Serving as a CivicSpark AmeriCorps fellow has shown me that we have the power to make an impact in the communities around us. Helping staff members of water agencies master leak detection in underground pipeline is just one project I’ve been involved in, and just one project will result in a very large amount of water and energy savings.

Knowing that the CivicSpark cohort and the LGC staff are applying themselves wholeheartedly and putting in long hours is constant motivation for me to do my best work as a fellow…Without [CivicSpark], myself and others would have missed out on this opportunity to fight against climate change and help local communities.

CivicSpark has been invaluable to the successful launch of our building energy transparency requirement. Collaboration of the CivicSpark Bay Area team has enriched our program new perspectives and best practices from other cities. It has been a great experience for all involved.

Joining CivicSpark gave me the opportunity to gain tangible skills to address not just the theoretical issues of the Valley, but the actual policy needs of communities. It’s allowed me to understand the language that is needed to make change at the local level.

I have been presented with experiences that have allowed me to grow professionally and personally. Working through the challenges that this position generates has enhanced my professional development and my ability to think critically. I will certainly take what I have learned throughout this service year into the next steps of my environmental career.

The projects [our fellow is working on] are important for the County’s success in designing and implementing climate action strategies. They are also significant components in broader thinking about long-term sustainability. Without our CivicSpark fellow, these significant pieces of work would be several years out for their completion.

I am so happy with what I have learned and how I have grown throughout this service year. The experiences and autonomy I had in my service project were invaluable. The amount that I learned about environmental sustainability and the workings of government has given me so much insight into the way I want to work on the issues I care about most.

It’s nice knowing that a running theme that binds us is AmeriCorps’ mission: Get things done. It certainly feels like that when we can congregate and reflect on the work we’re doing in our own region, and share that with other fellows.

This program is providing a lot of value for us. When we are required to address the climate action plans, it is a requirement we can’t implement. This is providing us some real action and support and we are seeing progress.