Governor Newsom builds nation’s largest state service corps — 50,000 members sworn in since 2019

As the Trump administration continues to slash funds for national service and community-serving programs, Governor Newsom remains committed to advancing the long-standing tradition of service, ensuring that Californians have the opportunity to participate in public service, earn valuable work experience, and give back to their communities.

“Ten thousand Californians are starting their service today, and each one is empowered to make a difference,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “Service creates opportunities to strengthen communities, address challenges and inspire others to do the same.”

Building California’s nation-leading service force

Governor Newsom established the California Service Corps to mobilize Californians against some of the state’s most pressing challenges while creating paid pathways to education and careers. Members work throughout the state as part of GO-Serve’s three flagship service programs — College Corps, the California Climate Action Corps, and the Youth Service Corps — tackling some of the state’s most pressing challenges.

Now, as California prepares for what is shaping up to be the strongest El Niño season on record, Governor Newsom has directed California Volunteers to prepare to mobilize volunteers and trained service members to support state and local preparedness, response, and recovery. The assignment builds on eight years of investments that transformed California’s service infrastructure into the nation’s largest service force. Key milestones include:

• 2019 — Laying the foundation for California’s service expansion: Governor Newsom announced unprecedented state investments in California Volunteers and AmeriCorps California under the California Service Corps umbrella, which now consists of four paid programs.

• 2020 — Mobilizing Californians during COVID-19: Governor Newsom launched #CaliforniansForAll to connect Californians with opportunities to support food banks, older adults, and communities confronting the pandemic. Service members packed and distributed food and essential supplies, supported students learning remotely, and assisted with vaccination outreach.

• 2020 — Creating the nation’s first state climate corps: Governor Newsom launched California Climate Action Corps, the nation’s first state-level climate service corps. Fellows serve with public agencies, nonprofits, tribal communities, and schools on a range of issues, including wildfire resilience, urban greening, food recovery, and other local climate priorities.

• 2021-22 — Opening career pathways for underserved youth: Through Youth Service Corps, California partnered with cities and community organizations to create paid service, workforce development, and career opportunities for young Californians, with an emphasis on youth facing barriers to employment.

• 2022 — Making college more affordable through service: Governor Newsom launched College Corps, allowing students to earn up to $10,000 by completing 450 hours of community service. The program also created a state-supported service opportunity open to eligible AB 540 Dreamers.

• 2023 — Expanding California’s climate service workforce: Governor Newsom’s 2023-2024 budget expanded the California Climate Action Corps to double the number of paid service opportunities for the program, building on the nation’s first state-level climate service corps while boosting opportunities for Californians to work on urban greening, food recovery, and wildfire resilience.

• 2024 — Reaching nation-leading scale: Governor Newsom launched the 2024-25 service year with 10,000 California Service Corps members, more than the Peace Corps, and projected more than 5 million service hours for communities across the state. In Governor Newsom’s 2024 State of the State address, the Governor called the Corps the largest volunteer organization in the country.

• 2025 — Responding when disaster struck: California deployed 320 Service Corps members to support Los Angeles wildfire response and recovery. Members received donations, distributed food and clothing, and helped families affected by the fires.

• 2025 — Defending national service: When the Trump administration moved to dismantle AmeriCorps, Governor Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and a coalition of states challenged the action in court and accelerated recruitment for its state service programs.

• 2025-2026 — Helping boys and young men find connection and purpose: To help implement Governor Newsom’s executive order supporting boys and young men, California Volunteers launched the Men’s Service Challenge. In September 2026, the initiative surpassed its goal of engaging 10,000 men in mentoring, coaching, service, and volunteerism and expanded its focus to careers in public service.

From 2018-19 through 2024-25, the California Service Corps reported significant impact across communities statewide:

More than 608,000 students tutored or mentored

More than 313 million pounds of food distributed

More than 318,000 people received disaster preparedness, response or recovery services

More than 86.6 million pounds of food and organic waste diverted

More than 982,000 low-income Californians received personalized legal assistance through Self-Help Legal Centers

Supporting service alumni

Governor Newsom also today launched the California Service Corps Alumni Network to support employment pathways for those who have served.

The network will bring together more than 50,000 Californians who have served through AmeriCorps California, College Corps, California Climate Action Corps and Youth Service Corps during the Newsom administration.

Through the network, alumni can connect with one another, access career-development and networking opportunities, learn about jobs, and find new ways to remain involved in service. It will help alumni build on the skills, experience, and relationships developed during their service terms.

The California Service Corps grew during the Newsom administration to become the largest state-level service force in the nation — larger than the Peace Corps.

To learn more, visit CAServiceCorps.com.

Building on California’s work to support boys and men

Across the nation, the data is stark. Too many young men are growing up disconnected — without close friendships, without pathways to work, and without a clear sense of purpose.

• Men in California die by suicide at 3.6x the rate of women and are far less likely to seek help.

• From 2019 to 2023, the suicide rate among California boys ages 10 to 19 was twice the rate among girls of the same age.

• Men are more than 3x as likely to die from drug overdose.

• Male veterans account for 15% of suicide deaths in California, despite being just 2.9% of the population.

• Nearly 1 in 4 young men report having no close friends.

California’s approach to mental health recognizes that effective prevention must respond to different patterns — strengthening support for all young people while developing targeted strategies to reach populations at greatest risk.

Building on the state’s work to support boys and men, California is taking a whole-of-government, lifecycle approach to meet this moment — starting early in education, expanding mentorship and service opportunities, creating stronger pathways into high-demand careers, and scaling behavioral health supports. In September, California surpassed its goal of engaging 10,000 men in mentoring, service, and volunteering, part of Governor Newsom’s broader effort to support boys and men in finding connection, purpose, and opportunity. Now, the Men’s Service Challenge is expanding its focus beyond community service to connect men with careers in public service.

These service opportunities are part of the Newsom administration’s broader work to expand pathways to employment, strengthen behavioral health supports, and help boys and men build connection and purpose:

• 195,000+ men trained through workforce programs since 2020

• 8,800+ men supported through reentry employment pathways

• 500,000+ youth and families reached with behavioral health supports

• +275% growth in use of BrightLife Kids and Soluna platforms since early 2025

• Surpassed the goal of engaging 10,000 young men in service and volunteering through the Men’s Service Challenge in September 2026

California has also taken action to bring opportunities to light for boys and men, such as training for the Emergency Medical Service Corps and expanding outreach in health professions where men are underrepresented.

A legacy of service

When Governor Newsom was inaugurated in 2019, California Volunteers administered the federal AmeriCorps program. Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California Volunteers expanded with state resources to create:

•  #CaliforniansForAll College Corps: Partnering with California colleges and universities, this branch of the program allows fellows to serve on campus or with local community nonprofits. Fellows address issues like K–12 education, climate action, and food insecurity while gaining hands-on experience, leadership skills, and up to $10,000 in financial support for their education.

•  California Climate Action Corps: Created to help Californians take meaningful action to protect the planet, fellows in this program serve with public agencies, nonprofits, tribal communities, and schools. Their service activities focus on urban greening, organic waste and edible food recovery, wildfire resiliency, and other work that addresses climate challenges.

•  Youth Service Corps: Working in their local communities, this program gives young people the opportunity to support their community while gaining valuable work experience. As paid members, participants work with local governments and community organizations, learn new skills, and explore career opportunities.

These opportunities were created to address the state’s challenges and provide more paid service opportunities for Californians. California Service Corps members earn money while serving their communities in emergency response, feeding the hungry, tutoring and mentoring students, and taking climate action. Throughout the state, they serve in classrooms, food banks, nonprofits, and community gardens.