Dear Friend of the Corps,

Friday is my last day at the Corps. It has been an incredible honor to work for the Corps for 25 years—with more than 11 as Chief Executive Officer. I’m leaving with as much hope and excitement for the Corps’ future as I had when I first joined in 1998.

The Corps could not do this important work without the support of our government partners at the city, county, state, and federal levels. Thank you to everyone who has been a champion of the Corps. This gratitude also extends to our generous philanthropic supporters—your contributions make all the difference. To everyone who has supported our Corpsmembers, thank you!

The vital work of the Corps continues. And as I do each month in these updates, albeit for the last time, I’d like to share a few highlights and encourage you to read through to the end.

A few weeks ago, employees at the Corps gathered at the Grace E. Simons Lodge for an all-staff training focused on effective communications. With staff from all of our sites and offices in attendance, we were able to capture a photo arranged in a giant “40”, showcasing our communal excitement for the Corps’ 40th Anniversary that we're celebrating now as we approach our April 16th birthday.

In other news, we recently partnered with SoCalGas and the LA Kings to plant trees in South LA, attended a lunch and learn at Niagara Bottling HQ, worked with Mayor Bass to reduce fire fuel in the Sepulveda Basin, helped break ground with Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling on their historic new renovation, and teamed up with Supervisor Solis at the Pellissier Trailhead Groundbreaking Ceremony. You can read more about these projects below! In celebration and gratitude,

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SoCalGas x Kings Tree Planting

On November 12th, we collaborated with SoCalGas, the LA Kings, and the Kings Care Foundation to plant 24 trees along Hyde Park Boulevard in South LA.

It was an incredible day of teamwork, and there are many thanks to go around. A huge thank you to all the volunteers from SoCalGas and the LA Kings who came out to help plant trees—your time and effort make a big difference. A big thanks to Metro for your partnership—this tree planting wouldn’t have been possible without your support. We also want to thank City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and his team for helping make the volunteer day such a success.

Thanks to our collective efforts, this stretch of South LA will be greener! This tree planting is part of a larger effort each year in which the LA Conservation Corps plants and maintains thousands of trees across Los Angeles County.  

{View more photos on Instagram}

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Niagara Bottling Lunch and Learn

Ahead of America Recycles Day, a team from the Corps traveled to Niagara Bottling’s HQ in Diamond Bar to give a presentation on the importance of sustainability and recycling. Juan Alvarez, Senior Program Manager, spoke about the Corps’ recycling program, and Alex Lopez, Senior Program Director of Conservation Programs, shared an overview of our wildfire recovery and restoration work in Altadena and the Palisades.

Thank you to Niagara Bottling and Niagara Cares for your support, partnership, and for inviting the Corps to highlight our shared commitment to strengthening communities and protecting the environment.

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Pellissier Trailhead Groundbreaking Ceremony with Supervisor Hilda L. Solis

To kick off a long-anticipated project, our East LA crew recently joined LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis at the Pellissier Trailhead Groundbreaking Ceremony.  

This ceremony marked the start of an exciting project where Corpsmembers will help build a trailhead connecting the historic Pellissier Village — a small equestrian community in unincorporated Whittier — to the San Gabriel River, helping to keep the area’s traditions alive.

Located along the eastern bank of the San Gabriel River near San Jose Creek and the Rio Hondo River, the trailhead will offer direct access to the Schabarum-Skyline Trail, Blackwell Arena, and the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area Equestrian Center.

In unincorporated communities like Pellissier Village, equestrian life runs deep—it’s more than recreation; it’s a reflection of family heritage, community identity, and cultural tradition. The trailhead is expected to be completed by Fall 2026, strengthening that legacy for generations to come.

We are grateful for our various partners on this project, including LA Public Works, LA County Parks, and Supervisor Solis.  

{View more photos on Instagram}

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Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling Groundbreaking

Congratulations to Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling on the start of a major revitalization at their LA facility known as “The Ship.” We appreciate the invitation for community partners to join in the groundbreaking. Wendy Butts joined Mayor Karen Bass, local officials, and fellow community-based organizations to help kick off the renovation. This investment reflects a strong commitment to economic growth, job creation, and meaningful community partnership.

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Recent Events with Mayor Karen Bass

Recently, the Corps joined Mayor Karen Bass at two events - wildfire prevention initiatives at the Sepulveda Basin and for a tree planting event at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

In partnership with the Los Angeles Fire Department, LA County and Parks, the LA City Office of Community Beautification, LA Sanitation, Council District 6, and our community partner Chrysalis, we’re removing old, dry logs and branches that could become hazardous in the event of a fire. We’re also cleaning up litter and overgrown vegetation to help make the neighborhood safer for local residents and workers. In the future, the basin will be home to several Olympic venues. The work isn’t easy, but it makes a lasting difference in protecting our community and the natural spaces we cherish. Thank you to our Corpsmembers and staff for your dedication, and to all our collaborators in this effort—keep up the great work!

Also, in collaboration with the City, Mayor Bass and Corpsmembers came together to plant trees at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and its surrounding areas.  

We appreciate the Mayor’s support in our various initiatives, which help us build a greener and more resilient city.