Corps Connection Newsletter - July 2020

Sequoia Community Corps

CORPS CONNECTION SCC’S COVID-19 RESPONSE EFFORTS Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sequoia Community Corps (SCC) responded to the call of action and rolled up their sleeves to serve communities across Tulare County and surrounding areas. The SCC has engaged in multiple response efforts during the pandemic, especially helping to meet the needs of local senior citizens. To ensure local senior citizens were equipped with meals and resources during these critical times, corpsmembers helped distribute more than 27,000 meals to 1,250 local senior citizens since March 2020. Handouts on nutritional education, proper recycling techniques, and how to complete the 2020 U.S. Census were also distributed to senior citizens by the Corps.

In addition to assisting Senior Services, corpsmembers continued disinfecting CSET facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. They assembled more than 1,000 application packets for low-income families seeking energy utility assistance and received an average of 80 calls a day for energy or weatherization services. These examples demonstrate the commitment and pride corpsmembers embrace to meet community needs.

SCC PUBLIC WORKS CREW BUILDS SAFER SIDEWALKS IN DINUBA The SCC Public Works (PW) crews are working on a Safe Routes to School project in the neighborhood east of Dinuba High School funded by the California Conservation Corps’ Active Transportation Program and the City of Dinuba.

Through the project, corpsmembers are building ADA compliant sidewalks and curb ramps to be safe and accessible for people with disabilities. Sidewalks and curb ramps will connect residential neighborhoods to three schools, a greatly used City park, and numerous commercial destinations and public facilities.

Since the start of the project in March 2020, the SCC PW crew has managed construction despite the challenges of COVID-19. The crew supervisors and eight corpsmembers take on the daily construction project all while taking safety precautions against COVID-19. Corpsmembers gain knowledge and experience of construction including the process of grading and setting areas of concrete. Through similar PW projects, corpsmembers learned how to install solar lights, electrical hookups, and benches. Corpsmember Christian Torres recently joined the corps and shared the following about his experience with the project: “I get up really early, work hard, and try my best in what I do. I never knew how to form a sidewalk and now I do. I hope to learn more about construction - pouring concrete and leveling it out - to one day work on my own house with what I’ve learned.” - Christian Torres VOLUME 22 - JULY 2020

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Sequoia Community Corps

CORPS CONNECTION CORPS ALUMNUS PAYS IT FORWARD, DEDICATING OVER TWO DECADES OF SERVICE Marcos Molina has dedicated more than two decades to the SCC and has been honored for his commitment to service, civic engagement, and achievements as Corpsmember of the Year in 2008 and CSET Employee of the Year in 2019. Through the SCC, Marcos was able to achieve his educational goals and gain valuable work experience in the trades of construction, weatherization, and plumbing. He became a certified construction trades trainer in which he taught corpsmembers how to operate construction equipment.

Over the years Marcos has contributed to multiple local emergency relief efforts. For instance, he installed water pipes and meters in East Porterville during the state’s emergency drought and provided construction assistance when a local creek overflowed. During the coronavirus pandemic, he’s constructing safer and ADA compliant sidewalks in Dinuba. “You have to be the backbone to the community,” Marcos stated when asked about serving the community during a crisis. Marcos is thankful for the life changing opportunities provided by CSET’s SCC and looks forward to mentoring the next generation of corpsmembers for the many years to come.

“The Corps changes lives. You either take it and run with it or put your head down and walk away. I try to help corpsmembers as much as I can, to make sure they are headed in the right direction because I remember that’s how they were with me. If it helped me, the Corps can help them.” - Marcos Molina

JMCS RESUMES CLASSES THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING The John Muir Charter School ( JMCS) has adapted to the unforeseen crisis of COVID-19. JMCS incorporated major changes to the structure of their schools to meet health and safety guidelines for their faculty and students. Classes have resumed through distance learning and virtual check-ins are implemented weekly to connect students and teachers. Lead Teacher Mrs. Wingart shared that she and fellow faculty continue to be available to their students through several virtual options. She expressed the following about how students remain resilient through the increased challenges of the pandemic and how their involvement with the SCC has contributed to their support system during this difficult time:

JMCS Lead Teacher Mrs. Wingart

“We are so proud of the students who overcome their personal barriers to continue toward their educational and career goals in order to make a better life for themselves. We are also very thankful that many students are enrolled in the Corps program enabling them to receive beneficial, paid training, as this also makes a difference to their lives. This is not the new normal, it is the new temporary, and we are all looking forward to getting back to our regular schedule soon!”

CRV RECYCLING SERVICES UPDATES Due to COVID-19, the SCC’s Department of Recycling (DOR) faced multiple challenges with the closures of national parks, local businesses, schools, and cancelation of annual community events.

With a temporary closure of DOR’s Legacy CRV recycling center due to the pandemic, it altered how the DOR crew conducted litter abatement and recycling services. For instance, a curbside pickup service was implemented to help collect and recycle e-waste from residential homes and local businesses. Additionally, Recycling Education presentations were presented virtually through zoom.

The Legacy CRV recycling center reopened and resumed recycling collection services in June. Recycling services are available Tuesday - Saturday from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM at Legacy Buy-Back Center in Visalia (10443 Legacy Street). For more information on CRV recycling, please contact Anthony DeLeon at (559) 736-2036. For more information on e-waste and to schedule a pick-up, please contact us at (559) 667-3115.

ABOUT THE SEQUOIA COMMUNITY CORPS The Sequoia Community Corps (SCC) offers vocational training in the trades of weatherization, urban forestry, conservation education, and recycling, including the recycling of CRV beverage containers, e-waste, used oil, and waste tires. SCC has successfully operated in Tulare and Kings Counties for the past 33 years, providing more than 4,000 young adults with valuable job training, educational opportunities, leadership, and environmental awareness through community conservation projects. The Corps Connection is published quarterly by the Sequoia Community Corps. You may stay connected with the Sequoia Community Corps at:

(559) 732-4194

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www.cset.org/sequoia-community-corps