Dear Friend of the Corps,

As we wrap up 2025, I appreciate the chance to connect, and I’m reminded of how important it is to pause and reflect. For many, 2025 has brought significant challenges and hardships. Yet in moments of uncertainty, the Corps continues to stand strong with Los Angeles, just as we have for nearly 40 years, responding to emergencies, supporting communities, and helping our city heal and rebuild.

In trying times, it can be difficult to see the bright spots. But throughout this year, there have been powerful moments of progress, resilience, and hope. We are proud to share just a few of the impactful moments that remind us why our work matters and why this community continues to inspire us.

Below you’ll find 10 Moments That Defined 2025 at the Corps. A lot has happened this year, so we felt it was important to pause and recognize all the progress we achieved this year.

We are honored to be able to make a difference in Los Angeles and look forward to all that the future holds. Have a great holiday season and thanks for being a Friend of the Corps.  

In service,  

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10 Moments That Defined 2025 at the Corps

1. Wildfire Recovery

During the unprecedented and devastating fires at the start of the year, Corpsmembers and Staff stepped up for Los Angeles. From the first moments of the emergency, Corpsmembers took a hands-on approach to help displaced communities, by distributing food and resources to families, protecting our watershed from toxins, and restoring damaged trails and habitats.

Please visit our website to learn more about our wildfire recovery efforts: Wildfire Recovery

In addition to recovery work, the Corps has been proactively reducing future wildfire risks through critical work in areas such as the Sepulveda Basin and Calabasas. Though the path to full recovery is long, the Corps remains deeply committed to the future of Los Angeles, and we will continue doing everything we can to make our communities safer, more resilient, and more livable.

Please check out these two news pieces that highlight some of our wildfire recovery work:

PBS SoCal Video

Spectrum News: "LA Conservation Corps helping restore areas damaged by January wildfires"

2. Engagement with LA County Supervisors

We are proud to have collaborated with several Los Angeles County Supervisors throughout 2025. In May, Corpsmembers joined County Supervisor Holly Mitchell for the ribbon cutting of the Lennox Revitalization Site. Under the Supervisor’s direction, our Compton-based Corpsmembers worked hard to transform a vacant lot at 111th Place and Freeman Avenue into a vibrant community space. Click here to view the photo highlights from the ribbon cutting on Instagram.

In October, our East LA Crew attended the Pellissier Trailhead Groundbreaking Ceremony with Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. This ceremony commemorated the start of a long-awaited project that will connect the historic Pellissier Village, a small equestrian community in unincorporated Whittier, to the San Gabriel River. View the highlights from our groundbreaking with Supervisor Solis here.

We also honored Supervisor Kathryn Barger at our 2025 Luncheon. It was incredibly meaningful to highlight our recent work restoring Loma Alta Park in Altadena after the Eaton Fire.

3. LA Kings Hockey Clinic

In May, youth from our After School Program were visited by the LA Kings for a hockey clinic. Taking place at Normandie Elementary, the Kings taught students how to play street hockey through a variety of fun drills and games.

We are beyond grateful to the LA Kings for taking the time to create lasting memories with our After School Program students. It gave them the opportunity to get outside, stay active, and learn valuable new skills. We truly value all our wonderful partnerships and the positive impact they have on our youth.  

View more photos on instagram.

4. Collaboration with City Council Members

We have partnered with many Council Members and districts over the last year on a wide range of projects across Los Angeles.

We are proud to work with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who created our sidewalk repair initiative and visited our crews hard at work. This initiative not only addresses the critical need for sidewalk repair in the San Fernando Valley but also provides young adults with valuable job training and skills for their future careers.

We have also collaborated with Council President Harris-Dawson for a tree planting service day in South LA, Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado for graffiti abatement on the 6th Street Bridge in downtown Los Angeles, and Councilwoman Traci Park to restore natural landscapes impacted by the Palisades Fire.

Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and Conservation Corps Sidewalk Repair Program

NBC4 Clip: Graffiti Abatement with Councilwoman Jurado

Councilwoman Traci Park Visits our Crew in the Palisades

5. Career Fair at the Ford & Employer Coffee Talks

The Corps was proud to host several career-focused events with potential employers and our Corpsmembers this year.

Held at the Ford Theater, the Corpsmember Development team organized the first annual Corps Career Fair, and it was a huge success. We connected 94 Corpsmembers with 22 employers from a wide range of industries. Corpsmembers also had access to a professional headshot station to help enhance their LinkedIn profiles and online job applications. We are extremely grateful to the Ford Theater for helping make this event a reality.

Throughout the year, the Corpsmember Development team also organized Employer Coffee Talks to help connect our Corpsmembers with future careers they may be interested in pursuing. This quarterly event series provides valuable networking opportunities for young adults by connecting them directly with hiring professionals from diverse range of industries.

Click here to watch our video about the career fair at the Ford Theater.

6. Earth Day Visit from Corps Alum, Congresswoman Luz Rivas

This year on Earth Day, our West Valley site received a special visit from Congresswoman Luz Rivas, a former Clean & Green participant and the first Latina to represent California’s 29th Congressional District.

During her visit, Congresswoman Rivas spoke with our Corpsmembers, reflecting on her own time in the program and offering thoughtful guidance on how to make the most of the many opportunities the Corps provides. We are proud to see our Corps alumni thriving in diverse career paths, and we’re always grateful when different generations of Corpsmembers can come together to inspire one another.

Corps Alumni Spotlight - Congresswoman Luz Rivas - YouTube

7. Annual Luncheon - The Path Forward: Recovery, Resilience, Renewal

On May 21st, the Corps was joined by 400 community, business, and government leaders to celebrate its annual Luncheon. The theme for our 2025 Luncheon was “The Path Forward: Recovery, Resilience, Renewal”, in honor of the Corps’ recovery work following the wildfires in January.

The Luncheon honored several important members of the community who stepped up after the wildfires including Councilwoman Traci Park from CD 11, Supervisor Kathryn Barger from the 5th Supervisorial District, and Jake Levine and Andrew King from the Department of Angels. We were also honored to have Armando Quintero, Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, in attendance as our keynote speaker.

A huge thank you to all our sponsors who make this special event possible. We are so grateful to be able to come together as a community during our yearly Luncheon and look forward to continuing this tradition in years to come.

Click here to see more photo highlights from the 2025 Corps Luncheon on Instagram.

8. LA Education Corps Graduation Ceremony

In June, staff, Corpsmembers, and families gathered for the 2025 LA Education Corps graduation ceremony. Earning a high school diploma is a major milestone for many of our Corpsmembers.

Approximately 30% of the young adults who join our program do so without a high school diploma. For this reason, we are honored to be able to provide a space where Corpsmembers can further their education while also pursuing career goals and personal growth.

Congratulations to the class of 2025! We couldn’t be prouder of our graduated Corpsmembers, and we know they will go on to accomplish great things at the Corps and beyond.

Watch our 2025 High School Graduation Video

9. Tree Planting and Community Service Days

Throughout the year, the Corps plants and maintains thousands of trees. These tree-planting volunteer events offer a meaningful opportunity to bring together members of the LA community.

In October, we teamed up with LA Sanitation and Shade LA to plant 24 trees near Gates Street Elementary School in Lincoln Heights. One month later, in November, we joined forces with SoCalGas, the Kings Care Foundation, and the LA Kings for a tree planting service day along Hyde Park Boulevard in South LA. Thanks to the incredible volunteers who showed up, we were able to help clean the air, cool the streets, and strengthen the surrounding neighborhood.

At the Corps, we manage the entire tree-planting process from start to finish. Along with planting new trees, our crews cut concrete to make space for them, ensuring they have the room they need to thrive. Check out this video to see our urban greening process!

Our tree planting efforts are all part of the state-funded BeLeaf in Equity initiative under LA Sanitation & Environment, which works to expand street tree coverage in low-canopy, historically underserved communities. We’re proud to contribute to a greener, healthier Los Angeles one tree at a time.

Click here to watch CBS News' coverage from the SoCalGas and LA Kings Service Day.

10. Corpsmember Thanksgiving

On November 19th, 250 Corpsmembers, 138 staff, and several Board Members came together to celebrate our annual Corpsmember Thanksgiving. During this yearly tradition, staff show gratitude for the incredible work our Corpsmembers do daily through a day of recognition, delicious food, and raffle prizes.

Held at Loma Alta Park, a site Corpsmembers helped restore after the Eaton Fire, this year’s Thanksgiving celebration was especially meaningful. We were lucky enough to hear powerful remarks from three different speakers, beginning with our former CEO Wendy Butts. After her final address to the Corps, Simboa Wright, Vice President of SEIU Local 721, and Miguel Miranda, Vice President for Southern California at First Step Staffing, also shared insight and wisdom from their time as Corpsmembers.

We appreciate everyone that came together for our cherished annual tradition and are extremely grateful to our Corpsmembers who are improving their own lives while making Los Angeles a better place for everyone.

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