Are you passionate about environmental sustainability and eager to make a tangible impact in your community? Alameda County, a leader in California’s green initiatives, offers unparalleled opportunities through its Climate Corps program. This fellowship, evolving from a groundbreaking AmeriCorps service program, places motivated individuals with leading organizations to spearhead projects that bolster community resilience and significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment for Alameda County residents. While not directly focused on “alameda county car gas emission program” in name, the Climate Corps program’s broad scope inherently addresses emission reduction across various sectors, including transportation, waste management, and energy consumption, all crucial components of a comprehensive emission reduction strategy.
Since 2010, Climate Corps has successfully placed hundreds of fellows, with a significant number – 75 – hosted right here in Alameda County. This program is a springboard for environmental careers, with alumni progressing into influential roles across diverse sectors, from energy companies and environmental consulting firms to public service and academia.
Alameda County Climate Corps alumni have built impressive careers with organizations such as the California Environmental Justice Alliance, City of Portland, City of San Jose, County of San Mateo, Gap Inc., Greenlining Institute, Grist, Mills College, PG&E, Recology, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, SCS Global, Salesforce, Sierra Club, StopWaste.Org, Tanko Lighting, and UCSF. This diverse range of employers underscores the broad applicability and high value of the experience gained through the Climate Corps program.
Climate Corps Opportunities: Become an Environmental Leader
While applications for the 2024-2025 Climate Corps fellowship are currently closed, this is an excellent time to learn more about the program and prepare for future opportunities. The Climate Corps program in Alameda County is a competitive and rewarding fellowship for individuals dedicated to environmental stewardship and emission reduction.
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2023-24: Driving Impactful Change
In the 2023-2024 term, Alameda County’s General Services Agency proudly hosted three Climate Corps Fellows, each contributing to critical sustainability initiatives.
Name: Grace Kann
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Developing protective action materials and training programs to enhance frontline communities’ preparedness and response to climate-related events. These events include extreme heat, wildfires, smoke, power shutoffs, and floods, all of which can indirectly impact vehicle usage and emissions during emergencies.
Goal: To bolster community resilience by equipping community-based organizations with essential educational resources tailored for vulnerable populations, including older adults, the unhoused, children, and people with disabilities.
Highlight: “I had the rewarding experience of co-developing and co-presenting the Climate Disasters Preparedness Training, a public awareness initiative designed to educate on climate disaster preparedness and highlight the disproportionate impacts of climate change on frontline communities. The training was bilingual, delivered in English with live Spanish interpretation, ensuring broader community access.”
Name: Courtney Leader
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Integrating sustainable building strategies into lease negotiations and documentation for County properties. Sustainable buildings contribute to lower energy consumption, indirectly reducing emissions associated with electricity generation and transportation.
Goal: To support County real estate management colleagues with strategies to minimize energy and water consumption in leased spaces, aligning with the County’s comprehensive climate action plan and indirectly contributing to emission reductions.
Highlight: “Collaborating with various departments within the County’s General Services Agency to actively implement the climate action plan has been incredibly fulfilling. The interdepartmental collaboration and shared commitment have accelerated progress, allowing me to witness tangible results during my fellowship.”
Name: Ajah Quawiy
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Creating outreach materials to promote enhanced recycling and composting practices within County facilities. Effective waste management is crucial for reducing methane emissions from landfills, a potent greenhouse gas.
Goal: To improve waste sorting practices among employees and visitors across over 60 County facilities, thereby reducing contamination in waste and recycling streams and maximizing the environmental and economic advantages of recycling and composting.
Highlight: “Hosting recycling training workshops and witnessing participants’ engagement, questions, and expressions of newfound knowledge provides a strong sense of accomplishment. Their active participation demonstrates that educational efforts are making a real difference in their understanding and sustainable actions.”
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2022-23: A Year of Sustainable Advancements
Alt text: Climate Corps Fellows from the 2022-2023 cohort standing together outdoors, representing Alameda County’s commitment to environmental action.
The 2022-2023 year saw Alameda County’s General Services Agency host five Climate Corps Fellows, further expanding the reach and impact of the program.
Name: Carol Lee
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Preparing for the implementation of a system to track telework participation within the County workforce. Telework initiatives contribute to reduced commute emissions and decreased traffic congestion, indirectly impacting car gas emissions.
Goal: To ensure the tracking system is user-friendly, facilitating the collection of high-quality data to accurately assess and optimize telework’s impact.
Highlight: “Contributing to a data-driven initiative that promotes climate and sustainability objectives within a large organization has been an exciting experience. From reducing employee commutes to informing decisions about future energy and office space needs, this project has significant implications.” Project Poster(PDF – 411kb) *
Name: Kameron Stoll
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Logistics
Major Project: Launching a large-scale electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure project. Expanding EV infrastructure is essential for transitioning to cleaner transportation and reducing reliance on gasoline-powered vehicles and their associated emissions.
Goal: To develop a comprehensive plan for acquiring the charging infrastructure necessary to support the County’s growing electric vehicle fleet, projected to require over 200 additional EV chargers by 2035.
Highlight: “Identifying funding opportunities and engaging with potential vendors to advance this substantial, long-term project has been very satisfying. Knowing that my efforts are significantly contributing to the County’s EV infrastructure expansion is a major highlight.” Project Poster(PDF – 500kb) *
Name: Samira Tootla
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Developing a comprehensive compliance strategy for Alameda County to meet California’s Senate Bill 1383 requirements. SB 1383 focuses on reducing organic waste in landfills, which in turn reduces methane emissions.
Goal: To update the County’s procurement processes for recycled organic matter and recycled content paper, educate stakeholders, and ensure full compliance with SB 1383.
Highlight: “Communicating the climate benefits of SB 1383 to stakeholders has been particularly rewarding. Helping them understand the importance of these new procurement goals and their broader environmental impact has been key to project success.” Project Poster(PDF – 324kb) *
Name: Ellie Vendegna
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Promoting waste reduction in County facilities through site visits, staff interviews, infrastructure updates, and outreach materials. Reducing waste at the source is the most effective way to minimize landfill emissions.
Goal: To improve waste sorting accuracy among County employees by providing updated waste infrastructure and conducting educational workshops.
Highlight: “Engaging directly with stakeholders at 10 County facilities provided invaluable insights into waste operations. Visiting these sites firsthand deepened my understanding and informed the development of more effective waste reduction strategies.” Project Poster(PDF – 868kb) *
Name: Erin X.
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Initiating the implementation of climate adaptation strategies outlined in the Community Resilience section of the next Climate Action Plan. Climate adaptation enhances community preparedness for climate change impacts, which can indirectly affect transportation patterns and emissions during climate events.
Goal: To strengthen community resilience to climate change by improving preparedness, coordinating County services, fostering partnerships with community-based organizations, and utilizing robust research and data.
Highlight: “Working alongside my Climate Corps cohort and utilizing geospatial information software (GIS) to map climate vulnerability within the community were significant highlights. This mapping process is crucial for targeted and effective resilience-building efforts.”
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2021-22: Fostering Collaboration and Community Input
The Climate Corps fellows in the fall of 2021-2022 regularly collaborated to enhance their project outcomes and provide mutual support.
In 2021-2022, Alameda County’s General Services Agency continued its commitment, hosting five Climate Corps Fellows, with one joining mid-year, demonstrating the program’s adaptability and ongoing impact.
Name: Olivia Baaten
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Facilitating compliance with a new state law, SB 1383, regarding recycled-content paper requirements for County printing services. Promoting recycled content reduces the environmental footprint of paper production, contributing to broader sustainability goals.
Goal: To prepare a summary of findings from discussions with County purchasing departments and brainstorming sessions with vendors to ensure smooth implementation of SB 1383 requirements.
Highlight: “Engaging in discussions with vendors provided a valuable learning experience about County paper purchasing patterns. It was particularly rewarding when a vendor shared that my explanation of SB 1383 clarified the law for her and increased her comfort level with compliance.” Project Poster(PDF – 526kb) *
Name: Caroline Kim
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Revising and refining recommended actions on community resilience for the next Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations. Community resilience planning is crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change, which can indirectly affect emission patterns.
Goal: To achieve consensus among internal stakeholders on resilience action goals and incorporate community feedback into the action language, ensuring a community-centered approach.
Highlight: “Creating a matrix to map community feedback to relevant resilience actions proved to be a valuable tool. Multiple internal stakeholders acknowledged that this matrix significantly aided their understanding of community input, demonstrating its practical utility.” Project Poster(PDF – 165kb) *
Name: Jocelyn Rodriguez
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Developing an online feedback forum to gather input from County residents on draft climate actions. Community engagement is essential for creating effective and supported climate action plans.
Goal: To ensure that the recommended actions in Alameda County’s Government Services and Operations Climate Action Plan genuinely reflect community feedback, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration.
Highlight: “I am enthusiastic about witnessing the meaningful discussions that will unfold on the online feedback forum. Knowing that I played a role in creating a platform where community members can voice their opinions and engage with one another on crucial climate actions is deeply fulfilling.” Project Poster(PDF – 812kb) *
Name: Chelsea Su
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Logistics Services
Major Project: Advancing the County’s fleet electrification goals by identifying and applying for relevant grant opportunities. Securing funding is a critical step in transitioning to electric vehicle fleets, reducing car gas emissions from County operations.
Goal: To secure funding for the County’s first medium-duty zero-emission trucks and the necessary charging infrastructure, paving the way for a cleaner County fleet.
Name: Sam Talarigo
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Promoting waste reduction in County facilities through data collection, stakeholder interviews, outreach materials, and upstream waste reduction strategies. Reducing waste at the source minimizes landfill burden and associated methane emissions.
Goal: To create and launch online waste sorting training modules for County employees to enhance waste diversion rates and improve recycling practices.
Highlight: “Engaging with enthusiastic County stakeholders and collaborating on waste reduction projects has been a highlight. Interviewing 11 stakeholders for a waste assessment report and gaining a deeper understanding of waste operations at their facilities was particularly insightful.” Project Poster(PDF – 1.5mb) *
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2020-21: Navigating Challenges and Advancing Resilience
Alt text: Climate Corps volunteers from the fall of 2020 participating in a virtual meeting, showcasing program adaptability during pandemic conditions.
The fall fellows of 2020-2021 adapted to pandemic conditions by coordinating virtually, demonstrating the program’s resilience and commitment to progress even amidst challenging circumstances.
The spring fellows contributed significantly to the development of the next climate action and resilience strategy for government services and operations, ensuring continued momentum in Alameda County’s environmental efforts.
In 2020-2021, Alameda County’s General Services Agency hosted six Climate Corps Fellows across five fellowships, with one fellowship shared by two fellows, maximizing program impact and reach.
Name: Sofia Barandiaran
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Identifying potential climate resilience and green economy actions for the next climate action and resiliency plan and co-leading the development of resilience metrics. Resilience and green economy initiatives are crucial for long-term emission reduction and sustainable development.
Goal: To ensure County services and operations are prepared to support communities in responding to climate change by developing a prioritized list of community resilience and green economy actions for stakeholder review.
Highlight: “Presenting various options for utilizing metrics to measure progress towards resilience was a rewarding experience. Proposing potential pathways forward on this complex issue, which is being considered by resilience professionals at all government levels, felt meaningful and impactful.” Project Poster(PDF – 469kb) *
Name: Nicole Haynes
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Completing the buildings and infrastructure section of the County’s 2019 government operations greenhouse gas inventory. Greenhouse gas inventories are essential for tracking emissions and identifying reduction opportunities across County operations.
Goal: To collect and analyze electricity and natural gas data for over 100 County buildings to contribute to the inventory, providing a data-driven foundation for progress assessment and future strategy development.
Highlight: “Analyzing building data from the greenhouse gas inventory to identify potential actions for the next climate strategy was insightful. The data underscored the significant greenhouse gas reductions achievable through bold steps like transitioning from natural gas to electric equipment.” Project Poster(PDF – 434kb) *
Name: Jennifer Liu
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Identifying socially responsible and climate-friendly investing best practices relevant to Alameda County. Sustainable investment practices align financial strategies with environmental goals and emission reduction objectives.
Goal: To contribute to knowledge development related to ESG (environmental, social, and governance) funds and climate-risk disclosure to protect County and employee assets while promoting environmental responsibility.
Highlight: “Witnessing Alameda County’s accomplishments in green building, fleet electrification, and climate adaptation firsthand during a COVID-safe site visit for a climate video project was inspiring and reinforced the tangible impact of the County’s sustainability efforts.”
Name: Jessica Navarro
Agency & Dept:General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Advancing the production of a video to celebrate ten years of climate action achievements in Alameda County. Communicating successes is crucial for building momentum and public support for continued climate action.
Goal: To ensure the video effectively showcases successes from the 2010-2020 climate action plan by providing editorial support to the production team.
Highlight: “Being included in the video footage featuring teleworkers was an exciting opportunity to highlight remote-first working strategies and their contribution to emission reduction by decreasing commutes.” Project Poster(PDF – 97kb) *
Name: Shona Paterson
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Promoting waste reduction in County facilities through data collection, best practice research, and employee engagement. Waste reduction is a key strategy for minimizing methane emissions from landfills.
Goal: To engage 200 employees in waste reduction initiatives, including surveys about recycling needs and virtual trainings on waste prevention in County facilities.
Highlight: “Presenting recycling trainings to social services employees and residents of interim housing was a significant highlight. Witnessing insightful questions from County clients and employees about waste reduction was uplifting and demonstrated their growing awareness and commitment.” Project Poster(PDF – 565kb) *
Name: Gavin Siegert
Agency & Dept: General Service Agency, Logistics Services
Major Project: Initiating the transition to electric vehicles for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks and vans used by the Property and Salvage department. Electrifying medium and heavy-duty vehicles is crucial for reducing emissions from County fleet operations.
Goal: To demonstrate the feasibility and cost savings of electrifying these vehicles to stakeholders through comprehensive cost-of-ownership analysis.
Highlight: “Developing relationships with electric vehicle (EV) truck dealerships was particularly enjoyable. Gathering detailed information about each EV model allows for informed decision-making that will significantly impact the County’s greenhouse gas emissions for years to come.” Project Poster(PDF – 330kb) *
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2019-20: Building a Sustainable Future, Together
Alt text: Fall 2019 Climate Corps volunteers participating in an orientation session, representing the program’s commitment to comprehensive training and development.
The fall fellows of 2019-2020 received an in-depth orientation to Alameda County, equipping them with the knowledge and context necessary for impactful project implementation.
The spring fellows collaborated to organize a lakeside trash clean-up for the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, demonstrating their commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship.
In 2019-2020, Alameda County’s General Services Agency hosted seven Climate Corps Fellows across six fellowships, with one fellowship shared by two fellows, further amplifying the program’s capacity for positive change.
Name: Bonnie Betts
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Completing a recycling program update at two County buildings, including new waste/recycling infrastructure and employee trainings, and documenting the approach for future building implementations. Effective recycling programs are essential for reducing landfill waste and associated emissions.
Goal: To reduce recycling contamination at County buildings by designing and testing a replicable approach to updating recycling infrastructure and educating building tenants.
Highlight: “Collaborating closely with colleagues in the recycling program on a daily basis has been meaningful, particularly in developing new approaches that the program can utilize beyond my fellowship term. This collaborative spirit ensures lasting impact.” Project Poster(PDF – 841kb) *
Name: Melissa Brownlie
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Identifying approaches and initiatives for the next phase of climate work by researching best practices from other jurisdictions and reviewing the existing Climate Action Plan. Strategic planning is crucial for sustained and effective climate action.
Goal: To contribute to strategy development for the County’s climate action plan as the initial ten-year period concludes, ensuring continued progress and ambition.
Highlight: “Collaborating closely with the Office of Sustainability staff in preparation for the next climate strategy has been an incredible learning experience. Diving into research and learning how to apply an equity lens to this work has broadened my understanding and approach.” Project Poster(PDF – 801kb) *
Name: Allison Eames
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Logistics Services
Major Project: Expanding the use of zero-emission electric vehicles in County operations by developing infrastructure, analyzing data, and organizing employee outreach efforts. Expanding EV usage is paramount for reducing car gas emissions from County fleets.
Goal: To install 7 new EV charging stations, provide key data for long-term vehicle replacement planning, and launch a fleet website to facilitate motor pool training requests.
Highlight: “Witnessing social services staff eagerly test-driving Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles at an EV training demonstrated firsthand how new technologies can inspire individuals to embrace environmental action. This enthusiasm is crucial for widespread adoption.” Project Poster(PDF – 625kb) *
Name: Selina Gomez
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Developing green purchasing initiatives for County departments and vendors to reduce emissions, save costs, and promote environmental health. Green purchasing reduces the environmental impact of County procurement, contributing to overall emission reduction efforts.
Goal: To implement a digital office initiative with potential savings exceeding $500,000 and to reach over 100 non-profit organizations with County service contracts to share sustainability resources.
Highlight: “Completing the editing and production of the County training video, ‘Climate Action Through Purchasing,’ now posted online, was a very satisfying and valuable learning experience. This video serves as a lasting resource for promoting sustainable procurement practices.” Project Poster(PDF – 223kb) *
Name: Neena Mohan
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Conducting initial stages of a climate vulnerability assessment for Alameda County to understand the impacts of climate change on services and operations. Understanding vulnerabilities is crucial for developing targeted and effective climate action strategies.
Goal: To collect data in areas such as natural environment, transportation, and water to identify high-priority climate impacts affecting County agencies, informing future climate action planning.
Highlight: “Establishing new connections with relevant organizations and stakeholders through data inquiries was rewarding. Building these relationships fosters collaboration for climate work, particularly to better support vulnerable communities.”
Name: Lexi Oliva
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Early Care and Education Program
Major Project: Promoting waste reduction best practices, focusing on recycling and composting, and integrating 4Rs curriculum implementation in child care programs. Early education in waste reduction is crucial for long-term behavioral change and emission reduction.
Goal: To reach 20 new child care program sites and develop tailored waste reduction strategies for each facility, expanding the reach of sustainable practices.
Highlight: “During my ‘Rocky the Recycling Raccoon’ lesson, the children’s pride when correctly sorting items during the waste sorting activity is always a favorite moment. Their engagement highlights the effectiveness of early environmental education.” Project Poster(PDF – 775kb) *
Name: Kamya Sud
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Promoting community resilience for residents of unincorporated Alameda County communities by supporting a tree-planting and heat education pilot program, Cooling Our Communities. Urban tree planting is a nature-based solution with multiple benefits, including carbon sequestration and heat island effect mitigation.
Goal: To develop partnerships with 7 cooling centers to facilitate registration for 300 trees to be planted within targeted communities, enhancing community resilience and environmental quality.
Highlight: “Tabling at the Ashland FamFest Fun Run and directly interacting with residents our program aims to benefit provided valuable insight. One-on-one interactions allowed for tailoring outreach strategies to make the program even more impactful.” Project Poster(PDF – 459kb) *
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2018-19: Expanding Reach and Impact
Alt text: Climate Corps volunteers from 2019 participating in a training session, highlighting the program’s emphasis on skill development and cohort building.
Fellows in 2018-2019 participated in monthly Climate Corps trainings, including an overnight retreat, fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose.
In 2018-2019, Alameda County’s General Services Agency again hosted six Climate Corps Fellows, and the Community Development Agency hosted one fellow, demonstrating the program’s expanding reach across County departments.
Name: Kathryn Cunningham
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Early Care and Education Planning Council
Major Project: Promoting waste management best practices in child care centers and family homes through the 4R curriculum (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot). Early education is crucial for establishing lifelong sustainable habits.
Goal: To support 25 child care centers and family homes in maximizing waste diversion from landfills, reducing methane emissions and promoting resource conservation.
Highlight: “Witnessing the engagement and genuine interest of young children during classroom lessons, especially their understanding of recycling at ages 2 to 5, fills me with hope for the future generation’s environmental consciousness.” Project Poster(PDF – 1248kb) *
Name: Brittani Gallagher
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Logistics Services
Major Project: Promoting the utilization of electric vehicles (EVs) among employees to reduce the County’s carbon footprint and air pollution. EV adoption is a direct strategy for reducing car gas emissions from County operations and employee commutes.
Goal: To achieve parity in vehicle miles traveled between County fleet gas vehicles and EVs, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels within the County fleet.
Highlight: “Observing employees become more familiar and enthusiastic about using County EVs for work-related travel as a result of the EV trainings I hosted and organized was rewarding. Increased EV utilization directly translates to emission reductions.” Panel Presentation at AltCar 2019 Project Poster(PDF – 1326kb) *
Name: Alex Mesher
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Building on sustainable purchasing efforts at the County through policy research, data analysis, and outreach to executives and employees. Sustainable procurement practices reduce the environmental impact of County spending and promote responsible consumption.
Goal: To reduce climate pollution associated with the lifecycle of County purchases, including office supplies, paper, and building materials, while maintaining or reducing costs.
Highlight: “Conducting surveys on sustainable purchasing with County employees revealed their passion and knowledge about environmental issues. Employee engagement is a key driver for successful sustainability initiatives.” Project Poster(PDF – 1541kb) *
Name: Erin Tou
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Updating the County-wide wildfire smoke communications protocol based on best practices and input from vulnerable populations. Effective communication during climate events is crucial for protecting public health and safety.
Goal: To enhance coordination among County agencies for wildfire smoke risk communications, ensuring timely and accessible information for all residents, especially vulnerable groups.
Highlight: “Contributing to writing an RFP for a community engagement consultant highlighted the significant influence local governments can have in incorporating equity into programs. Focusing community outreach on underrepresented populations was empowering and essential for inclusive climate action.” Project Poster(PDF – 1275kb) *
Name: Micaela Unda
Agency & Dept: Community Development Agency, Planning Department
Major Project: Piloting a climate adaptation program focused on green infrastructure implementation to address public health risks from increased heat. Green infrastructure, like tree planting, is a nature-based solution for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Goal: To implement the Cooling Communities program, planting 300 trees to reduce heat in vulnerable communities, lower energy bills, reduce GHG emissions, and improve livability.
Highlight: “The enthusiastic reception of the Cooling Communities program at a healthy communities meeting and the program’s inherently rewarding nature have made this project particularly fulfilling. Direct community benefit and environmental improvement are powerful motivators.” Project Poster(PDF – 1363kb) *
Name: Savannah Whaley
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Advancing climate change adaptation and equity work among County departments and partners. Integrating equity into climate adaptation ensures that vulnerable communities are not disproportionately impacted by climate change.
Goal: To ensure adaptation and equity are incorporated into County climate action planning materials and that other departments consider climate change impacts on the communities they serve.
Highlight: “Observing the County’s progress in climate adaptation and sharing knowledge with other jurisdictions has been encouraging. Collaborative learning and progress sharing are essential for accelerating climate action.” Project Poster(PDF – 880kb) *
Name: Dominic Zona
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Logistics Services
Major Project: Encouraging clean transportation to and from County facilities by expanding bike infrastructure and commuter programs. Promoting clean commuting reduces single-occupancy vehicle trips and associated car gas emissions.
Goal: To reduce single-occupant vehicle trips by County garage parking permit holders by 20% and increase engagement with the County’s commute website by 50%, promoting sustainable transportation options.
Highlight: “Seeing the parking cash-out program come to fruition has been very rewarding. Transforming planning and testing into a user-friendly program that incentivizes commuters to explore alternatives to driving alone, with reimbursement for non-parking days, is a significant achievement.” Project Poster(PDF – 1023kb) *
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2017-18: Innovation and Collaboration
Alt text: Climate Corps fellows from 2018 hosting a training day, demonstrating peer-to-peer learning and program leadership.
Fellows in 2017-2018 took a leadership role by hosting one of the monthly Climate Corps training days, showcasing their expertise and program engagement.
In 2017-2018, Alameda County’s General Services Agency continued its strong commitment, hosting six Climate Corps Fellows.
Name: Camyle Allen
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Early Care and Education Planning Council
Major Project: Educating children in preschool and child care on waste sorting, training educators on sustainable facilities management, and creating a platform for best practice sharing. Early childhood education is foundational for building sustainable behaviors.
Goal: To increase waste diversion in 30 new centers through engaging lessons and staff training, reducing landfill waste and associated methane emissions.
Highlight: “Discovering that I had expanded waste diversion capacity in the region’s early care and education system by over 250 gallons in a few months through bin distribution was incredibly impactful. Quantifiable results demonstrate the program’s effectiveness.”
Name: James Dunn
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Identifying funding and financial incentives for climate action, such as rebates for individuals and developers, and developing a tool to assess climate transition risk in investment portfolios. Financial mechanisms are crucial for scaling up climate action and transitioning to a green economy.
Goal: To develop a tool for assessing climate transition risk in investment portfolios, promoting climate-conscious financial decision-making.
Highlight: “Collaborating with a cohort of six fellows at Alameda County provides a unique support network. Designing and hosting an interactive game for employees to promote waste sorting was a particularly rewarding collaborative experience.” Project Poster (PDF – 896kb) *
Name: Sam Hill-Cristol
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Logistics Services
Major Project: Determining the most cost-effective strategy to expand electric vehicle charging at the County’s central fleet facility, including assessing a three-year “smart charge” pilot project. Optimizing EV charging infrastructure is essential for cost-effective and efficient EV adoption.
Goal: To reduce utility bill costs at the County fleet facility by 20% while adding more electric vehicles and chargers, demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of smart charging.
Highlight: “Planning a site walk-through of the County’s main fleet facility with consultants and electricians evolved into a productive two-hour problem-solving session, leading to significant progress in building analysis and EV infrastructure planning.” Project Poster (PDF – 973kb) *
Name: Kevin Horng
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Logistics Services
Major Project: Promoting sustainable transportation modes to County facilities for employees and visitors by expanding commuter programs and improving bike parking. Encouraging sustainable commuting reduces single-occupancy vehicle trips and associated car gas emissions.
Goal: To increase the number of employees using the carpool matching service by 50 percent, promoting carpooling as a viable commute option.
Highlight: “Collaborating with other teams to create bike parking requirements for new County buildings is meaningful because this infrastructure will extend beyond my fellowship term, promoting long-term sustainable commuting.” Project Poster (PDF – 1092kb) *
Name: Pallavi Sherikar
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Advising County agencies on addressing the health impacts of climate change on residents, based on research of best practices for climate change preparedness. Climate change preparedness is crucial for protecting public health and minimizing vulnerability.
Goal: To distill research into clear presentations on best practices to address heat and air quality issues for two workshops, informing County agency strategies.
Highlight: “Receiving feedback from an urban planner after presenting on urban heat island effect mitigation strategies, stating that it sounded like I had years of experience, gave me confidence in my ability to apply a climate lens to diverse fields and pursue graduate studies.” Project Poster (PDF – 974kb) *
Name: Catherine Willett
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Expanding compost and recycling programs to additional County buildings and designing an outreach campaign to achieve facility waste reduction goals. Expanding waste diversion programs is essential for reducing landfill waste and methane emissions.
Goal: To introduce compost and mixed recycling services to 15 County buildings and refresh existing programs in 10 buildings, significantly increasing waste diversion across County facilities.
Highlight: “Engaging with County employees about recycling and composting at the annual health benefits fair was enjoyable. The enthusiastic participation of employees in our waste sorting game was pleasantly surprising and demonstrated their willingness to engage with sustainability initiatives.”
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2016-17: Building Infrastructure for Sustainability
Alt text: Climate Corps fellows from 2017 touring County green buildings and local waste facilities, showcasing experiential learning and program immersion.
Fellows in 2016-2017 gained valuable experiential learning through tours of County green buildings and local waste facilities, enhancing their understanding of real-world sustainability practices.
In 2016-2017, Alameda County’s General Services Agency continued its strong partnership with Climate Corps, hosting six fellows.
Name: Natalie Calhoun
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Rolling out compost and expanded recycling programs to County buildings and researching waste reduction strategies for hard-to-recycle items like mattresses. Expanding waste diversion and addressing challenging waste streams are key to achieving zero waste goals.
Goal: To increase employee access to compost in 15 buildings and reduce overall recoverable material in the trash, significantly improving waste management practices.
Highlight: “Designing initial plans for new outdoor dumpster locations allows me to contribute to the County’s infrastructure and make a lasting physical impact. Giving a recycling training at the animal shelter and interacting with the animals afterwards was a delightful bonus!” Project Poster (PDF – 1.2mb) *
Name: Narayan Gopinathan
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Transportation Services
Major Project: Overseeing the implementation of a smart charging program and battery energy storage installation to reduce the grid impacts of electric vehicle charging. Smart charging and energy storage are crucial for optimizing EV charging and grid stability.
Goal: To reduce energy demand charges by 20% and building peak electrical demand by 18 kW in a County-owned parking garage through smart charging and battery storage implementation.
Highlight: “Learning about advanced technologies at the forefront of electric transportation, including battery storage, smart charging, and vehicle-to-grid integration, has been a major highlight. These technologies are transforming the future of transportation.” Project Poster (PDF – 819kb) *
Name: Alisa Healy
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Early Care and Education
Major Project: Promoting recycling and composting in over 30 additional Alameda County preschools and child care centers through the Green Child Care 4R’s Education program. Early childhood education is fundamental for creating a sustainable future.
Goal: To increase waste diversion in preschools and child care centers by educating students and staff on proper waste sorting practices, fostering long-term sustainable habits.
Highlight: “Reaching the milestone of educating 1000 students is incredibly rewarding. Educating preschool students about recycling and composting at a young age is vital because climate change will disproportionately affect their generation. Witnessing their enthusiasm for waste sorting is inspiring.” Project Poster (PDF – 941kb) *
Name: Jacqueline Kha
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Supporting the strategic redesign of the sustainability intranet site to improve employee access to sustainability information. Effective communication and information access are crucial for driving organizational sustainability.
Goal: To analyze the existing 90-page site, streamline content into a new dynamic template, and reach 1000 employees in the initial launch months of the new site, enhancing employee engagement with sustainability resources.
Highlight: “Learning how to utilize appreciative inquiry for employee interviews was a valuable skill gained. Experiencing both sides of the interview process provided a deeper understanding of employee needs and perspectives.” Project Poster (PDF – 817kb) *
Name: Alex Sabo
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Transportation Services
Major Project: Launching a new carpool matching website for County employees and implementing clean commute campaigns in Hayward and Oakland. Promoting carpooling and clean commuting reduces single-occupancy vehicle trips and car gas emissions.
Goal: To support at least 1000 employees in signing up for the County’s new carpool matching site and encourage employees to switch to clean commute options like BART or biking.
Highlight: “Speaking with employees at the annual Employee Health Expo about their commute challenges and offering clean commute resources was enjoyable. Seeing people’s positive response to carpooling and realizing it could improve their commute experience was rewarding.” Project Poster (PDF – 1.2mb) *
Name: Liz Shenaut
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Office of Sustainability
Major Project: Developing recommendations for managing internal revolving funds in local governments to inform a proposal for a County green revolving fund. Green revolving funds provide dedicated financing for sustainability projects and emission reduction initiatives.
Goal: To obtain approval for establishing a green revolving fund, enabling departments to invest in efficient technologies with upfront cost assistance.
Highlight: “Presenting findings to County executives and having them used to answer questions about the revolving fund concept was impactful. Collaborating with graduate students to prepare a detailed proposal for the next presentation further advanced this important initiative.” Project Poster (PDF – 798kb) *
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2015-16: Engaging Employees and Expanding Programs
Alt text: Climate Corps fellows from 2016 hosting lunchtime conversations on environmental topics, promoting employee engagement and sustainability awareness.
Fellows in 2015-2016 actively engaged County employees through a series of lunchtime conversations focused on various environmental topics, fostering a culture of sustainability.
In 2015-2016, Alameda County’s General Services Agency hosted six Climate Corps Bay Area Fellows, continuing its strong partnership and program impact.
Name: Messay Betru
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Transportation Services
Major Project: Overseeing the installation and management of a pilot energy storage battery system to reduce grid impact from County electric vehicle charging stations. Energy storage is critical for managing EV charging demand and grid stability.
Goal: To reduce electricity consumption by at least 10% at a major County garage and minimize demand charge costs, demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of energy storage.
Highlight: “Meeting with potential vendors and evaluating return on investment to select the best energy storage system was a valuable experience. Presenting the recommendation to the agency director and gaining project approval marked a milestone in my presentation and leadership skills.” Project Poster (PDF – 722kb) *
Name: Jessica Byron
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Early Care and Education
Major Project: Expanding the Greening Preschools Program to include compost and recycling in child care centers and family child care homes. Expanding early childhood greening programs builds a foundation for lifelong environmental stewardship.
Goal: To deliver waste education and technical assistance to 15 new child care centers and 10 new family child care homes, extending the reach of sustainable practices to underserved settings.
Highlight: “Family child care centers often receive fewer resources, so they are particularly appreciative of our program expansion. Hearing that staff and children at one home prepared for my visit as ‘Rocky the Recycling Raccoon’ by watching Wall-E was magical, demonstrating their enthusiasm and engagement.”
Name: Hana Creger
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Transportation Services
Major Project: Contributing to the multi-year goal of reducing drive-alone commuters by 20% through campaigns promoting new BART shuttles and training Clean Commute Champions. Reducing drive-alone commuting directly reduces car gas emissions from employee commutes.
Goal: To encourage dozens of employees to switch from driving alone to clean commute options like carpooling and BART, promoting sustainable transportation choices.
Highlight: “Working on a team to plan and implement our first-ever Community Commutes Day, a fun event supporting employees to try clean commutes and win prizes, has been rewarding. Community-based social marketing effectively promotes behavior change.” Project Poster (PDF – 1.2mb) *
Name: Alice Hewitt
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Sustainability
Major Project: Rolling out compost and expanded recycling programs to County leased buildings and providing refresher trainings in owned buildings. Expanding waste diversion programs across all County facilities is crucial for achieving zero waste goals.
Goal: To introduce compost collection to 15 new buildings and improve collection rates in 10 buildings with existing expanded recycling, significantly increasing waste diversion in leased and owned facilities.
Highlight: “Seeing a new mental health crisis center open with appropriate waste bins in place, due to our collaboration to select bin locations for staff and client ease of use, was very pleasing. Contributing to a smooth move-in allowed center staff to focus on providing critical care.” Project Poster (PDF – 1.2mb) *
Name: Caitln Murphy
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Sustainability Program
Major Project: Supporting organization-wide outreach campaigns to boost employee participation in sustainability programs and tracking progress on Climate Action Plan goals. Employee engagement is vital for successful implementation of sustainability initiatives.
Goal: To engage 200 employees in planning Green & Healthy events and meetings to reduce waste and provide feedback to 19 agencies on climate action progress, fostering data-driven decision-making and program improvement.
Highlight: “Presenting at training sessions for environmental peers about community-based social marketing techniques for expanding Green & Healthy events and hearing attendees plan to use these techniques in their communities was rewarding. Sharing best practices amplifies impact.” Project Poster (PDF – 1.4mb) *
Name: Hannah Wiser
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Sustainability Program
Major Project: Making it easier for County employees to purchase green products by ensuring products featured as green on the office supply ordering site meet rigorous environmental specifications. Green purchasing streamlines sustainable choices for employees, promoting eco-friendly procurement.
Goal: To develop and implement a “Green Favorites” list of office supply products, providing employees with readily identifiable and verified sustainable options.
Highlight: “Evaluating 600 office supply products and finding that 300 met our specifications, offering employees a broad range of green options, was a significant achievement in promoting sustainable purchasing.” Project Poster (PDF – 471kb) *
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2014-15: Setting Standards and Visualizing Progress
Alt text: Climate Corps volunteers from 2014-2015 engaging employees in sustainability programs, such as promoting bicycle commuting and healthy lifestyles.
Fellows in 2014-2015 actively engaged employees in sustainability programs, including promoting bicycle commuting as a healthy and emission-reducing transportation choice.
In 2014-2015, Alameda County’s General Services Agency continued its strong partnership, hosting five Climate Corps Bay Area Fellows.
Name: Nicole Gaetjens
Dept: Sustainability Program
Major Project: Developing environmental product and service standards to incorporate into lease agreements for County-operated buildings. Establishing environmental standards in leases ensures sustainability in County operations across all facilities.
Goal: To pilot environmental standards in three leased buildings, setting a precedent for broader implementation and promoting sustainable building practices.
Highlight: “Presenting my research and draft environmental standards to the head of the leasing department and receiving enthusiastic support for the project was a pivotal moment, validating the importance and feasibility of these standards.” Project Poster (PDF – 1mb) *
Name: Debra Halligan
Dept: Sustainability Program
Major Project: Ensuring progress on the County’s Climate Action Plan by developing visualizations that communicate progress towards sustainability goals. Data visualization is crucial for effective communication and performance tracking of climate action initiatives.
Goal: To provide useful management data to the Climate Executive Committee by sharing a quarterly climate progress dashboard, enabling data-driven decision-making and accountability.
Highlight: “At the first preview of our climate dashboard, agency heads’ engagement, questions, and interest in a visualization I created demonstrated the effectiveness of data visualization in communicating progress and areas for improvement in climate action.” Project Poster (PDF – 2.2mb) *
Name: Natalie Lessa
Dept: Early Care and Education Planning Council
Major Project: Expanding the Greening Preschools Program by implementing recycling and composting services and providing staff training and classroom education ( see video)). Program expansion extends the benefits of early childhood environmental education to more children and communities.
Goal: To extend services to 25 new preschool facilities, increasing waste diversion by an estimated 100 tons annually, demonstrating the significant cumulative impact of early childhood greening initiatives.
Highlight: “The greatest reward is teaching three- to five-year-olds about reducing, reusing, recycling, and rotting because these skills and interests will last a lifetime. Teachers also continue to share their new knowledge with future children, creating a ripple effect of environmental education.” Project Poster (PDF – 1mb) *
Name: Matthew Petrofsky
Dept: Sustainability Program
Major Project: Expanding compost and recycling programs to more County facilities and increasing existing programs’ effectiveness through outreach and trainings. Program expansion and optimization are key to maximizing waste diversion and emission reduction.
Goal: To roll out six new recycling and composting programs at County facilities and modify infrastructure where needed to support effective waste management.
Highlight: “Revising floor plans for a building remodel to incorporate space for waste enclosures early in the design process felt impactful. Ensuring recycling is considered from the outset, rather than as an afterthought, demonstrates a commitment to integrated sustainability.” Project Poster (PDF – 1.1mb) *
Name: Erica Tan
Dept: Transportation Services
Major Project: Expanding employee use of clean commuting resources, such as BART shuttles, commuter benefits, Guaranteed Ride Home, and carpool matching, to reduce commute emissions. Promoting clean commuting is a direct strategy for reducing car gas emissions from employee commutes.
Goal: To recruit and train 100 employee volunteer Clean Commute Champions to engage coworkers in learning about and utilizing clean commuting resources, building a grassroots movement for sustainable transportation.
Highlight: “Launching a new BART shuttle to County offices at Embarcadero Cove in response to employee requests and celebrating with 45 employees on the shuttle just days after launch, hearing their excitement about avoiding long drives and contributing to cleaner air, was wonderful.” Project Poster (PDF – 1.1mb) *
Climate Corps at Alameda County 2013-14: Measuring Impact and Building Capacity
Alt text: Climate Corps volunteers from 2013-2014 meeting weekly to support each other’s projects and professional development, highlighting program’s collaborative environment.
The five fellows in 2013-2014 met weekly to provide mutual support for their projects and professional development, fostering a collaborative and learning-focused environment.
In 2013-2014, Alameda County’s General Services Agency hosted five Climate Corps Bay Area Fellows, providing valuable career opportunities in government for young professionals.
Name: Sam Bliss
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Sustainability Program
Major Project: Measuring the complete greenhouse gas emissions from Alameda County’s purchased goods and services. Supply chain emissions are a significant component of overall organizational carbon footprint.
Goal: To create a “supply chain emissions inventory” illustrating the full environmental impact of purchasing, identify high-impact areas, and create a guidebook for other public agencies to conduct similar assessments.
Highlight: “Presenting findings to County purchasing agents and community-based organization staff and witnessing their engagement with this technical information was rewarding. Knowing that my work will inform climate-friendly purchasing decisions and be used by other agencies is impactful.” Project Poster (PDF – 1.2mb) *
Name: Elliot Goldstein
Agency & Dept: General Services Agency, Sustainability Program
Major Project: Providing research, project management, and process facilitation support to cross-agency teams developing programs to implement the County’s Climate Action Plan. Collaborative implementation is essential for achieving comprehensive climate action.
Goal: To support teams in engaging employees in clean commuter benefits, creating a video portal for alternative work arrangements, launching a Countywide videoconferencing tool, and developing a sustainability dashboard, advancing multiple climate action strategies.
Highlight: “Hearing past team members speak about their gains from participating in the 2014 team launch event and County Administrator Susan Muranishi emphasizing sustainability’s importance was inspiring and fostered optimism for the new teams’ program implementation.” Project Poster (PDF – 846kb) *
Name: Kimberly Hazard
Agency & Dept: GSA, Early Care and Education Planning Council
Major Project: Promoting waste reduction and recycling in child care centers and preschools throughout Alameda County. Early childhood education is a key strategy for long-term waste reduction and environmental stewardship.
Goal: To improve recycling and waste reduction in 30 new child care centers, divert at least 100 tons of waste from landfills, and enhance preschool teachers’ knowledge of waste reduction best practices and relevant laws.
Highlight: “Hearing a provider express impress
