Conservation Corps Will Conduct Green Job Training

Kurt Helin
Gazettes.com
Jun 18, 2009

The Long Beach Conservation Corps — the organization that helps train at-risk youth for the workforce — is going green.

Last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors announced it will give a grant of $550,000 to the Conservation Corps for green job training.

The Corps will set up a new training program that will focus on recycling, resource conservation and drought-resistant landscaping, as well as energy conservation.

“This grant brings two of my most important issues together — sustainability and vocational training to young Long Beach residents,” said Mayor Bob Foster. “I’m looking forward to seeing these young people graduate from the program and enter the green work force.”

The Conservation Corp’s program was one of a handful of programs selected from applications sent in from all across the nation for what are essentially green block grants. The money for the grants comes from the Wal-Mart Foundation.

The Conservation Corps already is a fixture in Long Beach. The organization helps train at-risk youth for entry into the job force. This is a paying job for the youth while they are learning a work ethic, some basic work skills and an education. The goal is to raise the self-esteem of these youth and give them skills that would keep them out of gangs and other potential trouble. There are both after-school programs at a number of middle schools and programs to prepare older youth directly for the workforce.

And now, an expanded green jobs program.

The Conservation Corps has contracts to do some cleanup work on the streets of Belmont Shore, as well as other jobs in the city.

Representatives from the Conference of Mayors said in a released statement that what they liked most about this new green jobs program was that it was thinking long-term — about both the environment and people. It also is something that could be replicated in other cities because it is a fairly simple, straightforward approach, they said.

To learn more about the Conservation Corps, log on to www.cclb-corps.org.