The American Red Cross’ California Safe Corps (CSC) program, part of the national AmeriCorps service program, is recruiting new members for the 2009-2010 year which begins in August.

Twenty-four members will work at 10 Red Cross chapters throughout the state, including eight to be assigned to the Greater Los Angeles chapter, providing disaster and safety training to the community. Participants will receive four weeks of training in all basic disaster courses, community education courses, as well as First Aid and CPR and will focus on helping underserved populations.

This past year, 10 CSC members each completed 1,700 hours of community service during the 10 and a half months working with the chapter. They also completed internships, working two days a week, with a specific chapter department. Some of these members shared their experiences.

Justin Yuen, a Houston, TX native and graduate of the University of Texas, had the opportunity to conduct numerous community disaster presentations, teach CPR and assisted at Red Cross disaster shelters during the California wildfires and Hurricane Ike. Yuen says the experience was invaluable. “It was fun, very challenging and helped me learn how to work with a team.”

Sonny Montoya of Sacramento had the opportunity to participate in casework management in the chapter’s International Services dept. Montoya, who will attend graduate school at USC in the fall studying social work, thought the experience “provided me with skills I will be able to use in any career path.” He also gained confidence in the area of public speaking. 

Roxanne Sengok, an arts and business major in the process of finishing her degree, said that working with the Red Cross helped her gain a better understanding of the financial development aspects of a non-profit organization.

If you have an interest in public service and would like to learn more about applying to the California Safe Corps program, please visit www.californiasafecorps.org or click onto the LA’s chapter web site at http://redcrossla.org/howwehelp/jobs