College Corps is seeking students who have a passion for working in partnership with communities to make a positive change. The application period is open for Cal Poly Pomona students to serve Mid-August 2023 through end of May 2024 as a College Corps Fellow.
The new program from the Governor's Office and California Volunteers aims to help full-time undergraduate students pay for college, uniting students of different backgrounds with a common purpose.
From gaining real-world job experience, to the networking and professional development opportunities, there are many benefits to joining College Corps. Each fellow receives a monthly living allowance throughout the service term, plus an Education Award paid upon completion of 450 service hours, for a total financial benefit up to $10,000.
"College Corps is the perfect opportunity for Cal Poly Pomona students who are truly passionate about making an impact on their community," said Christina Gonzalez-Salgado, College Corps coordinator. "The program is a tremendous pathway for students to be actively involved in community transformation while also receiving support for their own personal and professional development."
College Corps at Cal Poly Pomona offers service positions with local nonprofits and municipal agencies within a reasonable distance from campus, with service sites located in the cities of Pomona, Ontario, El Monte, City of Industry, and Los Angeles. Fellows will work with K-12 schools, food banks / pantries, or climate action organizations to build healthier and more equitable communities across California. They will do this in a variety of ways:
- Tutor and mentor K-12 children at afterschool centers, libraries and/or online
- Distribute food to local community residents
- Help with food packaging and distribution
- Harvest and process produce
- Provide gardening and food production support
- Identity spaces for providing renewable energy and factory certification
- Create social media content for promoting community engagement
"The job you do in College Corps resonates deeply within you and inspires you in your future objectives," said Cindy Baldelomar, a senior kinesiology student and current CPP College Corps Fellow, about her experiences in the program " Students should join College Corps because it is a great opportunity to build lasting relationships with various organizations and best of all, you get to work directly with communities and/or individuals that have a similar passion as you."
College Corps is also the first state service opportunity open to AB 540 eligible Dreamers. Led by Cal Poly Pomona's Center for Community Engagement, College Corps has three goals: 1) engage college students in meaningful service opportunities that build leadership skills and civic responsibility, 2) help students from diverse backgrounds graduate college on time and with less debt, and 3) support the work of community-based organization focused on one of three priorities - K-12 education, food insecurity and climate action.
To apply to become a College Corps Fellow, visit the College Corps website or contact Christina Gonzalez-Salgado at clgonzalez@cpp.edu for more information.