Conservation Leadership Corps marks eighth year cleaning up Milwaukee's Parks

MILWAUKEE, July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer 60 Milwaukee-area high school students will participate in an engaging employment experience through the Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC), a summer jobs program created and sponsored by Johnson Controls in partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB).

In its eighth year in Milwaukee, the CLC provides students with training to build leadership and professional development skills, a hands-on conservation experience and a personal sense of stewardship in completing environmental projects throughout the city.

During the six-week program, students will work with 13 crew leaders at the River Revitalization Foundation, Cudahy Park, Bender Park, the Root River Parkway, Copernicus Park and Greene Park. CLC members will work on new trail development, planting of native trees, grasses and flowers, invasive plant species removal, general park cleanup, and erosion control. Students also will cultivate vital professional development skills, including help with resume writing, interview skills and personal finance management.

"We are proud that the CLC is approaching a decade of support for two worthy causes: real work experience for our young community residents, and the longevity of our area parks," said Jennifer Mattes, director, global public affairs, Johnson Controls. "The program continues to graduate future leaders, some of whom return as apprentice crew leaders or crew leaders for the CLC, underscoring the positive impact the experience has on these students."

Additionally, each CLC crew comprised of 10 students will be assigned to one of the following locations for special projects and education, such as weeding, harvesting and boxing food for local food banks and shelters, once per week.

• Hunger Task Force Farm & Fish Hatchery
• Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
• Urban Ecology Center-Riverside Park and Washington Park
• Neighborhood House Nature Center

Each week, the student crews will also work on adopt-a-beach projects at McKinley, Grant Park, Bradford, Doctor's Park, Bay View and South Shore beaches where they will collect water samples and test for bacteria. Students will also collect trash and complete a litter survey.

On August 2, the students will participate in Green Jobs Day – hosted by Johnson Controls at the company's corporate headquarters in Glendale, Wis., where they will learn the importance of sustainability, energy efficiency, and expectations of today and tomorrow's leaders. Teens will engage in career-focused presentations and hands-on workshops led by company experts.

The CLC participants were selected from more than 253 applicants based on their successful completion of a two-month interviewing process. Student candidates were assessed on leadership, work ethic, civic engagement, and interest and commitment to the environment.

Johnson Controls also continues its strong partnerships with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB) who manage the program, along with the Milwaukee County Parks and the Urban Ecology Center (UEC) to bring new opportunities in sustainability and workforce preparation to city of Milwaukee high school students.

"As we work to prepare young people for the future workforce, we applaud this extraordinary opportunity to introduce high school youth in Milwaukee to career pathways in green jobs. One tremendous story of success are the Washington siblings. They have been involved with the program for several years and Jordan Washington has achieved crew leader status and his younger sister Serah is a crew leader apprentice. We are thrilled to see the positive impact the program is having on these and other young people," said Donald Sykes, President and CEO, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board.

The program will culminate in a graduation ceremony on August 9 at the Lake Park Pavilion, where the CLC students, crew leaders and community partners will present awards to the CLC teams.

Support for the CLC is provided by primary funder Johnson Controls, new funder Milwaukee River Restoration Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Wisconsin Energy Foundation, Forest County Potawatomi Foundation, and Baird Foundation.

Established in Milwaukee, Johnson Controls also sponsors the CLC in Baltimore and Detroit, with similar programs offered in China, Mexico, England, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 168,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful.  In 2013, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #14 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About the Student Conservation Association: 
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the only national organization that develops tomorrow's conservation leaders by providing high school and college students with service opportunities in all 50 states, from urban communities to national parks and forests. Since 1957, SCA's hands-on practice of conservation service has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship and save the planet.  SCA is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Boise, ID, Charlestown, NH, Chicago, IL, Oakland, CA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Seattle, WA. For further information, visit www.thesca.org.

About MAWIB
The Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB) is a public/private partnership between government and business that plans, administers and coordinates employment and training programs for adults and youth in Milwaukee County. As a workforce development board, MAWIB creates and manages a focused education, training and employment system that involves local educators, prospective training operators, area employers, job seekers and employees.

Editor's Note: To obtain images of the Milwaukee CLC program, please contact Amanda Holloway at [email protected] or 414-459-3942

SOURCE Johnson Controls