[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28475]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO THE MARIN CONSERVATION CORPS ON ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 25, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute the Marin 
Conservation Corps on its 25th anniversary of helping young people to a 
brighter future by providing jobs and learning opportunities, at the 
same time protecting and conserving our natural resources.
  Marin Conservation Corps began more than 25 years ago when founder 
Richard Hammond was out jogging along one of the many gorgeous trails 
of the Marin Headlands. The father of teenage sons at the time, he had 
been seeking something productive to keep them occupied during summer 
vacation and came up with the idea to combine trail maintenance with 
young people's need for work. But it wasn't until devastating floods 
hit Marin in 1982 that the corps took shape.
  The first local conservation corps in the country, MCC literally 
blazed the trail for others to follow. Workers have put in more than 
three million hours to maintain and conserve Marin County's 150,000 
acres of public land. In association with AmeriCorps, MCC has partnered 
with the National Park Service to create a one-on-one mentoring 
program. MCC also provides young people with summer jobs through a 
combination of outdoor education, community service and recreational 
activities through its Project ReGeneration.
  Under the leadership of Marilee Eckert since 1992, the nonprofit has 
grown to provide year-round employment to 116 people, operating under a 
budget of more than $5 million and helping more than 3,000 young men 
and women gain job skills along with an education. Marilee also holds 
leadership roles in many local and national organizations. Her efforts 
have earned her recognition and awards from the county and the Sierra 
Club, as well as the gratitude of the many corps members who have 
benefited from her hard work.
  Many of those who have benefited come from under-served populations. 
One such corpsman is Matthew Rainey, a 21-year-old convicted felon. ``I 
didn't have an opportunity to work anywhere else,'' he says. 
``Honestly, I was living in my car, didn't have anything going for 
myself, but every single day, I would come to work.''
  Because of MCC, Rainey has earned his GED, saved enough to rent an 
apartment, and is considering following the trade he learned through 
his work at MCC.
  ``He has so totally blossomed,'' notes Deborah Schoenbaum, MCC's 
deputy director. ``He has won just about every award you can get in the 
corps. It's been a life-changing experience for him.''
  Working at MCC has been a life-changing experience for many others, 
as well. An average of 300 young people go through the various MCC 
programs each year. In fact, some of MCC's sponsors and greatest 
supporters were previously in the corps program.
  Corpsmembers not only arrive at work at 7 a.m. for a full day of work 
each day, but must put in 10 hours of education each week, as well. 
Marvin was one such young man willing to work this hard for a better 
future. Marvin came to the corps speaking absolutely no English, 
Schoenbaum remembers. ``He now speaks English and has gotten a job with 
a top landscaping firm because he went through a landscaping program we 
have with College of Marin.''
  Such success stories, Madam Speaker, is why the Marin Conservation 
Corps deserves to be congratulated for its past 25 years of service. 
May it have an equally successful future.

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