Conservation Corps of Long Beach highlights local jobs, training and disaster response in Signal Hill

Representatives of the Conservation Corps of Long Beach presented to the Signal Hill City Council about the corps' local work and youth job-training program.

Deputy Director David Saul said the corps is one of 14 state-certified conservation corps programs and runs a one-year job-development and vocational-training program for 18–26-year-olds. "We pair that with wraparound holistic services to make sure that everybody can come to work their best selves," Saul said, describing vocational training in urban greening, restoration and disaster response.

Saul and Javier Valladares, introduced by staff as the corps' director of projects, described local services the corps provides in Signal Hill: litter and trash collection, graffiti removal at bus stops, weekly corridor cleaning along Willow Street and Cherry Corridor, and tree-right-of-way work in partnership with city staff. Valladares noted crews also remove bulky items encountered on routes and collect statistics on trash volume and weight to document results.

Saul said corps members have responded to wildfire debris flows and to hurricane disaster responses in Florida and North Carolina as part of broader training experiences, and highlighted the program's success in advancing participants into city jobs and other careers. He said the corps' status as a state-certified local conservation corps may yield preference points when cities apply for Prop 4 climate-bond dollars if they partner with their local conservation corps.

Council members thanked the corps representatives and noted instances where former corps members have gone on to city employment or other public-service roles. The presentation emphasized both local maintenance benefits and workforce-development outcomes.

Next steps: city staff and the corps indicated continued partnership and potential joint work on applications for climate-bond funds.