LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Cal State LA has been selected to participate in the new statewide #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program that aims to engage undergraduate students in solving problems in their communities throughout California. Cal State LA will lead a regional consortium of local colleges and universities that will pair students with community-based organizations to address urgent community needs in the eastern region of Los Angeles County.
Cal State LA is one of 45 colleges and universities that were chosen to implement the new statewide service program, which was announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom during a Jan. 18 news conference.
“We are proud to partner with the governor’s office to launch this historic college service program,” said Cal State LA President William A. Covino. “Through our participation in the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, our students will be able to make significant contributions to advancing the public good in their communities.”
Cal State LA will launch the East Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Regional Consortium through #CaliforniansForAll College Corps in partnership with Cal Poly Pomona, East Los Angeles College, and Rio Hondo College.
The consortium will offer meaningful civic and community engagement opportunities to at least 200 low-to-moderate income students, helping to reduce their college debt through financial support while addressing key challenges facing some of the most underserved communities in the eastern region of Los Angeles County. Students will focus on pressing issues in K-12 education, climate action, and COVID-19 recovery (including food insecurity).
“Today is a historic day in California. The Governor, alongside the leaders of the world’s top higher education systems, offered a monumental proposal to the next generation of Californians—if you step up to serve your community, we’ll help you pay for college,” said Josh Fryday, California’s chief service officer.
Modeled after the California Volunteers’ pilot Civic Action Fellowship program, the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program aims to engage students across the state in solving problems in their communities, while learning key skills that will advance their own academic and career success.
Cal State LA was one of eight universities selected to participate in the two-year AmeriCorps Civic Action Fellowship pilot program. Thirty-three students served with 11 community-based organizations in the Southeast Los Angeles corridor. Each fellow provided 675 hours of service to the partner organizations, working on a range of issues, including education, health care, climate action, and basic needs.
By engaging college students in community service, the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps aims to build the next generation of civic leaders, while also helping students graduate college on time and with less debt.
Students who complete a year of service, in partnership with AmeriCorps, will receive $10,000 towards their education, while gaining valuable experience serving in their communities.
Cal State LA’s ethic of engagement and service for the public good aligns with the goals of the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps. Cal State LA is dedicated to enriching the economic and social vitality of communities across the region.
“Through the East Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Regional Consortium, Cal State LA, alongside our higher education partners, will deepen our long-standing collaborations with nonprofit organizations in the eastern region of Los Angeles County,” said Cal State LA Executive Vice President and Provost Jose A. Gomez. “We look forward to continuing to work together to serve our communities through the governor’s groundbreaking college service program.”
Learn more: https://www.calstatela.edu/
