[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16208]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF THE MARIN CONSERVATION CORPS

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the 
achievements of the Marin Conservation Corps, MCC, the oldest local, 
private, non-profit conservation corps in the United States.
  Twenty years ago the winter of 1982 brought severe flooding to much 
of Marin County. Concerned citizens led by Richard Hammond took action 
by going out and battling the winter storms and working to protect the 
neighborhoods and natural habitats that were at risk. Since I was a 
member of the Marin Board of Supervisors at that time, I well remember 
them.
  From this community effort the Marin Conservation Corps was born. It 
identified its mission as developing the youth of Marin County by 
providing meaningful employment, education and training opportunities 
through projects that conserve natural resources, deliver human 
services and respond to public emergencies.
  In the 20 years since its founding, more than 3,000 corps members 
have participated in environmental service and educational programs. 
Youth and young adults between the ages of 11 and 30 receive service 
and educational opportunities. Participants in MCC may earn their high 
school diplomas through the MCC charter school, enroll in AmeriCorps 
programs or pursue lifelong learning programs, gaining valuable 
education and job training while learning the importance of community 
service.
  Community service projects have included building and maintaining 
Marin County's hiking trails, clearing and disposing of highly 
flammable brush throughout Marin to prevent fire hazards, teaching 
environmental education classes to thousands of students in the Marin 
County public schools, restoring and clearing creeks and waterways to 
prevent flooding, establishing recycling programs, and collecting over 
one million pounds of recyclables from approximately 250 bins that MCC 
members have built and placed throughout the county.
  In the year 2000 the California Charter Academy presented its 
``Outstanding Program Award'' to the Marin Conservation Corps, 
recognizing MCC's exceptional education program. Programs such as the 
Marin Conservation Corps enrich our people and our communities and 
provide a model for similar efforts across our land.

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