In the past five years, Stockton Service Corps has already accomplished a lot.
The nonprofit has supported more than 8,300 students and distributed over $1.4 million in sub-grants to local organizations, officials said.
And that’s just for starters, Vice President Omar Ornelas told residents Wednesday night at an event highlighting the group’s work in the community.
“No one’s ever gotten the full picture of what SSC does,” said Nik Howard, executive director of the Reinvent Stockton Foundation, the parent organization for Stockton Service Corps.
Touting itself as the first-of-its-kind “place-based” initiative, Stockton Service Corps launched in 2019 with a mission to work with community partners in supporting “cradle-to-career” services in Stockton.
Now in its seventh year, the group has worked with hundreds of service fellows, partnered with state and national programs — including the Office of the Governor’s California Volunteers and AmeriCorps, as well as local groups like Changeist — and provided services to thousands of students and dozens of community events.
“It’s been so many years and so many people’s hard work,” said Howard, adding that he was “crazy excited” to share the news with the 80 or so residents who met at the Weber Institute of Applied Sciences & Technology school in Stockton.
Wednesday’s meeting, which showcased the completion of a three-year strategic plan, was more than an opportunity for Stockton Service Corps to tout its accomplishments, though.
Associate Director Maria Lopez de la Cruz said that while the organization is looking ahead, it wants the community’s input on where it can serve them best in the future.
“How many times are strategic plans being built and we’re typing away, and the community are not part of it?” she said. “We’re not gonna start doing anything until we have your voice.”
The evening included five workshops led by Stockton Service Corps members that focused on civic development and partner building, among other topics — part of the nonprofit’s effort to develop a pipeline of civic leaders.
In addition, a half-dozen service leaders were recognized for their work, including Ornelas, who was part of Stockton Service Corps’ previous three-year strategic plan and is now looking ahead to helping shape the group’s future direction.
“This work is obviously really personal and really incredible, and so it doesn’t feel like work all the time,” he said.
Stockton Service Corps is always seeking partners and service fellows. For more information, visit their website.
