June 6th, 2025

IN MEMORIAM: ALBERTANO ROCHA

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our friend and colleague, Albertano Rocha. Albertano was a valued member of our team whose contributions and presence touched many across the organization. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Albertano’s family, friends, and all who worked closely with him. Click here to continue reading...

This week's photo features our first-ever Family Camp interns having a great time fishing! Congratulations to Resilience corpsmembers Xavier S. and Jairo C. for starting their 4-week internship on May 18th, 2025. During their internship, Xavier and Jairo will help beautify the campgrounds and assist with preparations for the upcoming summer season. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they’ll make! 

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!

WHAT IS THE TRAIL SAFETY TEAM?

From removing trail hazards and patrolling our urban trails, they play a crucial role in keeping our trails safe for everyone!

THE LIFE OF E-WASTE

Did you know E-waste has a lifecycle? Follow along with Luz, an E-waste expert, as she guides us through each stage of the life of E-waste. Learn about E-waste’s journey from the moment it’s collected to the moment it’s recycled. 

2025 CHARTER SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY

You're invited to the Charter School’s 2025 Graduation ceremony today, 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!  

STAFF HIKE AT BUTANO STATE PARK

Join Chris N. and other co-workers on a hike into Butano State Park on June 29th, 8:00am to 12:30pm. Hike the Ano Nuevo Trail and explore the edge of the CZU 2020 Burn Scar before moving into the heart of the park underneath the redwood tree canopy.  Sections of the trail will have little shade, so please pack sunscreen, hats, and 2 liters of water per person. Slack or Email Chris to RSVP!

JUNE BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

A big round of applause for those celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries this month! 🎂🎉 Your contributions make all the difference. 

MAY CORPSMEMBER PROMOTIONS

Please join us in congratulating three of our corpsmembers on their recent promotions! Francisco M. has been promoted to Natural Resource Management (NRM) Level 2—an exciting step forward that reflects consistent effort and growth. Steven G. has advanced to NRM Level 3, a recognition of outstanding contributions and leadership. And Isaac G. has reached Construction Level 4, a significant achievement that highlights continued excellence and impact. Well done to all—we’re proud to celebrate your success! 

For those aspiring to reach a new level, keep pushing forward - your efforts are seen and valued, and your time will come! Stay determined, keep growing, and know that your impact at SJCC+CS is incredible. We’re cheering you on every step of the way!

MAY CORPSMEMBERS OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to our Environmental Projects and Resilience Corpsmembers of the Month for May! Aden T. is recognized for his consistent preparedness and his respectful, positive attitude that sets a strong tone for the team. Christian G. is honored for prioritizing safety in his community work and for fostering a supportive environment through his respectful and positive presence. Thank you both for exemplifying our core values and making a meaningful impact! 

WELCOME NEW CORPSMEMBERS

We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to the five new Environmental Projects corpsmembers who joined the Natural Resource Management team at the start of May. Coming from diverse backgrounds, they bring fresh energy and dedication to our shared mission. United in purpose, they are committed to fostering a community that is both hopeful and sustainable. We can’t wait to see the amazing work they’ll accomplish!

INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL WITH GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY

This week, our Environmental Projects crews worked in collaboration with Grassroots Ecology at the Pearson-Arastradero Preserve. They spent the day removing a highly competitive species of grass called Medusahead. The Grassroots Ecology team flagged all the locations with evidence of invasive grass, and our crews then went around line-trimming those areas, removing the Medusahead while preserving the native plants. Nice work, everyone!

UNIVERSAL WASTE TRAINING

Yesterday, staff and corpsmembers from our Zero Waste team completed the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Universal Waste Training. They are now certified to handle and manage specific types of hazardous materials classified as universal waste. Great job to the entire team for taking a step towards safer and more sustainable waste management!

TOURING THE ELECTRICAL TRAINING ALLIANCE OF SILICON VALLEY

We had another successful career tour this week as Corps Futures staff took Environmental Projects, Resilience Corps, and Construction corpsmembers to the Electrical Training Alliance of Silicon Valley. They learned about what it takes to become an electrician, the benefits of job unions, and even had the chance to get some hands-on experience. Thank you, Corps Futures team, for organizing this event, and thank you to all of the corpsmembers who attended.

TIME FOR WASTE AUDITS

Over these past weeks, the Zero Waste crews have been hard at work carrying out waste audits. These audits help keep track of our waste stream, including what's being thrown away and how much is being generated. Thank you, team - your energy, focus, and commitment are making a big difference. 

STAFF ADVENTURE: HIKING BIG BASIN

Check out these photos from the staff's Big Basin hike on Saturday! Special shoutout to Mario P.'s daughter, Olivia, for completing over 5 miles of hiking and 33 stories of elevation change as the group traveled up the Creeping Forest and Sky Meadow Trail up to the overlook before coming down the Dool Trail. If you're interested in joining future hikes, be sure to read about the next outing to Butano State Park in the UPCOMING EVENTS section above.

REFER A FRIEND, GET $100

JUNE JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Check out some exciting job opportunities for June! 

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY

Corpsmembers, are you interested in continuing a journey in conservation work? Consider applying for Grassroots Ecology’s 10-month paid habitat restoration internship! This internship allows emerging professionals to explore the environmental conservation career path through hands-on fieldwork, community engagement, and in-depth training, specifically focused on supporting underrepresented communities in the environmental field. Applications are open through June 22nd.

SUMMERTIME WELLNESS

Stay safe and healthy this summer with tips on food safety, the health benefits of gardening, and ways to improve your sleep in the heat.

KEEP YOUR DATA SECURE WITH GOOGLE WORKSPACE

Learn how to use Google Workspace tools to share data securely and protect your information from unauthorized access. Strong cybersecurity practices are essential to safeguard sensitive data and prevent cyber threats. 

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.