Tessa Nicholas
Executive Director
A Year of Growth
FY25 was a year of meaningful growth and powerful progress for Civicorps. Through new land management contracts, expanded training programs, and deepened partnerships, we created more opportunities for our Corpsmembers to develop skills and build careers. In this report, you’ll meet two remarkable Corpsmembers whose journeys embody our mission’s impact.
We celebrate these successes amidst painful recognition that this year has been difficult on a national level for the Corps movement. With federal grants cancelled, environmental mitigation programs frozen and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts demonized, the chilling effect on our movement has been profound. Yet Civicorps remains steadfast in our commitment to working at the intersection of racial, economic and environmental justice.
We deeply believe that the Corps model is a solution to difficult times. With rapidly disappearing public funding, our most vulnerable communities lose access to vital opportunities and assistance. Civicorps is dedicated to delivering tangible results that serve our community with purpose and heart.
We invite you to join us in embracing this transformative mission. With your support, we can continue to expand opportunities, strengthen communities, and create lasting change.
In partnership,
Tessa Nicholas
Executive Director
Civicorps at a Glance
Total Number of Young People Served
Total Number of Paid Corpsmember and Intern hours
Total Wages Earned by Corpsmembers and Interns
Hours of Paid Workshops and Trainings
Hours of 1:1 Career Counseling
Hours of Case Counseling
Where We Work
Our Corpsmembers work on projects for major local organizations, gaining paid job training and experience with potential future employers.
Thank you to our FY25 project sponsors: Alameda County Flood Control, California Conservation Corps/CDFA, City of Oakland, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Contra Costa County Flood Control, Contra Costa Water District, East Bay Municipal Utility District, East Bay Regional Park District, Mount Diablo State Park, Port of Oakland, Zone 7 Water District.
Hassan Johnson’s Got His Eye on the Prize
Young and ambitious, this talented Recycling Intern is heading for Waste Management
“I want to inspire, I want to show people—you could be young, you could be successful, you don’t have to wait long.”
—Hassan Johnson
Expansion in Contra Costa County
With the launch of our Pittsburg job training site in 2022, Civicorps became the only paid conservation job training program for young adults in Contra Costa County. Our long-term success in this region depends on a multi pronged strategy, including diversifying funding sources and cultivating strong local partnerships.
With major support from the Walter S. Johnson Foundation and new land management contracts, FY25 saw us expand our reach and serve more local youth. Key highlights include:
- Securing a new wildfire mitigation contract with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
- Initiating a vegetation management contract with Contra Costa Flood Control
- Hiring a second crew of Corpsmembers at our Pittsburg site
Together with public works agencies across the two counties we serve, we continue to build a resilient California through a skilled, diverse workforce of young conservation leaders.
Corpsmember Edward at work in Mt. Diablo State Park
Expanded Training Opportunities
This year, we launched two new full-time internships in partnership with key funders:
- The State Coastal Conservancy supported a year-long internship focused on enhancing public access and restoring habitats across the bay, coast, ridgetops, and urban open spaces.
- Parks California’s Career Pathways grant funded a Facilities Maintenance Internship at Mt. Diablo State Park, where a Corpsmember gained hands-on experience in carpentry, painting, plumbing, roofing, masonry, and more.
Additionally, Parks California funded advanced skills training at Mt. Diablo for a rotating crew of Corpsmembers, expanding their expertise in roofing, window glazing, bricklaying, and fence construction. Nationally, Tommy Kauffman—the inaugural Mt. Diablo Facilities Maintenance Intern—was named a 2025 National Corpsmember of the Year by The Corps Network. Selected from 22,000 corpsmembers nationwide, this prestigious award recognizes his leadership, growth, and community impact, highlighting the transformative power of our programs.
National Corpsmember of the Year
Tommy Kauffman
“To my fellow Corpsmembers and those considering joining, I encourage you to embrace the journey. The path may be challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable. Through hard work, determination, and the support of our community, we can achieve great things.”
– Tommy Kauffman
Suledy Montes Aims High
An exceptional conservation intern racks up experiences and achieves new heights
“The Corps really helped me figure out a few new paths for myself and helped me reignite a flame that I had inside myself.”
—Suledy Montes
Civicorps is dedicated to preparing young adults for meaningful careers by providing the skills and experience they need to succeed. Recognizing the growing opportunities in forestry and fire support, we partnered with the Watershed Research and Training Center (WRTC), Healthy Forest Alliance, and Southern Sierra Fire Training to deliver two multi-week wildfire training sessions—made possible by funding from Cal-FIRE, the California Natural Resources Agency, and WRTC.
Many of our Corpsmembers face barriers to entering the wildfire workforce, lacking access to certifications and clear career pathways. This program fills those gaps, equipping them with critical skills, hands-on experience, and the confidence to pursue careers in a sector facing serious workforce shortages.
Key outcomes:
- 32 Corpsmembers earned 311 certifications including Wildland Firefighting, Fire Behavior and Incident Command System
- 28 earned S-212 Advanced Chainsaw Training certification
- 5 Corpsmembers transitioned into fuels management jobs
- 100% said the training was valuable to their professional development
Building on this success, we look forward to expanding training opportunities to empower more young adults, strengthen California’s wildfire response, and foster a diverse, skilled workforce ready to meet the challenges ahead.
“Not only is there a place for them, but there are jobs that they’re already qualified for waiting for them in fire and wild fire resilience.”
— Rich Carvalho, Healthy Forest Alliance
Protecting Parks, Building Futures
At Civicorps, we believe that opportunity changes everything—and our partnership with Mt. Diablo State Park is a superb example. Each year, Corpsmembers roll up their sleeves and take on vital projects that protect the park: reducing wildfire risk, clearing trails, restoring habitats, and removing invasive species. Their work is more than service—it’s training for future careers they may have never imagined.
Thanks to this notable partnership, young adults gain hands-on skills, industry certifications, and the confidence to step into careers in conservation and public service.
This year, we’ve expanded that impact even further by adding advanced technical skills training and a year-long, full-time internship — opening doors to stable, family-sustaining careers. For many Corpsmembers, this is their first glimpse into a professional world where they belong, thrive, and lead.
The partnership is just as valuable to Mt. Diablo State Park, which benefits from the extra hands our Corpsmembers bring to critical wildfire prevention work, helping to protect both the land and the surrounding communities.
“To be able to have a crew every day with us is a gamechanger.” — Shane Cato, Mt. Diablo State Park Fuel Crew Lead
New Programs and Initiatives
Corpsmember Amari Allen mulching around tree
Urban Forestry and Arboriculture
This year, Civicorps launched a new Arborist Crew in partnership with the City of Oakland Public Works, Park and Tree Division. Corpsmembers are delivering critical early tree care in underserved neighborhoods, helping to expand Oakland’s tree canopy while qualifying Corpsmembers to take the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist exam, opening the door to stable, high-demand careers.
Civicorps’ Job Training Site opened in 2022
Extreme Heat Climate Adaptation Plan
We’re also expanding this work through a partnership with the Contra Costa County Office of Sustainability. As part of the Extreme Heat Climate Adaptation Plan, a new Pittsburg-based cohort will train in urban forestry, caring for trees in neighborhoods most impacted by high heat.
Together with our partners and supporters, we are creating pathways to green careers while building healthier, more resilient neighborhoods.
Institutional Funders
July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Civicorps is honored to be supported by a diverse array of Corporate, Foundation and Government funders including several steadfast California state agencies. Along with the investment of individual donors, our funders’ support allows us to continue providing workforce development to young adults striving for a better future.
FOUNDATIONS
Alameda County Community Food Bank
The Lowell Berry Foundation
CALCC Foundation
Central New York Community Foundation
Crankstart
Hellman Foundation
The H&F Gives Foundation
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation
Tipping Point Community
Walter S. Johnson Foundation
WPW Foundation
GOVERNMENT
California Conservation Corps
CalFresh Employment & Training/SNAP
#Californiansforall Youth Job Corps
California Invasive Plant Council
CalRecycle
California State Coastal Conservancy
Oakland Fund for Children and Youth
Parks California
Port of Oakland
Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund
CORPORATIONS
Beneficial State Bank
CalNonprofits Insurance Services
D+H Construction
ExpertQuote Insurance Services, Inc.
Gigantic Idea Studio, Inc.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Oakland Athletics
Orion Business Insurance and Risk Management Services, Inc.
Matson Shipping
PDM Steel
Royal Coffee, Inc
Teamsters Local 70
Unaudited Financials
REVENUE
|
30.3% |
Conservation Contracts |
$3,590,086 |
|
29.8% |
Recycling Contracts |
$3,524,527 |
|
22.6% |
CalRecycle & CCC Grant |
$2,680,824 |
|
8.6% |
Government Grants |
$1,017,753 |
|
6.2% |
Foundations and Corporations |
$728,590 |
|
0.9% |
Donations |
$102,603 |
|
1.7% |
Others |
$196,648 |
|
TOTAL |
$11,841,030 |
EXPENSES
|
28.5% |
Recycling |
$2,977,212 |
|
37.4% |
Conservation |
$3,900,503 |
|
12.2% |
Support Services |
$1,270,928 |
|
22% |
General and Administrative |
$2,292,558 |
|
TOTAL |
$10,441,200 |
Board of Directors
Nita Kirby, Chair
Bob Huttar, Vice Chair
Alli Chagi-Starr
Aja Cooper
Steven Hanson
Gary Lyla
Colette Vanlucas
Eric Premack
Amy Slater
Malcolm Stanley
Samantha Vitti
Robbie Yohai
Announcing New Board Member Malcolm Stanley
In late 2024, we welcomed new Board Member Malcolm Stanley. Malcolm has had a passion for change in our society since he was a child. In adulthood, his passion has crystallized around the issues of economic empowerment, education, poverty alleviation, civil rights, social justice, human rights, and environmentalism.
“As a Black man, I see myself in Civicorps’ corpsmembers—claiming ownership in nature, accessing rare opportunities, and building equity where it’s long been denied.”
Civicorps’ mission is to re-engage young adults, ages 18—26, to earn their high school diplomas, gain job skills, pursue college, and embark on family-sustaining careers in land management, conservation and recycling. See how we are accomplishing our mission in an archive of annual reports.
