Benefitting from funding through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act in the summer of 2009, WCCS joined with the County of Sonoma, Sonoma County Water Agency and five other nonprofit agencies to provide summer jobs for more than 300 low-income young people.
This highly successful Program continues in 2010 through a combination of federal funding and community support. The majority of the program is funded through WIA and the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund (ARRA funds). The Sonoma County Water Agency provided additional funding once again; Kaiser Permanente, Exchange Bank and the North Bay Labor Council contributed to the program; tools used in the projects were purchased last year, thanks to the discounts given to the program by Friedman’s Home Improvement.
This year’s County-wide program includes WCCS, Petaluma People Services Center, Social Advocates for Youth, the Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship, and Sonoma County Adult and Youth Development. The agencies hire, train and administer paychecks for a total of 175 youth workers. Crew members are paid $8.00 an hour, while assistant crew leaders can make $9.50 an hour.
WCCS’ host employment sites include the Water Agency, Regional Parks, Russian Riverkeeper Stewardship Park, and Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods.
Crews work with environmental and conservation-related agencies from around the county on projects ranging from restoration and maintenance of local streams to beach clean ups and trail building. Crew members participate in an environmental education program, receive job-readiness training, and receive a lifetime subscription to KUDER, an online career assessment program.
Take a look at our workers in action: 2010 Summer Jobs Photos
