Contact: Diego Abeloos
805-756-7414; [email protected]

University’s inaugural cohort pitches in to help communities in San Luis Obispo, Los Osos

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Students in Cal Poly’s inaugural cohort of the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program are assisting with cleanup efforts following a rainstorm earlier this week that caused mudslides, flooding and property damage throughout San Luis Obispo County.

More than a dozen Cal Poly students are helping residents in the Vista Court community in Los Osos clean up their homes after they were damaged in mudslides from a storm that dumped up to six inches of rain in some areas of the county. In addition, students in the program are also pitching in with general cleanup and restoration efforts at First Fruits Farm and the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden.

“Our students are members of this community too, so when they saw other local residents in need, they decided to step up and help,” said Allison Priola, program manager for Cal Poly’s AmeriCorps Programs. “It’s been a rewarding and humbling experience to see them roll up their sleeves and help their community members — including some who are elderly — by cleaning up mud and other debris that flooded their residences. It’s times like these when you see the best in others, and I’m proud of the way our students responded.”

Cal Poly is one of nearly 50 state institutions participating in the statewide #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program, which provides 6,500 college students with service-learning fellowships over the span of two academic years to tackle statewide challenges in climate action, K-12 education and food insecurity. As part of their service, fellows will receive up to $10,000 (including monthly stipends and an educational award at the conclusion of service), which can be applied toward their college education.

Cal Poly serves as the lead institution for the Coastal California Civic Leadership Consortium, which also consists of CSU Long Beach, Cuesta College and Allan Hancock College. The consortium has focused its service-learning model on K-12 education, climate action and food insecurity.

Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, Cal Poly’s inaugural cohort of 175 fellows is supporting regional organizations such as Community Climate Solutions, SLO Climate Coalition, Ecologistics, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, City Farm SLO, among other partner organizations.

“This program is a great example of what happens when California invests in its students,” said Jason Mockford, Cal Poly’s director of leadership and service, noting that the College Corps Program was conceived by Gov. Gavin Newsom in part to make college more affordable for students while providing valuable service-learning opportunities to support local communities.

“I’m excited about the future of this program, because I get to see firsthand the impact it’s already having here in SLO and other local areas,” Mockford added, noting that College Corps fellows also plan to assist with cleanup efforts at City Farm SLO in the coming days.

For more information about the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program, visit californiavolunteers.ca.gov/californiansforall-college-corps.