More than 10,000 new members join California’s largest-ever public service movement under Newsom
Sacramento, California – California is building an army of community helpers, but its mission has nothing to do with combat. More than 50,000 people have joined the state’s Service Corps since 2019, contributing nearly 26 million hours to projects ranging from disaster recovery to feeding families and mentoring students.
The effort is growing again. Governor Gavin Newsom has sworn in more than 10,000 members for the 2026-2027 service year, marking another milestone for what California officials describe as the nation’s largest public service program, surpassing even the Peace Corps in size.
Newsom joined First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement Director Josh Fryday for the statewide swearing-in.
Unlike traditional volunteer programs, the California Service Corps offers paid opportunities that allow participants to earn money, develop practical skills and explore future careers while helping their communities.
“The solution to so many of our challenges comes from service, which can bring people together, give people a sense of purpose, and remind us of our common humanity,” Newsom said.
The program’s growth has produced measurable results. According to state figures covering 2018-19 through 2024-25, service members helped tutor or mentor more than 608,000 students and distribute over 313 million pounds of food.
More than 318,000 people received disaster-related assistance, while service activities helped divert 86.6 million pounds of food and organic waste. Nearly 982,000 low-income Californians also received personalized legal assistance through Self-Help Legal Centers.
The latest members will continue working through programs including College Corps, California Climate Action Corps and Youth Service Corps.
College Corps participants can receive up to $10,000 in educational support for completing 450 hours of community service. Climate Corps members work on wildfire resilience, urban greening and food recovery, while Youth Service Corps provides paid experience for young people facing employment barriers.
Disaster preparedness is another priority. Newsom has directed California Volunteers to prepare trained members for possible El Niño-related emergencies, building on previous deployments that included 320 service members supporting Los Angeles wildfire recovery in 2025.
The governor also announced the California Service Corps Alumni Network, connecting more than 50,000 former participants with career-development resources, employment opportunities and professional connections.
The expansion comes as California continues efforts to address social isolation among young adults. In September 2026, the state’s Men’s Service Challenge exceeded its target of engaging 10,000 men in mentoring, volunteering and community service.
California officials say the broader goal is to make public service both a way to strengthen communities and a practical route toward education and employment.
Additional information about participation opportunities is available at CAServiceCorps.com.
