Thirty-five Pasadena City College students will work with local nonprofits through May 2027 to help communities recovering from the Eaton Fire. A state grant of up to $538,820 funds the fellowship, part of the first California College Corps chapters focused on wildfire rebuilding after the Eaton and Palisades fires of January 2025.

PCC President Dr. José A. Gómez swore the fellows into the program at a kickoff ceremony Tuesday, Sept. 22, in the college's Creveling Lounge, leading them in an oath of "meaningful service." State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, chair of the Senate Education Committee and representative of the 25th Senate District covering Pasadena and Altadena, also spoke. She stressed the value of students applying classroom learning in the community.

The grant from California Volunteers, the governor's service office, funds 35 fellowship positions for the 2026-27 academic year, according to a PCC board agenda item. Each fellow commits to 450 hours of service at 12 to 15 hours per week. Fellows can earn up to $10,000 in combined living allowances and educational awards. They also take a leadership course at PCC for college credit.

The Eaton Fire destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 homes, businesses, schools and places of worship across Altadena, Pasadena and surrounding areas. The new fellowship places students with more than 17 local organizations working on recovery, including Western Justice Center, Altadena Girls, Altadena Libraries, Friends In Deed, the Flintridge Center, Pasadena Unified School District, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, Union Station Homeless Services and the Tournament of Roses.

Jackie Sacoto, director of PCC's Freeman Center for Career and Completion and the program's founding director, said the opportunity is rare for a community college. "It's really special because not a lot of community colleges get to be a part of the College Corps system," Sacoto said at the kickoff, as reported by Colorado Boulevard.

PCC piloted its own College Corps affiliate in fall 2025, the first in the state, funded by the Pasadena City College Foundation. That first cohort placed fellows with 14 organizations and logged more than 5,600 service hours, according to a college press release. The state grant makes the 2026-27 class the program's first fully funded cohort.

Gómez said in a June 3 press release announcing the grant, "This is great news not only for Pasadena City College, but for our entire Dena community." The one-year grant could be renewed for up to two additional years depending on state funding and program performance.

The next Career and Leadership Academy session for fellows is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16, at PCC.