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California Service Corps seeks 10,000 paid public‑service positions statewide
Summary
State officials and program alumni promoted the California Service Corps at Balboa Park, saying the program offers paid training and pathways to public‑service careers; organizers said stipends and scholarships are available and that past cohorts have led to full‑time public employment for some participants.
California Service Corps organizers said they are recruiting 10,000 people across California for paid positions aimed at community priorities such as climate change response, education and disaster relief.
The announcement was featured in a Balboa Park event covered by CBS 8, where Joshua Garcia, a San Diego firefighter and program alumnus, described the program as a turning point for his career. "I knew I had found the right career and the right community I was looking for," Garcia said. "I'm also proud to be the first firefighter in my family... It means everything to be able to help out and give back to the very community that raised me."
Why it matters: Organizers say the program combines on‑the‑job training with pay and education support intended to lower barriers to public‑service careers, particularly for young people, veterans and students. Mayor Todd Gloria said that since 2022 about 1,400 young people have completed the city's employ‑and‑empower internship program under the California Service Corps umbrella, and that 14% of those participants have moved into full‑time public‑service jobs such as lifeguards, deputy city attorneys and library assistants.
At the event, Josh Friday, chief service officer for the state of California, described the program's recruitment goals and target participants. "We're looking for veterans and their spouses who are seeking their next mission in life. We're looking for students who need help paying for school. We're looking for young people who are eager to launch their career in important areas of education and environment and services for our city," Friday said.
CBS 8 reporter Kelly Hassettall said participants can receive stipends and scholarships designed to support training and education; she said the program offers stipends of up to $33,000 and up to $10,000 in scholarships for participants who complete the program. Organizers emphasized the combination of pay, training and volunteer work as a pathway into public service rather than an immediate guarantee of a permanent job.
Organizers demonstrated the work at Balboa Park by clearing brush and palm fronds in Palm Canyon, describing the work as an example of community benefit from the program. The recruitment drive is statewide and organizers encouraged interested people to seek more information through CBS 8's coverage and the program's channels.
Details that were stated at the event but not specified in full during the broadcast include the precise breakdown of funding sources for stipends, the timeline for hiring the 10,000 positions and whether every placement leads to a permanent government job. The program was described as open to people of all ages and especially effective for younger participants seeking paid training and a path into public service.
