Former California Climate Action Corps Member Chiena Ty Inspires with Story of Service and Purpose

SACRAMENTO, CA — During a special press event hosted by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor and the Governor’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, former California Climate Action Corps fellow Chiena Ty delivered a moving testimonial about how her two-term service experience shaped her personal and professional path while helping her community and the environment.

Ty, a woman of Asian American descent, described how her journey began with food recovery efforts, rescuing safe and nutritious food from grocery stores and restaurants that would otherwise go to waste. Through her placement with White Pony Express, she helped ensure this food reached unhoused neighbors, youth homes, schools, and low-income families in Contra Costa County.

“Being part of an organization that rescues and delivers millions of pounds of food, creates meals, and provides resources was a life-changing experience,” Ty said. “It helped me see how climate action is also about community care.”

Her second term placed her at the California Natural Resources Agency, where she worked as a communications fellow with the biodiversity and habitat team. In this role, Ty helped translate complex conservation efforts into accessible graphics and videos and conducted interviews with environmental partners and state employees. She amplified messages about biodiversity at the state level.

“I wanted to be a part of making a difference,” she said. “The program gave me the skills to advocate, to create stories that inspire action, and to help people understand the urgency of environmental issues.”

Ty also highlighted how the program helped her grow as a leader and communicator. From learning to navigate professional networks to acting as a spokesperson, she gained valuable tools that continue to support her career goals in environmental policy and content creation, particularly within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

Reflecting on her identity, Ty said, “It’s powerful to have someone like me—an AAPI woman—representing environmental action. We need more voices like ours to inspire families and communities to protect the places we live.”

Her experience in the California Climate Action Corps not only allowed her to serve but also supported her financially, with a stipend that allowed her to move to Sacramento, along with medical and dental benefits. Ty concluded with a message to others. “Reassess what you’re looking for and ask yourself — what more can I do and what can I learn?” she said.

Chiena Ty’s story is one of many that underscore the profound impact of the California Service Corps — now the largest state-level service force in the nation. As Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve) Director and California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday said, “Service not only transforms communities, but it also transforms lives.”

To learn more and apply for the California Service Corps, visit www.CAServiceCorps.com.