Archived News Release from 2010

For Immediate Release

Redwood City, CA - July 24, 2010 - People attending Redwood City’s Monday’s Jazz on Main, Tuesday’s Dancing on the Square, or Friday’s Music on the Square may have encountered a group of enthusiastic students providing information on climate protection. And during the day, another group of students is busy refurbishing school vegetable gardens at three schools, and building a new garden at another. These inspired and hard-working students are Redwood City Youth Ambassadors, and for this summer they’re on the front lines of climate protection in our community.

Funded with Federal dollars (Stimulus and Energy Efficiency grants), the Redwood City Verde Ambassador program is a summer training and workforce development program for youth. The program employs 14 Redwood City Youth from neighborhoods throughout the city. Youth Ambassadors are ages 16 - 18, and reflect the wide diversity of Redwood City, representing Sequoia, Woodside, Carlmont, Redwood, and Summit high schools. Supervising the Youth Ambassadors are two college students (graduates of Woodside and Sequoia high schools), who are currently enrolled in four-year colleges. The entire program is overseen by the City Manager’s office.

All of these students are developing solid job skills while learning about the environment and local government. The Youth Ambassadors are divided into two teams, and are employed in work that has direct benefit to the local community. The Gardening Team is refurbishing school gardens at Roosevelt Elementary School, and Redwood and Woodside high schools, and will be building a new school garden at Garfield elementary. The Outreach Team can be seen downtown three evenings a week where they are promoting energy efficiency and water conservation programs to visitors to Downtown events.

Their job training includes meetings with industry experts in the green job and clean-tech sectors and exploring how to access jobs in the environment, giving them further insight into opportunities and options that they may want to pursue after they graduate. At the same time, the Youth Ambassadors are learning about things they can do to green their own lifestyles.

Redwood City’s Youth Ambassador Program is part of Redwood City Verde, a collection of programs, activities, tools, and ideas for sustainability and reducing energy and water use in our homes, neighborhoods, and businesses. More information on Redwood City’s environmental initiatives is available at www.redwoodcity.org/verde.

Visit Redwood City’s website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and local business. Subscribe to Redwood City’s electronic newsletter or other City documents at www.redwoodcity.org/egov.

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Contact:
Erica Spacher
Neighborhood Liaison Coordinator
650-780-5905