Public Works promotes community citizenship through programs such as mentoring, presentations to high school students in
STEM related careers, preparing for the SAT, scholarship funds, March of Dimes, Blood Drive and other community outreach activities.
The LA County Public Works Department manages K-12 grade environmental education programs. The Environmental Defenders
program is offered to K-6 grade students through a school assembly presentation along with curriculum support materials.
The Generation Earth program is the County’s secondary school program that is offered to 7-12 grade students. Students
learn through the Generation Earth program how to conduct a waste audit. The students take the lead on implementing a
campus project such as starting a recycling program, hosting an electronic waste collection event, or planting a native plant garden,
in cooperation with their teacher.
The School Garden Program teaches kids how to preserve the environment and conserve natural resources by starting a garden at their
school. The County provides free raised beds, plants, interactive worm composting demonstrations, tools and seeds. This program
provides an opportunity for students and teachers to work together, while learning how to grow their own food, get exercise and eat healthy.
Every year, Public Works participates in National Engineers Week by making presentations to high school students about Public Works
projects and services, explaining how to become an engineer, and answering questions about how to prepare themselves for an engineering career path.
Members of the African American Engineers and Professional Employees Association work with non-profits as volunteer tutors on Saturday
mornings during two 12 week sessions. For students in high school these sessions include weekly preparation for PSAT and SAT examinations.
This program helps enrich and often saves lives of individuals in our community. The need for blood donors is ongoing. Employees are
encouraged to continue to support and participate in the Blood Donor Program.
Cesar Chavez Week includes volunteer opportunities for county employees along with a food drive to raise food for low income families.
The Charitable Giving Campaign encourages County of Los Angeles employees to help those in need by enrolling in automatic payroll
deduction to a charity of their choice.
The Toy Drive is a County-sponsored program that begins in mid October and runs through December. This program is a join program
between Public Works Human Resources Division and Local 721. Toy collection bins are located at HQ, Annex, Alhambra buildings,
and field offices. Employees are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys such as radios, cd players, games, clothing, and personal
care products. The toys and other items are distributed to Los Angeles County foster children.
March of Dimes is a Board-approved program, which raises funds to fight birth defects. The campaign starts at the beginning of the
year, holds a walk in April, and ends in June.
The purpose of this program is to provide young women and men between the ages of 9 and 16 with an opportunity to experience working
with adult mentors, meet role models, and the expose them to a professional work environment. The date is proclaimed by the Board of
Supervisors, but is typically proclaimed on the Tuesday before National Day, which is the 4th Thursday in April.
