Earth Systems Science, Inc.

Manzanar PLC On Track for Spring 2005

Feb 04, 2005

The Spring 2005 season for the Manzanar National Historic Site Public Land Corps grant took off with a new collaborative among some old National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)?– Los Angeles Community Partners (LACP). Earth Systems Science, Inc. (ESSI) and Expo Neighbors Environmental Group (ENEG aka Expo) were joined by Sports Spectacular Inc. (SSI) and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) represented by students from Pico ?– Union EcoAcademy and members of Clean & Green.

From 28-30 January 2005, the composite team of 26 people braved the cold, windy weather of the Owens Valley to complete 438 service hours at Manzanar NHS. ESSI and Expo launched the first Manzanar PLC effort as a way to implement the NPCAs Cultural Diversity initiative. At the same time, they sought to integrate academics with job readiness training and outdoor / environmental career orientation for urban youth.

True to form, Cultural Diversity is alive and well at Manzanar in 2005. The group consisted of 18 Latinos, 4 African-Americans, 2 Caucasians, and 2 Asians. Most of the participants had never been the Manzanar NHS before. Half of the students had never worked before. Essentially, this effort was their first taste of real work. The LACC team brought their hardhats, gloves, goggles, and dust masks ready to get to work.

For this trip, the on-site work tasks included:
1) Clearing the asphalt along the south section of auto tour route.

2) Clearing leaf litter and light branches (fuel reduction) in the orchard area as a fire prevention action.

3) Clearing brush from selected concrete foundations in the Hospital area

4) Clearing brush from the concrete foundation at the Kendo site

5) Clearing brush from selected concrete foundations in the Administration area

6) Clearing brush from the concrete foundations in Block 8

7) Clearing brush from the concrete foundations in Block 14

Operating on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit, the composite PLC team was heartily welcomed by the Manzanar NHS staff. The cold, windy conditions provided a challenge for everyone. But flexible attitudes and cooperative spirits were the watchwords for the trip. Manzanar staff flexed their schedules to accommodate the PLC team. Some students expressed a desire to play in the snow---something they might see on distant mountain peaks in Los Angeles. So the leadership team approached the Manzanar staff with the idea of working one hour longer on Saturday and starting one hour earlier on Sunday. This would allow the group to drive up to the snow line later on Sunday morning and still make it back to Los Angeles on schedule. The park staff was agreeable. The students then voted on whether to put in a longer day and start earlier the next morning. The snow trip won overwhelmingly.

During the trip, students were diligently taking notes in the Interpretive Center. Part of the trip involved relevant studies---and the fact that they were expected to give a presentation to the entire school after the trip---motivated them to pay attention. The integration of academics and community service are still key elements in the ESSI ?– Expo PLC effort.

ESSI provided critical logistical support, too. Meal service was led by Saifon Lee with other ESSI folks lending a hand. Erika Rodriguez and Alex Arboleda were part of the ESSI team on the previous PLC. New ESSi team members were Jaime and Kate Aguilera. Laura Grenholm, Felipe Campos, and Cristian Ahumada led the LACC contingent. The participating students were Vidal Castaneda, Erik Diaz, Efrain Gil, Evette Gonzalez, Yadissa Guevara, Karen Hernandez, Nicolas Higgenbotham, David Huerta, Meshel Mariscal , Hadajessica Martinez, Rosha McKinney, Monica Powell, Jairo Ramirez, Alejandro Rodriguez, Roosyvelt Sandoval, Ellease Taylor, and Iris Ulloa.

Plans are being made for another ESSI ?– LACC PLC team trip to Manzanar in early March 2005. It is hoped that weather conditions will permit camping, as this will expand the experience of the students.

Qualified students earned a stipend of $6.75 per hour for work done one site. This past weekend, each student was able to put in 16 hours, earning $108 for their efforts. They get paid after they complete a second trip. This is part of the ESSI training plan. Students are expected to make a commitment to the program. After learning by doing, they must also teach back to others. This is done during the second trip. In this way, the time spent training students on the first trip yields multiple dividends in the form of social responsibility, community service, and interpersonal communications (among others).