Phoebe joined our program about a year ago after seeing a CCNB flyer up in a local restaurant. She was working part-time at a boba shop and was intrigued by the idea of getting to work outdoors and start a career she could see herself in. In her year with the program, she has really enjoyed the work itself as well as the opportunities to take on more responsibilities. In past jobs, Phoebe felt stifled and replaceable, not really making an impact or growing her skills. She says, “This is the first job I feel like I’ve really enjoyed,” and adds that at CCNB, staff and her fellow corpsmembers push her to grow and take advantage of opportunities to level up.

Three months ago, Phoebe joined our Zero Waste program, where she enjoys pairing her people skills with her passion for being environmentally friendly. Her favorite projects are recycling collection events where she gets to interface with the community and provide education to people who are thankful for the services our program provides.

Since joining our program, Phoebe has been grateful for the support Career Pathways has provided, whether it is the variety of workshops offered or the individual support staff members offered. Last spring, she was able to get her driver’s permit and hopes to get her driver’s license soon, which would enable her to become a driver for her crew. She has earned quite a few certifications in both the Natural Resources and Zero Waste programs, remarking that she thought using power tools would be intimidating but she actually found she loves using them.

Phoebe hopes to pursue more leadership opportunities while she works in our program and looks forward to working for a local park system or any other job that would get her out in nature.