2010 FALL/Winter Highlights

Central California Consortium

• SAFYouthCaucus

• HistoricallyBlackColleges&Universities

• AfricanAmericanStudentConference

• GenerationGreenGivesBack

• MyForestSummit

• OutreachviaHmongRadio

• HmongNewYearCelebration

Insidethisissue...

“ The Central California Consortium

was awarded the 2010 Regional Forester’s

Honor Award for Diversity & Civil Rights.

The program could not be the success it

is today without the support of our many

partners and supporters. Thank you for

helping us make a difference in the diverse

communities we serve. We are truly meeting

the Forest Service’s mission of “Caring for

the land and serving the people.” We wish everyone a

happy new year!

” ~ James Oftedal

CCC Director

Edited By Lily M. Nieves

SocietyofAmericanForestersYouthCaucus

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) National Conference hosted a Youth Cau-cus, which consisted of a pre-conference field trip (top picture) to the Cibola National Forest and a full day of conference workshops. The conference was held in Albuquer-que, New Mexico on October 26-30. Fifty local diverse high school students from Cleveland and West Mesa High School participated in these events. The students were able to meet many Forestry related professionals, as well as college students pursuing degrees in the field. The SAF Youth Caucus planning committee was led by the Central California Consortium in partnership with Region 5 State and Private Forestry, as well as Region 3 and Region 5 Civil Rights staff.

The conference included workshops such as networking 101 and college prepara-tion. They also met one on one with local leaders who are professionals in an array of fields. The leaders shared their motivational stories of how they overcame obstacles, pursued higher education, and became successful in their career. Students exchanged business cards with the leaders and were encouraged to follow up with them for future resources and opportunities. They were fortunate to meet and hear from Forest Service dignitaries who encouraged them to consider natural resource careers. These speakers included: Joel Holtrop, Forest Service Deputy Chief (second picture); Corbin Newman, Region 3 Regional Forester; Tina Terrell, Sequoia National Forest Supervisor; and Terry Baker, Bessey District Ranger.

The Youth Caucus awarded seven scholarships to the students during the SAF Diver-sity Reception (third picture). The essay and speech contest each awarded a first prize of $1,000, second prize of $800 and third prize of $500. A separate scholarship of $400 was awarded to a group of students from Cleveland High School for their plan to encourage youth to consider green jobs. The funds will be utilized to impliment their action plan and help local youth learn about green jobs.

CCC Director, James Oftedal states, “I want to personally thank Julie Lydick, Region 5 Deputy Director for State and Private Forestry for initiating this event. I also want to thank the rest of the planning committee, including: Lily Nieves, CCC Assistant Director; Rick Tafoya, Region 3 Civil Rights; Jim Maes, Director of Region 3 Civil Rights; Annette Delos-Santos, Region 5 Civil Rights; and Brandon Terrazas, Farm Service Agency. This event was a success, as local kids have em-braced their roles as young stewards of the land and are now considering natural resource careers.”

The SAF Youth Caucus planning committee is pictured below: (left to right) Brandon Terrazas, James Oftedal, Annette Delos-Santos; Lily Nieves, Julie Lydick, Jim Maes, and Rick Tafoya.

-ByLilyNieves

Employment

c

Director’sMessage

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-ByDenayaShorter

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Saturday, November 20th, 2010 marked California State University, Fresno’s 29th Annual African American Student Recruitment Conference. The theme “Fresno State’s Got Talent” attracted students from throughout California. The annual free event was organized by Outreach Counselor, Tanya Crabb, in coordination with University Outreach Services.The conference promoted enthusiasm and increased understanding regarding the pursuit of higher education.

The daylong event was jammed packed with performances, motivational speakers, tailored workshops and a free catered lunch. The conference, included theme-titled workshops such as; “America’s Next Top Graduate” and “So You Think You Can Transfer.” Workshops included: A-G requirements, male leadership, addressing female identity, jobs, scholarships, and internships. Students had the

opportunity to network with campus clubs, community organizations, current college students, and government agencies. The conference featured keynote speaker, Ramsey Jay Jr. Jay, Fresno State alumnus and recipient of Ebony Magazine’s “30 Young Leaders Under 30,” shared his personal experiences, challenges and how he achieved success.

African American Community Liaison and Fresno State student, Denaya Shorter, and CCC Director, James Oftedal, hosted the “Jobs & Scholarships: Special Majors Unit,” workshop. Their workshop speakers inlcuded: Nevia Brown, High Sierra Ranger District NEPA Planner; Mose Jones-Yellin, Sierra National Forest Natural Resource Specialist; and Monica Lindsey, Regional Office Equal Opportunity Specialist. The speakers shared tips for success, lessons learned from personal experiences, the importance of higher education, and how they became successful in their Forest Service careers. Students learned about the agency and its many career fields. The workshop highlighted the CCC program, including the outreach it provides to diverse communities and its summer internship program.

EncouragingYouthtoAttendHistoricallyBlackColleges&Universities

The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Connection Workshop was held on December 9th, 2010 at Edison High School in West Fresno, CA. It was hosted by the Central California Consortium (CCC) and coordinated by CCC African American Liaison, Denaya Shorter; NEPA Planner, Nevia Brown (right picture); and Fresno Unified District Coordinator, Gloria Ponce-Rodriguez.

CCC Director, James Oftedal, welcomed the attendees and provided an overview of the evening. The workshop highlighted two scholarship programs; the Multicultural Workforce Strategic Initiatives (MWSI) and the USDA 1890s National Scholars Program. It focused on encouraging and guiding African Americans into natural resource careers. Through an informative presentation, attendees learned about full-ride scholarship opportunities to HBCUs through the MWSI and USDA 1890s programs. They also learned how to prepare and apply for the programs and what is expected of an ideal candidate. Students were also informed about Forest Service internship opportunities through the CCC and the many career fields within the agency. Workshop speakers included Sequoia National Forest Supervisor, Tina Terrell, and Sierra National Forest NEPA Planner, Nevia Brown.

The workshop was a success with over 55 students (high school and early college), 15 parents, and school counselors in attendance. Students left the workshop raving about their newfound resources and possibilities for college. The students gained skills in networking, utilizing resources, communication, and the keys to college success. Most importantly, the HBCU Connection Workshop encouraged the students to pursue higher education and take steps towards their career goals.

EncouragingHigherEducation&NaturalResourceCareers-ByDenayaShorter

Reaching African American Youth

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On December 10, 2010 Jefferson Elementary School’s cafeteria was decorated in festive holiday colors for the annual Making Spirits Bright charity event and holiday celebration. The USDA Forest Service partnered with the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC) and many others to make this event possible.

The event benefited 30 Sanger needy families. The Sierra National Forest (SNF) donated Christmas trees. Fresno Local Conservation Corps members took the time to pick up and hand deliver the trees to the school. SNF staff Ilene Mora (Procurement) and Melissa Souaykoumane (Central California Consortium) coordinated the donation, collection and distribution of gifts for half of the needy families. The gifts were donated by Forest Service employees for the 15th consecutive year. Time and time again, SNF employees come together to donate gifts with the goal of brightening up the holidays for children of less fortunate families.

Generation Green students took time from their holiday vacation to decorate the school cafeteria with joy and enthusiasm. Yaneth Barreto (pictured at left decorating the tree), GG student, stated “It was all for a good cause and it felt good to do our part.”

On Saturday December 11, 2010, the families gathered at noon to celebrate the holidays in the company of donors and volunteers. The room was filled with laughter when 111 children received gifts and Christmas trees. The CCC staff and SNF staff volunteered to help serve a festive lunch to the families, translate, help distribute gifts, and to invite them to visit public lands. Joe Martinez, EOC staff and event lead coordinator, thanked the many partners involved, including: the U.S. Forest Service, Macy’s Fresno, AT&T, Anthem Blue Cross, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Macy’s Fresno, London Properties, CSU, Fresno, and the individual volunteers.

During the holiday season, Generation Green (GG) club members look forward to their vacation for unselfish reasons. They look for opportunities to give back to those less fortunate. On December 20, 2010 about 20 GG students chose to donate their time by serving as volunteers for the Annual Orange Cove Toy Giveaway at the Victor Lopez Community Center. The event was sponsored by the City of Orange Cove, Orange Cove Chamber of Commerce, and community donors.

The GG students turned the center into Christmas headquarters, as they led the unloading of the toys, organized them by ages, set up lines and tables, and distributed toys (pictured right). Their enthusiasm and festive decorations brought joy to everyone that afternoon. The needy families who benefited were very grateful; especially all the children who recieved gifts!

Iveth Hernandez a GG student stated,“It was great to give these families hope. The kids’ smiles were priceless.”

Martha Sanchez, GG student, stated, “It is amazing to see the children’s faces light up when they receive a toy. I felt such a joy to be part of this occasion once again. It was just incredible!”

The Students were acknowledged by Council Women Glenda Hill and Esther Gonzalez. Glenda Hill stated, “The Generation Green students are always ready to help and they do a great job! This event would not be possible without their help.” It was a suc-cessful event with over 300 participants. The night culminated with hot chocolate, cookies, and laughter.

OrangeCoveToyGiveaway-ByJuanaRosas

MakingSpiritsBright-ByJuanaRosas

Generation Green Gives Back During the Holidays

-ByJoseZavala

On September 24th-25th 2010, the Central California Consortium’s Generation Green Club took 38 students to the 2nd Annual MyFor-est Summit in the Sequoia National Forest. Students from Reedley High, Orange Cove High, Citrus Middle School, Duncan Polytech-nical High, Edison High and, Edison Computech Middle School, joined over 100 other 7-9th grade students from throughout Califor-nia. It was a weekend of fun, environmental education, and outdoor activities.

MyForest Summit exposed students to various careers in natural resources including: fire, law enforcement, and botany. Many stu-

dents, ages 11-15, were unsure of their future career goals. Sequoia National Forest Supervisor, Tina Terrell, addressed the students (top picture). She shared how she became interested in the field of forestry and stressed the importance of higher education. She encouraged them to be open minded and to seriously consider natural resource careers.

The career fair also introduced students to a variety of non-traditional oc-cupations. Jose Zavala, CCC staff member and summit chaperone shared, “You’re young and you have plenty of time to think about what you want to do. Take this opportunity to ask questions and learn about different careers.”

By participating in different activities, many students were surprised to dis-cover career opportunities in recreation. Students met Forest Service profes-sionals in various outdoor activities such as: star gazing, rock climbing, fly fishing, animal identification, biking, and a hunting simulation. The students learned valuable skills in networking.

Students also learned the importance of being good stewards of our public lands. Generation Green students had the opportunity to work at the Veteran Memorial Garden in Springville with Quercus Landscape and Design. They learned about our region’s rare plant species and more.

Juana Rosas, CCC staff member and chaperone shared, “Generation Green took students from four different schools to this event. Our students were from Latino, Hmong, and African American backgrounds. They were a pleasure to work with and they served as great role models for the other students. They had a positive experience and I know they look for-ward to coming back next year.”ork to be done in educating the Hmong community of Forest Service rules

-ByDenayaShorter

MyForestSummit

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CelebratingtheHmongNewYear-ByMaiChouThao

The 2010-2011 Hmong International New Year (HINY) took place on December 26, 2010 through January 1, 2011 at the Fresno Fair Grounds in Fresno, CA. Since the Hmong’s arrival to the United States in 1975, the HINY celebration has been one of the largest Hmong celebrations in the United States; attracting over 100,000 attendees from around the world. HINY promotes cultural unity, higher education, offers local entertainment, and helps build bridges with the world.

Mai Chou Thao, Central California Consortium (CCC) Asian Community Liaison, and Chor Yang, Recreation Department staff member, coordinated a Forest Service (FS) informational booth. They partnered with Jesse Lee, Jason Rodriquez, and Jason Madrigal from the SNF Fire and Aviation Management Unit to host and staff the booth.

Just as last year, thousands of people visited the booth and over 200 free camp fire permits were issued. FS employees shared information on topics such as: fire prevention, recreational opportunities, stewardship, safety, and employment opportunities. They also conducted surveys to better understand where the Hmong community recreates and how the Forest Service can better serve them. Through many years of participation in this event, the community better recognizes the FS shield and looks forward to speaking with FS staff.

-ByMaiChouThao

ReachingtheHmongCommunitythroughRadio

Mai Chou Thao (pictured left), the Asian Community Liaison for the Central California Consortium (CCC), was present at KBIF 900 AM radio station on December 15, 2010 to share the Forest Service mission and services with the Hmong community. She opened the show by inviting the Hmong community to recreate and visit their public lands. She also reminded the listeners to be good stewards of the land through conservation and preservation.

The show extended into an hour long conversation about outdoor ethics and safety messages between the host, the audience, and Mai. Throughout the interview, Mai noted the need and importance to educate the Hmong community regarding Forest Service rules and regulations. She reviewed important rules and regulations such as the need for a fire permit. A listener called and asked, “Will I get fined if I have a fire permit, but not a bucket of water and shovel?” Mai answered by explaining that the caller could get a ticket if he does not properly, effectively, and safely turn off the fire. She encouraged the caller and all the listeners to follow rules and regulations for their own safety and for the benefit of the public.

Another caller asked Mai for the Forest Service and the CCC’s contact information for future questions about public lands. The interview was a success because the public was reminded to be safe while enjoying public lands. There were many callers, which indicated strong interest in the Hmong community regarding public lands.

Mai invited the community to stop by the CCC and Fire Prevention booth at the Hmong International New Year, which takes place from December 26th through January 1st at the Fresno Fairgrounds. The CCC will continue to outreach to the Hmong community through radio and community events.

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Supervisors.... AreYouLookingforanIntern?

Students.... AreYouLookingforanInternship?

Since 1997, the Central California Consortium (CCC) has provided high quality students to work in a variety of Forest Service positions throughout California and other states.

If you are a supervisor looking for a bright and talented diverse students to work for you during the summer, let us find you a quality employee! We have a diverse applicant pool.

If you are a student looking for paid summer employment with a great learning experience, then our summer internships are for you. We offer positions in a variety of fields and majors.

For more information please contact Julissa Gonzalez, CCC Job Placement Coordinator at (559) 297-0706 ext. 4962. Supervisors and students can find more information online at:http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ccc/internship/

CCC MissionTheCentralCaliforniaConsortiumisanenvironmentaleducation,outreach,andrecruitmentprogram.TheCCCservesasbridgebetweentheUSDAForestService,underservedareas,andcommunitypartners.Ourmissionistodiver-sifytheForestServiceworkforcebyencouragingcareersinnaturalresources,highereducation,andemploymentthroughmentoring,leadership,andcommunityoutreachefforts.Wearecommittedtoprovidinganallinclusive,nurturing,respectful,andpositiveworkenvironment.

TheUSDAForestServiceisanequalopportunityserviceproviderandemployer.