May 23rd, 2025

This week's featured photo captures our Charter School corpsmembers enjoying the company of some furry friends during Animal Therapy Day! These emotional support bunnies and guinea pigs brought smiles and comfort during a joyful wellness event focused on reducing stress. This event served as a wonderful reminder of the positive impact animals can have on mental health and student well-being. 

For a chance to be featured on the photo of the week, please email your best pictures to social@sjcccs.org or share your team updates on Slack.

2025 CHARTER SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY

You're invited to the Charter School’s 2025 Graduation ceremony on Friday, June 6, 2025. Let’s fill the room with applause, joy, and encouragement as we recognize the hard work and accomplishments of our graduating class. These corpsmembers have shown incredible perseverance and determination, and they deserve a sendoff to remember. Please see the flyer for more info. Hope to see you there! 

HIKE AT BIG BASIN

Let's Hike! Join Chris N., Kylee L., and other staff as we take a trip to Big Basin on May 31st! Learn about the redwoods, the work our corpsmembers accomplished, and the recovery efforts that have taken place in the park since the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire. The hike meets at 8 AM in the Big Basin Parking Lot and will go until 2 PM. Bring 2 liters of water and a lunch. Reach out to Chris N. for more information. 

BEGINNINGS BASH

We're just a week away from the Beginnings Bash, our third annual graduation party to celebrate all our 2024–2025 job training and charter school graduates, happening on May 29th! Don’t miss out on the fun—register below to be part of the celebration! 

DUNK-A-DORSEY

We are bringing back Dunk-A-Dorsey for the Beginnings Bash this year! You can nominate participants or sign up to be dunked using the QR code above or the "nominate" button below. Those participating will be placed on a list of people who AGREED to participate. Corpsmembers and staff have the opportunity to dunk someone on this list.  

To be dunked, you must be available on May 29th from 4-7 PM. 

For more questions, please reach out to Ileana on Slack, email, or by phone at (669) 328-6173.

CORPSMEMBERS OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to the Environmental Projects and Resilience Corps April Corpsmembers of the Month. Christian S. has been recognized for his continued hard work, preparedness, and respectfulness towards everyone around him. Angel G. has been recognized for showing up to work with a positive attitude, taking initiative and going above and beyond to complete his tasks. Thank you both for making a difference everyday!

UC BERKELEY CAMPUS TOUR AND CAREER EXPO

On Wednesday, corpsmembers had the opportunity to attend the United Way Bay Area OnTrack Career event at UC Berkeley! During the visit, they explored the UC Berkeley campus and gained insight into college life and the student experience. They also participated in a job panel and career fair, where they learned about a wide range of careers in STEAM, construction, finance, and more. A big thank you to the CMD team for organizing this incredible event, and to all the corpsmembers who took part!

CELEBRATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUTING

A big congratulations to Fellow Ally C. for the success of her Bike to Wherever Day event! Thanks to her efforts, 60 pounds of rescued food were distributed to cyclists, all of whom pledged to visit at least one additional location this month. Her initiative not only encouraged people to get outdoors and stay active but also made a meaningful impact on the environment. Thank you, Ally C., for organizing such a fantastic event that brought the community together for a great cause! 

MORE THAN A SHELTER: NEW TINY HOMES NOW COMPLETE

We’re thrilled to share the latest accomplishment from our Construction Team—two brand-new tiny home models built right here on site! Most excitingly, this includes our very first family-sized unit, thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of a family of four. Alongside it, the team has also completed a new and improved single-unit tiny home, now offering even more space and updated amenities to enhance comfort and livability. These homes represent more than just shelter - they're a step forward in our ongoing mission to reduce housing insecurity. Thank you to our Construction Team for their incredible work and unwavering commitment. Your impact is felt in every nail, board, and finished room.

DOCK WALKER DUTY AT CALERO RESERVOIR

Throughout the week, Zero Waste corpsmembers have been hard at work at Calero County Park on dock walker duty. Used oil outreach is a crucial part of protecting local waterways and ecosystems. When oil is improperly discarded, whether spilled, leaked, or poured into storm drains, it can quickly make its way into rivers, lakes, and oceans, where it poses a serious threat to aquatic life. Thank you to the Zero Waste crew for educating boaters and working to keep our waterways clean. 

TOGETHER WE MAKE IT HAPPEN: COMMUNITY FOOD MARKET SUCCESS

The Community Food Market event at Zero Waste Saturday, led by fellow Leslie T., was a success! Special thanks to the volunteers who assisted with the event, Vanessa S., Linda L., Calla T., Ally C., as well as two LifeMoves managers. Their help allowed us to take another step towards reducing local food insecurity. We would love to see more participation and support for our next event in June - more details to come soon. 

ZERO WASTE + CITY OF MILPITAS PARTNER EVENT

Zero Waste had yet another successful partner event with the city of Milpitas this last weekend. Thank you to German M. and Christopher H. for their hard work collecting used mattresses, tires, and more! Their efforts are making a real difference in keeping our communities clean and sustainable.

GET $100

MAY JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Check out some exciting job opportunities for May! 

HAVING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS

Let's prioritize mental health—it can't afford to be put on hold! While initiating conversations about mental well-being might seem challenging, it's crucial for the sake of our loved ones who depend on us. Uncertainty about how to begin such crucial dialogues shouldn't deter us. SHAMSA offers valuable tips and information to kickstart these important discussions. It's essential to spread this knowledge and, equally, to ensure we make time for our own self-care. Let's change lives, one conversation at a time!  

 NO SCHOOL OR WORK ON MEMORIAL DAY

This Monday is Memorial Day, and there will be no school or work. Enjoy the long weekend and take a moment to honor and remember those who served.

YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS

We have a feedback email available to everyone (both staff and corpsmembers). Feel free to scan the QR code above or email feedback@sjcccs.org directly. If you have any questions about this new channel of feedback, you can email Jasmine F..