Throughout my service term with the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District through the California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) program, I’ve had the privilege to grow and develop as both an employee and a person. Over the past year, I had the opportunity to join the RCD team and partake in several environmental education programs, create and foster partnerships, and provide program support to the many projects RCD staff have been working diligently on. 

Soon after the fellowship began, I was introduced to a few partner nonprofit organizations working adjacent to the resource conservation district, these being the Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center and New Leaf Collaborative. Following extremely valuable experiences with those organizations, the RCD’s education team was formed, including members of the RCD staff and the CCAC fellows. The team’s environmental education focus was to bring California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Trout in the Classroom program to local schools where we developed curriculum- including activities and field trips- to engage students in learning about the real life struggles our native fish species face today. 

The California Climate Action Corps program provided great benefits to the RCD and the greater Contra Costa community. Beyond environmental education, I provided programmatic support to the RCD staff and their projects. This included assisting with planting and irrigation work at several community gardens in historically marginalized areas, assisting the Wildfire program with educational resources, field trips, and Firewise community organizing, and many education and outreach tabling opportunities at various community events. 

In reflection, by joining the RCD team through the CCAC program, I’ve truly been inspired to continue doing what I can to help my local community. This really shines through my personal involvement in multiple community organizations, as I am now a board member of my local Firewise community (Clark Road Firewise) and am involved as Finance Chair of the Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center. As a resident of Contra Costa County and a Bay Area native, I’m extremely grateful for both CCAC and the RCD, for taking a chance on me and for allowing me to follow my passions and interests in conservation, environmentalism, and helping make my home a better place for all.