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11. Civic Engagement or Leadership Development (2 pages max)
<br />The OCCC Leadership and Development Team focuses on further skills acquisition of each
<br />Corpsmember in the program. Every Corpsmember starts with an orange belt at Orientation.
<br />Each youth completes 4-phases of their development, ranked according to leadership
<br />components: work readiness, certifications, high school diploma, attendance rate, disciplinary
<br />write-ups, S.M.A.R.T. goal attainment, leadership activities engaged in at OCCC, and
<br />performance reviews. Each phase is represented by a belt, orange, green, silver and black, with
<br />black belt representing the highest level of personal and professional development. Social events,
<br />team sports, family events and participation including basketball and soccer tournaments, all-star
<br />games, staff vs. student games, and trivia games are included in this, "phases process." Youth are
<br />encouraged to participate in team activities to bring out the best in their social, emotional, and
<br />physical wellness. Annual picnics; holiday party meals, family Christmas and Thanksgiving
<br />meals allow for Corpsmember appreciation events, recognition for achievement, and phase
<br />advancement.
<br />Each phase of leadership and development takes on new challenges. Program Specialist, CCPA
<br />teaching staff, Project Managers and Leadership and Development Program Manager all work
<br />together to support a youth's development through his time at the Corps. The second phase,
<br />"Green belt" includes 30 days of perfect attendance, which is also an incentive goal, a good work
<br />and performance evaluation, and personal growth & development, as determined by staff
<br />engaged with the Corpsmember. The green belt also requires completion of workshops,
<br />leadership development with your program specialist, and work readiness components.
<br />The third phase of the program, the "silver belt" includes an additional 30 days of perfect
<br />attendance, good work and performance evaluation, personal growth and development (physical,
<br />mental, educational), completion of a State Recognized Certification, multiple Corps to Career
<br />workshops leading to the development of a personal portfolio, and additional career and post-
<br />secondary workshops. Additional financial literacy gains, and additional leadership development
<br />are also required. The final belt, the `Black" belt requires an additional 30 days of perfect
<br />attendance, good work and performance evaluation, personal growth and development (physical,
<br />mental, educational), completion of one's personal portfolio and additional competitive
<br />employment workshops to prepare for interviews and competitive employment. All youth
<br />participate in the leadership and development.
<br />OCCC also participates in civic engagement. On election day, and leading rip to election day,
<br />special efforts are made to educate youth on the civic duties one possess as an adult, informing
<br />youth on local and national voting rights, where to vote, as well as allowing television time to
<br />follow the day's election news. All Corpsmembers participate in these election days.
<br />Another civic engagement OCCC creates is flying a group of 2-4 Corpsmembers to Sacramento
<br />to meet with the other 14 Conservation Corps and tour the State Capital, meet with legislators,
<br />compete in educational activities, often meet with the Governor and other legislative leaders and
<br />policy advisors shaping California, and allow for dialogue between Corpsmember and one's
<br />representative.
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