California Volunteers is recruiting 10,000 people across California for paid positions in programs that address climate change, education, food insecurity and disaster response, organizers said at an event in Balboa Park in San Diego.

Organizers said the effort is part of the California service corps umbrella of programs, which includes local internship efforts such as the city of San Diego’s Employ and Empower internship program that provides on‑the‑job training alongside pay and school support.

The program seeks people from a wide range of backgrounds, including teachers and first responders, veterans and spouses, students and other young people pursuing careers in public service. "We are looking for veterans and their spouses who are seeking their next mission in life. We are looking for students who need help paying for school. We are looking for young people who are eager to launch their career in important areas of education and environment and services for our city," said Josh Friday, chief service officer of the State of California.

Joshua Garcia, a program alumnus who is now a San Diego firefighter, described how paid placements and training helped him pursue a career in public service. "I knew I had found the right career and the right community I was looking for. I'm also proud to be the first firefighter in my family," Garcia said.

According to Mayor Todd Gloria, since 2022 about 1,400 young people have gone through the same program that helped Garcia, and roughly 14% of those participants have gained full‑time public‑service jobs such as lifeguards, deputy city attorneys and library assistants, the mayor said.

The segment showed a group of participants working in Balboa Park clearing brush and palm fronds in Palm Canyon as an example of the kinds of community projects participants undertake. The program is open to people of all ages, but organizers said it has proven particularly useful for young people seeking paid training and a career pathway into public service.

The segment reported that program participants may receive financial support: a stipend of up to $33,000 and up to $10,000 in scholarships were cited in the broadcast; the segment did not specify eligibility rules or exact pay schedules for each program.

Organizers and speakers at the event urged interested people to consider the programs as a route into public service; specific application details and deadlines were not provided in the broadcast.