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Preparing Our Youth for Careers Focused on
Climate Change Mitigation
Room: 204
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Mitigating climate change is evolving from theory and concept into development and rollout.
This means thousands of young adults from diverse communities are needed to understand and initiate not only the mental, but the physical tasks required to blunt the impacts of climate change.
Hear from the Director of the California Conservation Corps about how this State workforce development program seeks to scale up our youth’s knowledge and interest in climate change careers. Also learn how the State of California is actively identifying climate change jobs within State agencies and what are the work experience and academic pathways to meet minimum requirements for these positions.
Learning Objectives:
- How to embark on climate change jobs and careers without having a four-year degree
- Strategies for fostering inclusivity during climate change conversations with youth
- Understanding of how young adults can get on a path to meaningful careers in climate change mitigation
- Knowledge about types of climate change jobs and careers within California state agencies
Speakers:
Dana Howard, Deputy Director, California Conservation Corps
JP Patton, Executive Director, California Conservation Corps
Courtney Agustin, Navigator, California Conservation Corps
Dana Howard is the Director of Communications, Outreach, Recruitment and Enrollment (CORE) for the California Conservation Corps. Seeing first-hand how the CCC’s mission transforms the lives of young adults motivates him to spread the word about the tremendous impact the Corps makes daily. Dana oversees the CCC’s communication, marketing and outreach and develops the heart touching stories of how the Corps is setting lives on a positive and fulfilling direction. He also leads CCC recruitment and enrollment in developing a smooth enrollment process and targeting under-represented segments of California’s young adults.
Prior to the CCC, Dana served the state of California as Deputy Director of Communications and Public Relations for Covered California. He helped lead and implement the communications strategy for Covered California’s historic first open enrollment. Dana was the principal spokesperson for the exchange as well as innovating new communication platforms to keep service channels, consumers, and stakeholders informed about critical developments in obtaining health coverage.
JP Patton leads the California Conservation Corps in our commitment to expand our reach to young adults and to protect California’s natural resources through environmentally focused work that makes California an even better place for all.
On November 1, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed JP to serve as the CCC Director. JP’s career with the CCC started in 2021 as a Deputy Director over Region 1. As Deputy Director, he supported multiple Northern California CCC centers all actively engaged in mission critical work of Corpsmember development, natural resource conservation, climate resilience, and emergency response.
JP graduated from New York University and served as a senior manager for many years in the world of outdoor recreation, outdoor education, people development and natural resource conservation.
As the Director of CCC, JP is passionate about increasing pathways to careers for the Corpsmember community; championing diversity, equity, and inclusion; and expanding the corps movement across the globe.
Courtney Agustin joined the California Conservation Corps (CCC) in November 2020 as the Career Pathways and Transition Navigator for the CCC Pomona Center and Los Angeles Satellite. She is responsible for assisting Corpsmembers in transitioning from the CCC into meaningful careers and to post-secondary education. Courtney manages a caseload of 130+ Corpsmembers who receive her professional guidance and supportive resources including her insight on hiring needs gained from direct engagement with government and private industry.
Prior to this role, Courtney was a Youth Employment Opportunity Program Specialist for the CA Employment Development Department. She is a graduate of the University of California, Riverside and lives in Los Angeles County where she is passionate about conservation, herbalism, and advocating for social equity.