AUGUSTA - The Maine Climate Corps, introduced in the 130th Legislature by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, is partnering with the American Climate Corps in an effort to recruit people who are interested in combating climate change, advancing environmental justice and building the clean energy economy.
The Maine Climate Corps, a service program that will generate jobs and build the leadership skills of Mainers interested in addressing climate-related challenges, draws inspiration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps. It will mobilize Mainers across the state to engage in conservation, climate resilience and clean energy projects. The American Climate Corps is aiming to accomplish the same goals on a national level.
"The Maine Climate Corps and the American Climate Corps will serve communities for years to come by helping our state meet its climate mitigation goals, assisting our towns and neighbors with climate resiliency projects and allowing new generations of Mainers to serve our state and country," said Rielly. "I'm grateful for President Biden making the American Climate Corps a priority. It's an honor that the Maine Climate Corps, one of the first state climate corps, is also one of the American Climate Corps' first partners."
"Volunteer Maine's mission is to foster volunteerism as a strategy to tackle our state's most critical needs," said Maryalice Crofton, executive director of Volunteer Maine. "Climate Corps is one effective response to climate changes, not only because it is driven by local people making local decisions but also, because research shows that communities with high rates of volunteerism are more resilient, they bounce back faster from natural disasters. Every time a devastating weather event wreaks havoc, we see how important it is to be connected with each other before things go sideways. We need to take that civic engagement lesson and apply it to adapting how we live so impacts are not as great in Maine communities."
"American Climate Corps builds on our long tradition of service corps programs in Maine," said Kirsten Brewer, Maine Climate Corps coordinator at Volunteer Maine. "Youth Conservation Corps programs, the Maine Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps programs have been tackling environmental stewardship for decades. The Maine Climate Corps and the American Climate Corps unites partners to implement a new vision of climate justice for every community."
The Maine Climate Corps and the American Climate Corps are now welcoming applications from individuals passionate about making a real difference in addressing climate change, protecting our lands and waterways, preparing the clean energy workers of the future and making our communities more resilient and more equitable.
Interested individuals are encouraged to visit American Climate Corps to learn more and apply.
Rielly is serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives and is a member of the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. He represents House District 127, which includes a portion of Westbrook.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Rielly], c. 305-965-2744