Local Conservation Corps (LCC) staff members, Elida Carrillo, Matt Herrera, Veronica Marin, Lucila Mendoza, Shawn Riggins, and Sandra Sandoval-Avila recently completed a one-year AmeriProCorps “term of service.” Each member successfully completed 300 or 450 hours of service and training in emergency preparedness and earned an AmeriCorps Education Award between $1,000 - $1,250 to use for future college costs or to pay back federal student loans.

In order to achieve the required hours during their term of service, LCC AmeriProCorps members completed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training through programs offered by the Fresno Citizen Corps and Clovis Fire Department and/or online Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) training modules. Members then shared their knowledge of emergency preparedness with their families, LCC corpsmembers, and the general community though public education presentations.

AmeriProCorps members nationwide assist in increasing their local community capacities to respond to emergency situations.