Los Angeles intern urges recent graduates, college students to volunteer after fires

An intern with the City of Los Angeles' Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity said during public comments that recent fires prompted them to volunteer at a YMCA and a local food bank and urged recent graduates and college students to give time and pursue city job experience.

The intern, identified only by role during the meeting, said: "I currently serve as an intern for the city of Los Angeles under the mayor's office of economic opportunities. 1 of my main priorities in the role that I currently have is to help the youth find jobs for them to have their first experience and being able to get experiences within the city. With these recent fires, we got a call to actions, and I was able to give my time and be able to help my community. Regardless where we come from, all Angelenos are able to come together from all different walks of life. I was able to serve at the YMCA and the food bank, packaged fruits, vegetables."

She later said: "I didn't know how much the impact of the food bank was until I actually was in the position to be able to to pack those oranges, pack those onions, and see the great impact we have on our community. And so I encourage all recent graduates, current college students to come out of their comfort zone and give their time and give their service."

The remarks combined three themes: the intern's work to connect youth with first-time job experiences through the Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity, direct volunteer service after recent fires at a YMCA and a local food bank, and a call for peers — specifically recent graduates and college students — to volunteer. The speaker described hands-on tasks including packaging fruits and vegetables and packing oranges and onions at the food bank.

No formal action or directive followed the comment; it was made during the meeting's public-comment period and served as an appeal to peers and city stakeholders to increase volunteer participation.