San Jose Conservation Corps outlines workforce and creek-cleanup services to East Palo Alto council

San Jose Conservation Corps representatives presented to the East Palo Alto City Council on programs that combine paid job training, environmental stewardship and zero-waste services and offered to partner on local creek cleanups and youth workforce projects.

Elena Trejo, community engagement manager, described the Corps as an organization that runs an "earn-while-you-learn" job-training program for young adults and a WASC-accredited high-school completion program. Rob Walker, vice president of social enterprise, highlighted hands-on training and social-enterprise work, saying the organization builds tiny homes as part of its construction training: "we build tiny homes," Walker said, describing pre-apprenticeship pathways and contracts the Corps holds with jurisdictions for habitat management and flood response.

The presenters noted the Corps provides certifications and support services — including transportation assistance, hygiene kits and transitional tiny-home housing — and can supply crews for creek cleanup, vegetation management and emergency sandbagging. Walker said much of the Corps' natural-resource work is funded by state sources and grants, and that some services can be provided at low or no cost to jurisdictions through existing funding.

Councilmembers expressed appreciation for the Corps' prior work in East Palo Alto (including sandbagging during flood risk) and interest in future collaboration on youth programming such as a possible city youth commission and on projects in the Baylands and creek areas. The council asked staff to explore potential partnership arrangements and opportunities for the Corps to support local job training and environmental projects.

The presentation concluded with council praise for the Corps' role in training and placing young people into jobs and for offering low-cost services that local governments can use for creek maintenance and zero-waste events.