Community Outreach and Engagement
Supporting our communities and the environment
Community colleges are embedded into the fabric of diverse communities across the state. The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) works with state agencies and community partners to connect underserved, low-income, Tribal, and disadvantaged communities with climate and clean energy programs, from listening sessions and vulnerability mapping to clean vehicle and solar incentives. Building the next generation of climate leaders is also at the heart of FoundationCCC’s vision for an equitable climate future.
Programs
Clean Mobility Student Ambassador Fellowship Program
Building on the success of the California Community Colleges Student Ambassador Program, this fellowship model introduces a structured cohort-based experience that centers the development of engaged and empowered community leaders through the lens of clean mobility and environmental justice.
The California Community Colleges Clean Mobility Student Ambassador Fellowship Program is a statewide leadership and workforce development initiative that uses applied learning and third-space thinking principles to prepare California Community College students for a climate-ready future. Ambassador Fellows will build core competencies and skills to understand, strengthen, and engage with mobility access, clean air technology, and community resource systems across their campuses and communities.
Vulnerable Communities Platform
FoundationCCC, partners with the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, hosts the Climate Ready Cohort.
The Climate Ready Cohort is made up of various non-profit organizations, cities, and tribal communities trained in using the Vulnerable Communities Platform. Educational modules on using the Climate Vulnerability Map allow users to examine the intersection of current and projected climate impacts and relevant social and demographic factors. Our cohort participants use this tool to create their own climate vulnerability assessments based on their communities and further extend outreach through community workshops.
Partnerships
Access Clean California
Access Clean California connects people with low- to moderate-incomes to clean energy programs. Access Clean California’s Benefits Finder connects participants to programs they may be eligible for and explains how they can be combined.
Central California Asthma Collaborative
Central California Asthma Collective’s (CCAC) EV Equity Program helps income-eligible families overcome the financial barriers of switching from gas to clean, zero-emission vehicles. Through one-on-one support, EV Equity Program staff help lower-income residents navigate the process of applying for state incentives. The program also provides education on EV charging, vehicle options, long-term savings, and environmental benefits, ensuring that families feel informed and supported throughout the process of switching to an electric vehicle.
Community Housing Development Corporation
Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) provides a broad range of affordable housing opportunities and services to enable low and moderate income residents to gain better housing and financial stability. CHDC engages residents at the grassroots level and ensures that the whole neighborhood benefits from resources such as the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP).
Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
Through the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (GO LCI), FoundationCCC has worked alongside GO LCI to host the Climate Ready Cohort. The Climate Ready Cohort is a training program for staff in city, town, rural, and tribal governments or community-based organizations who would like to create a climate vulnerability assessment for their community and get started in taking action to build resilience to increasing wildfires, extreme heat, sea level rise, and drought.
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