CLEAN & GREEN

Youth Revitalize Communities: Clean & Green Program

The Clean & Green Program was created in 1988 to provide a first job experience to youth with an emphasis on the environment, conservation, and community service-focused work experiences throughout the city of LA. Today, most teens attend the Clean & Green Program during summer break, while other students attend at other times during the year from local non-traditional alternative high school programs, particularly Saito High School charter school, co-located at the South Los Angeles LA Corps site. Ultimately, students join the program to gain environmental work experience, build their skills and resume over a number of weeks or months.

What the Clean & Green Team Does

Both school-aged youth and alternative students (ranging in ages from 14 to 21) join the program and work at community beautification projects in all 15 LA City Council Districts, often earning their very first paycheck.

These hardworking Clean & Green Corpsmember crews help the community by:

• removing trash from neglected streets and alleys,
• removing unwanted graffiti,
• planting trees across the community,
• removing overgrown vegetation and supporting native plants, and
• hauling away garbage and bulky items that are often dumped in alleys and streets.

What Clean & Green Members Gain

This first job experience teaches Clean & Green Corpsmembers a solid work ethic and engages them in teamwork.

Clean & Green students also participate in the LA Corps Environmental Education field studies program, as well as leadership development through ropes courses and team-based physical challenges. These experiences aim to inspire them to become leaders in their communities and stewards of the environment.