Conservation Leadership Corps program puts 36 teens to work in Baltimore parks

BALTIMORE, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-six Baltimore teens begin work to restore and maintain Baltimore-area parks this month as the Johnson Controls Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) program launches into its sixth year. The program provides local teens with job-readiness training and skills in sustainability, leadership and teamwork through six weeks of meaningful paid employment. Additional support from two area organizations has also enabled a two-week program extension for 10 CLC participants in 2012.

"We are part of the Baltimore community, and it's our responsibility to support the next generation of environmental leaders," said Jennifer Mattes, director, global public affairs, Johnson Controls. "The CLC program provides teens with a comprehensive experience that combines job preparation with sustainability education to help participants succeed well beyond high school."

Student crews will focus their conservation and environmental efforts in Leakin Park, Robert E. Lee Park, Herring Run Park, and Mothers' Garden at Clifton Park, helping to restore and update urban trails. Participants earn a wage to complete the six-week program, which also includes financial literacy training, professional development in leadership and teamwork skills, and Green Jobs Day – a day of dedicated environmental and employment workshops hosted by Johnson Controls.

"I want to get our parks in good shape because they're a reflection on the city, and I want people to get the right impression," says SCA and CLC member Gerard McGlothlin, 18, who is beginning his second summer with the Baltimore CLC.  "I want to make a difference for my city and this experience will help me get a job in the outdoors."

New support from The Boeing Company and the Maryland Department of Transportation will enable further educational job opportunities for select CLC participants. Ten students will be handpicked to participate in the program for an additional two weeks, either traveling to Carson National Forest in New Mexico for a service trip, or joining Real Foods Farms' urban agricultural enterprise.

Johnson Controls, the primary sponsor of the CLC, continues its partnership with the Student Conservation Association and Civic Works who manage the program. Additional funding is provided by the Hirschhorn Foundation, Northrop Grumman Foundation and local Rails to Trails.

Established in Baltimore in 2007, Johnson Controls also sponsors the CLC in Milwaukee and Detroit, along with similar programs 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 162,000 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 2012, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #5 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com. 

About SCA
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a nationwide conservation force of college and high school volunteers who protect and restore America's parks, forests, and other public lands. For more than 50 years, SCA's active, hands-on approach to conservation has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and save our planet. SCA is a non-profit headquartered in Charlestown, N.H. For more information, visit: www.thesca.org.

About Civic Works
Civic Works, Baltimore's urban service corps and an AmeriCorps program, was founded in 1993 with a mission of strengthening Baltimore's communities through education, skills development, and community service. Since its inception, Civic Works has trained and assisted more than 3,600 Baltimore area participants in performing community service projects, developing job readiness and life skills, and finding employment.  Every year, approximately 200 AmeriCorps members serve on one of Civic Works' teams tutoring and mentoring children, building community parks and gardens, making energy efficiency improvements, making home repairs for older adults, and growing food for low-income communities.  Civic Works also trains 200 low-income Baltimore residents for careers in healthcare, environmental remediation, and weatherization.

CONTACT:     Amanda Williams
                     [email protected] 
                     (414) 459-3942

SOURCE Johnson Controls