POSITION LOCATION:

Beverly Hills, California (Mountain Team) & El Monte, California (Urban Team)

TERM OF SERVICE:

Full-time; serve 1700+ hours from September 16, 2024 - August 14, 2025

TIME COMMITMENT:

Serve 40 hours per week, with Urban Forestry Team hours Tuesday — Saturday, approximately 7:00am - 4:00pm and Mountain Forestry Team hours Wednesday — Saturday approximately 6:30am - 5:00pm

ABOUT CALIFORNIA CLIMATE ACTION CORPS (CCAC):

California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) is a Governorʼs initiative national service program led by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor and implemented by Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) dedicated to advancing climate actions that engage community members, cultivate change, and leave a lasting impact.

CCAC is part of a larger statewide initiative to address the climate crisis by placing emerging leaders with public agencies, nonprofits, tribal communities, and educational institutions to mobilize communities through volunteer engagement, climate action, and education service projects focused on urban greening, organic waste and edible food recovery, and wildfire resiliency.

Selected Fellows will serve 1700+ hours as AmeriCorps members over approximately eleven months, supporting community volunteer engagement, climate action, or education projects in vulnerable communities across the state. CCAC meets Californians where they are and provides meaningful opportunities for everyone to take climate action. For more information, please visit: https://www.californiavolunteers.ca.gov/about-california-climate-action-corps

ABOUT HOST PARTNER SITE:

TreePeople, a pioneering nonprofit since 1973, leads the charge in nature-based solutions to Southern California's environmental challenges. Our mission unites communities to cultivate greener, cooler, and more water-secure environments while empowering youth-driven climate action. Specializing in equity-driven initiatives, we focus on environmental education, watershed coordination, urban forestry, wildlands restoration, and policy advocacy to create a sustainable future for all.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

TreePeople, one of California's largest independent environmental organizations, is dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace personal responsibility for nurturing a safe, healthy, enjoyable, and sustainable environment. With a team comprising educators, organizers, foresters, and thousands of trained volunteers, TreePeople leads the charge in mobilizing communities to collaborate towards achieving climate resilience. Over the past 5 decades, TreePeople has engaged more than 3 million individuals in planting and caring for over 3 million trees. Our primary objective is to actively engage and organize communities at the local level, throughout Los Angeles County, and beyond, catalyzing a transformative response to climate change and establishing a replicable global model for climate resiliency. TreePeople is seeking 8 Fellows for 2 teams who are passionate about the environment, urban greening, forestry, climate resilience, and environmental justice, particularly those from the communities we aim to serve. The Urban Forestry Team will be based out of El Monte, CA with projects spanning Los Angeles County, and the Mountain Forestry Team will be based out of Beverly Hills, CA with projects spanning the Angeles National Forest.

Urban Forestry Team duties include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct post-fire reforestation and habitat restoration efforts in designated areas, removing invasive species and flash fuels to preserve native plant ecosystem in urban environments
• Identify suitable sites for tree planting initiatives in urban areas, lead tree planting and maintenance activities, and monitor site progress to promote equitable tree canopy coverage

Mountain Forestry Team duties include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct post-fire reforestation and habitat restoration efforts in designated areas, removing invasive species and flash fuels to preserve native plant ecosystem in the Angeles National Forest
• Assist with seed collection, treatment, and propagation activities as needed

All Team duties include, but are not limited to:

• Recruit, coordinate, and support volunteers to assist with urban tree planting and care events and forest restoration to foster community engagement, raise awareness, and promote environmental stewardship
• Cultivate relationships with community members through effective communication, volunteer retention efforts, and event participation to encourage community engagement and sustain conservation efforts
• Track program data and analyze results to quantify climate impact
• Participation in training not to exceed 20% (340-hours) of total service hours
• Fellow duties will not include any prohibited or unallowable activities per 45 CFR § 2520.65
• Fellow duties will not supplant, duplicate, or displace staff as outlined in 45 CFR § 2540.100 (e)-(f)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Live in California by August 16, 2024
• Must be age 18 or older by September 16, 2024
• Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent
• Must be a US Citizen, US National, or lawful US resident to participate

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in Volunteer Engagement, Event Coordination, Community Outreach, Environmental Education, Field Experience, Home Hardening/ Defensible Space, Volunteer Management, Environmental Justice/ Equity, Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration, Event Planning, GIS / Mapping, and Data/ Quantitative Analysis. Other valuable contributions include:

• An interest in climate change mitigation, volunteerism, or public service
• Experience with outreach, education, training, or community behavior change
• Fundamental understanding of climate change science, environmental policies in California, and/or environmental priorities
• Excellent organizational, writing, interpersonal, and speaking skills

BENEFITS OF SERVICE:

Fellows with TreePeople will work on forest health resilience projects in Angeles National Forest and tree canopy equity initiatives in urban areas, gaining skills and hands-on experience in habitat restoration, volunteer coordination, community engagement, and environmental education. Fellows will receive supervision and training from experienced staff members and have the chance to earn certifications such as CPR/First Aid/AED. Other benefits include:

• Receive up to $33,000 stipend (before taxes) distributed evenly over the 11-month service term
• Earn up to $10,000 in education awards (before taxes and upon completion of 1700 hours)
• Participation in 170-340 hours of training and professional development
• Receive food assistance via CalFresh (for those eligible)
• Forbearance on existing qualifying student loans and interest payments accrued during the service term
• Minimum essential healthcare coverage
• Childcare assistance (for those eligible)

ABOUT BACR:

As the program implementation lead, Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) is responsible for the member's (Fellow's) recruitment and placement at the Host Partner Site listed above. BACR is the Implementing Agency that manages the Fellows' payroll and benefits. We cultivate an environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all employees and National Service members.

We are firmly committed to maintaining an atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. Therefore, we enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make decisions without regard to race, religion or religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.

Our management team is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this equal opportunity policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during a Fellow's term of service.

Please apply here →