The CEJA Economic Justice and Community Corps is an initiative designed to increase the capacity of local anti-poverty organizations while providing UCSC students with hands-on leadership experience and professional development. Through this program, Corps members are paired with a fellow UCSC student and placed within a nonprofit organization, where they collaboratively develop and implement a specialized project that aligns with the organization’s mission and community needs.
Currently, the students have been partnered with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay, Homeless Garden Project, Redwood Free Market, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz, Ventures, and the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County. The students are now developing their projects, each designed to address critical challenges within these organizations, ensuring meaningful contributions that strengthen their capacity to serve local communities.
