Save East Bay Parks

Dear Elected East Bay Regional Park District Board Members: 

I am urging you to save the Youth Employment Program (YEP) by keeping it inside the East Bay Regional Park District with the current YEP Supervisor. East Bay Park experts are the ones who should continue to lead this successful job training program for at-risk youth in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. 

Over the last 10 years, park staff have trained more than 100 at-risk youth. Young adults from park communities have worked nearly 12,000 hours planting native species, clearing fire hazards, and building trails. 

Youth crew member recruitment and wages are already paid for. The only cost to the Park District is the YEP Supervisor’s time. 

You can keep the Youth Employment Project thriving by keeping it inside the East Bay Regional Park District. Retaining the YEP Supervisor at the East Bay Regional Park District will ensure that youth crews get park expert-led job training and mentorship. This exposure to careers in parks, recreation, and environmental education has been life-changing for East Bay youth, and increased the quality of our parks. 

Please let me know that you will save the Youth Employment Program by keeping it inside the East Bay Park District with the YEP Supervisor.

Sincerely,