Affording College Through Service
The California Service Corps is the largest service force in the nation, and recruiting is underway to fill 10,000 fellowship slots with teenagers and young adults willing to serve their community while earning money for college.
The work can entail taking climate action, tutoring and mentoring students or striving to end food insecurity. San Francisco State University sophomore Ailin Torres, for example, chose helping kindergarten through fourth graders who are behind on their reading skills. She dedicates almost 15 hours a week to those kids during the academic year at three different elementary schools throughout the City.
Like other #CaliforniansForAll College Corps members, Ailin is a full-time student and is compensated $10,000 for her community work. Part of that is paid monthly to help with living expenses; the rest is put into an account that can be put towards tuition. Nearly 50 colleges and universities in our state participate in this corps program. Fellows are assigned to nonprofits, K-12 schools or public agencies, making a difference in hunger, education and the environment.
But the experience has brought Ailin so much more. She found purpose after feeling lost and alone her freshman year when she moved onto the San Francisco State campus from Sonoma County in the fall of 2022. Tutoring is not only fulfilling, but also beneficial for the youngsters needing extra academic guidance to catch them up with the rest of their class.
Ailin's story holds so much promise for any young person willing to work hard. In addition to the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, there are three other service programs. Length of commitment, college stipends and application deadlines vary:
• California Climate Action Corps: Designed for emerging climate leaders 18 years old and up, this program provides up to 11 months of hands-on experience in the climate sector. Opportunities are focused on urban greening, organic waste and edible food recovery, and wildfire resiliency. Fellows earn a living allowance, receive training, earn certifications and build professional skills while helping tackle our state's most pressing environmental issues.
• #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps: Members are 16 to 30 years old who are from underserved communities. They gain on-the-job experience with public agencies and nonprofits in participating cities and counties. Their focus is on projects that support COVID-19 recovery, address food insecurity and tackle climate issues. Fellows receive a living wage, essential wrap-around services and other benefits to help ensure both their short- and long-term success as they help the community.
• AmeriCorps California: Adults 18 and up from all backgrounds serve anywhere from two to 12 months in nonprofits, public agencies and educational institutions. They set out to improve educational outcomes, protect the environment, prepare for and recover from disasters and advance equitable health outcomes. As this leadership experience will boost resumes, corps members receive a living allowance, money for college and other benefits.
Over the coming year, fellows will serve nearly five million hours! Plus, California communities will reap the benefits of their service.
If you know a young person who is looking to make a difference in our state while earning money for college, tell them about the California Service Corps (californiavolunteers.ca.gov/california-service-corps/). We need to prepare our leaders of tomorrow.
Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the west side of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City as well as part of South San Francisco.
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