Local leaders and volunteers gathered for a day of climate change action in Riverside Saturday.
The event at the Martha McLean Park was a collaboration between California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, local leaders, community organizations and California Climate Action Corps fellows and volunteers.
During the event, volunteers and local leaders planted trees and native plants, removed invasive plants and conducted a river clean-up, according to the California Volunteers Office of the Governor.
“Green spaces are some of the best ways to keep our city cool and the Santa Ana River plays an important role in combating heat in Riverside,” Dawson said.
“Actions like the ones we took today make us all part of the solution and we are grateful to have the assistance of the California Climate Action Corps Fellows,” Dawson added.
According to the California Volunteers, Cervantes also administered the AmeriCorps oath to more than 300 California Climate Action Corps fellows. The new group of fellows will reportedly earn up to $43,000 in living stipends and money for school for successfully completing 1,700 hours of service in communities throughout California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched California Climate Action Corps three years ago as the nation’s first state-level climate service corps with the mission of empowering Californians to take meaningful action to protect their homes, health and communities against the harshest impacts of climate change. The program is led by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor.