency access. This work is vital to protecting our National Forests and the surrounding communities. At the same time our Corpsmembers are gaining valuable skills that can lead to environmental careers – including becoming a Wildland Firefighter.

This project is part of a larger partnership with the USDA Forest Service. Another crew of Corpsmembers will head out there in about a month, and we’re excited to keep you updated on their progress.

Click Here to View More Photos on Instagram

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Meet Our Corpsmember Memo

Click here to watch the video about Corpsmember Guillermo, we call him Memo!

Memo grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, he joined the Corps to keep growing, advance in life and his career, work on himself and make LA a better place. Memo shares that he hopes to make a difference in the world and in his community—through his own self-improvement and the environmental work he’s doing at the Corps. He recently joined the Corps, and we’re so excited to see what the future holds for him!

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