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CG: We are at the Jeff Seymour Family Center in El Monte, home of Active SGV. But today we are with the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps, could you tell us your name and your role in the Conservation Corps?
question: yes. My name is Norma Quinones. She is the Executive Director of the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps.
CG: So what is the mission and background of this organization?
question: That is why the mission of the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps is to work with disadvantaged local youth in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley areas to help them by developing their skills and preparing their workforce. is. Basically, we work with them every day to help them develop their skills. For example, we have industry-recognized certifications such as first aid, CPR, and OSHA training. That is, punctuality, team his player, how to be an effective communicator, and more. As such, it offers a real working environment. So they show up, show up, leave, and are provided with a uniform. They are then assigned to crews who have supervisors who also act as role models and mentors, who work by their side. So they are earning an hourly wage and learning a skill. The soft skills we just talked about are very important skills for employees. That is our mission, to provide young people with vocational training opportunities. So there are 3 main buckets. One is vocational training, which I mentioned earlier. The second bucket is education. That’s why we partner with our California Youth by Charter School for young people who need a high school diploma. They offer high school diplomas, so young people who come to our program can essentially do both at the same time. They have diplomas and are doing vocational training. Or they can do one or the other, depending on which path an individual takes. Before we really get into the field, we may need a little more help with the education part first. And the third element is leadership development. They actually get certified and learn these skills and we provide them with training. Help them build their confidence and leadership skills through the training we provide.
CG: So how do you find these young people? And how do they find you? I imagine it has something to do with continuing school.
question: So a lot of the young people who come into our programs are really… word of mouth. Many of them have probably come from young people who have completed our program and have received their diplomas or received their diplomas with us. training with us. So it can be like another family member or friend. However, we also work with other service providers within SGV. So it could be other community-based organizations that serve similar populations. participants can enroll in our program. Social media, Instagram and Facebook, these are the two main platforms we use today.
CG: So who are these kids really? You know, there’s a general description of where they come from, but what are the people you work with like? Who are they?
question: They all come from different walks of life. As a result, some young people joining the company have little or no work experience. They probably just graduated from high school and need some kind of sense of direction. They have never worked before. And they are trying to learn what it takes to get a job. And they can come to the setting and, you know, not be scared or empowered. And they are with other peers who are going through the same thing. Some young people who come to our program too… maybe they need a second chance. Maybe they’ve done bad things in life and some are on probation or even on parole. That’s why we strongly believe in second chances. So maybe a lot of the young people that come in can have a background. They may not know how to navigate the county system or what they can do to help themselves and their families.
CG: So what impact will they have on the San Gabriel Valley?
question: Many of the projects we work on in the San Gabriel Valley are just the local communities where our young people live, as you know. So they can live in El Montt or in the industrial city of La Puente. I know the work we do in some county parks. Maybe they go there with their family on weekends. Much of the work they do is done in these local institutions and cities, in fact planting trees to beautify the cities. ‘actually working in our program.
CG: I don’t know if it was the brainchild of the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps, but there is one program that I am very familiar with. I have seen it grow throughout my life. And it’s the painted vines found in Varinda and Avocado Heights in the West Puente Valley. Can you tell us more about the project and the role of the Conservation Corps? Or did you pick it up from a community project?
question: Well, as you know, vines have been around for a very long time. I also remember growing up watching them in the Puente Valley/La Puente area. We actually partnered with Solis, his LA county supervisor, on this project. This is actually a community development block grant. So our focus is basically to beautify the city of the unincorporated area of La Puente. I wanted to mention beautifying works and painting vines, whether it’s painting, installing vines, trellises, or picking up bulky items, we’re helping our community by stopping graffiti. That’s what it’s really about We go out and talk to the owners of the house, see if anyone is interested in us, and beautify the empty walls. trellis. Again, to keep the wall graffiti clean. And that work is done by the young people who participate in our program. So either paint them or do a trellis installation, but in addition, as I mentioned, other landscaping services in the area,
CG: So tell us about the EarthWorks farm. This is another project the Legion is doing within city limits, right? Well, we were talking about projects in unincorporated areas, but as far as projects that actually occur in urban areas.
question: Yes, EarthWorks Farm is located in South El Monte. And we had control over it, so now we’re relocating to another county property, the Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale. It’s a start from zero. But this is an opportunity for our youth to be trained in urban farming, and also a community asset for those in need of fresh, fresh fruits and vegetables.
CG: I spoke with a member of your organization on the phone the other day while trying to pinpoint a date and location. And he was telling me that one of the projects he’s really proud of, which isn’t the right term, is creating defensible spaces, not fire mitigation. Perhaps somewhere in the San Gabriel Mountains? Please tell us about Corpse’s efforts in natural spaces a little far from the city.
question: Yeah, it’s a really great opportunity for the young people we work with. First I would like to say that many of our young people either have no such experience or have never climbed a mountain. All they know is his SGV, or maybe just his hometown. So being able to give them the experience of going and exploring the Angeles National Forest and doing some landscaping there is really impactful for them. It’s like a completely different person at the end of . When you’re in nature, it does something for you. And we’re really proud to have these partnerships. is, you know, fire mitigation. As you know, we also beautify campsites and remove alien species. So we’re going to actually do some fire cleanup as well where the Bobcat fire started. Then landscaping by planting trees or drought-tolerant plants.
CG: So where will this organization go next? You guys just got a pretty sweet grant, right?
question: A $1.1 million grant was received from the LA County Regional Parks Open Space District through the Measure A Fund. Essentially, the grant will go towards new urban farms. The goal is to train 30+ participants in urban farming, but with certification and training, this and many other projects will be in the pipeline for them to land jobs in the county. can be Forestry, perhaps public utility utilities. So we want them to have all the experience and all the certifications so that they can easily get the job and be ready for the job. It really helps solidify and strengthen our relationship with LA County Parks.
CG: Okay Norma, last question. You are from the San Gabriel Valley.
question: Yes, I grew up in Baldwin Park.
CG: Ok, BP. Did you go – this is a side question – did you go to BP High or Sierra Vista?
question: Yes, Baldwin Park High School.
CG: What year did you graduate?
question: the year of 2000
CG: Ok, you may or may not have had my mother-in-law as your English teacher, but it doesn’t matter. If there’s one project that’s not in the books at all, somewhere in the San Gabriel Valley, is there a fantasy or dreamy project, or maybe it’s not that kind of pipe dreaming, Is there anything you can and possibly do about what you want to tell us that is very compelling?
question: We can’t reveal all the secrets, but we would like to have partnership agreements with every city in the San Gabriel Valley so that we can employ local youth. Like when I come to town and say we want to be partners or when they come to us we basically let them know we hire your youngsters first That’s the priority. So young people working in their own city are invested. And they invest in local youth in their communities. So I just want to be able to get into all the cities and make contracts with them and hire local youth. San Gabriel and Pomona Valley areas.
CG: Thank you for coming to Norma Quinones SGV Connect.
question: Thank you very much.
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