Josh Fryday on Public Service and Volunteerism 

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Shawnee Caruthers is joined by Josh Fryday, California’s Chief Service Officer within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom to lead service, volunteer, and civic engagement efforts throughout California. 

Shawnee Caruthers: You’re listening to the Getting Smart podcast. I’m Shawnee Caruthers, and today I’m joined by Josh Fryday, California’s Chief Service Officer within the office of Governor Gavin Newsom, to lead service, volunteer, and civic engagement efforts throughout California. Josh, thank you so much for joining us today.

Josh Fryday: Thank you for having me. It’s awesome to be here.

Shawnee Caruthers: I’m so glad that you’re here. I’m excited to learn about all the great things happening in California, and one of those is California Volunteers. What is that?

Josh Fryday: California Volunteers is an office within the Governor’s office here in California, overseeing volunteerism, service, and civic engagement. It’s really centered around the idea of how we engage all Californians in being part of the solutions to some of the biggest challenges we have. Governor Newsom is very motivated to think about how we bring people together through service. So, he created a cabinet-level position for service, and I’m charged with executing the mission.

Shawnee Caruthers: As the Chief Service Officer, what does your role entail, and how does that connect to the overall vision?

Josh Fryday: We oversee all the programs that California Volunteers runs, starting with all AmeriCorps programs in California. These are service opportunities where people can receive a stipend and a scholarship for college. We administer those programs across the state. Since Governor Newsom was elected, we’ve created some really exciting new, innovative programs to engage people differently, build community, and make people part of the solution. We want people to feel empowered, to know there’s something they can do about big issues like climate change, poverty, homelessness, and education. So, we’ve launched programs like College Corps and the country’s first Climate Action Corps, among other initiatives, to engage Californians in new and innovative ways.

Shawnee Caruthers: You mentioned some challenges prevalent in California. Are there other specific challenges California Volunteers is addressing?

Josh Fryday: Yes. Being in the Governor’s office, our job is to respond to the state’s priorities. For example, over the last few weeks, we’ve been inundated with atmospheric rivers causing massive flooding and damage. Our service members have been deployed to the front lines for recovery efforts, and volunteers across the state have stepped up. We launched a program called Neighbor-to-Neighbor, asking Californians to check on each other during disasters and to step up in times of need. Whether it’s floods, drought, or wildfires, we create opportunities for people to help in tangible ways, reinforcing that no matter the issue, every Californian can make a difference.

Shawnee Caruthers: You must have so many inspiring stories. Is there one you’d like to share?

Josh Fryday: Absolutely, I wish we could have all our fellows, service members, and volunteers on the podcast because they’re the real inspirations. I’ll share one story from our Climate Action Corps. A young woman from Compton, California—a low-income area in LA—heard about the program and became motivated to learn about sustainability. She’s now in her second year with us, working on urban greening and tree planting in areas suffering from heat islands and underinvestment. She’s making a positive environmental impact and empowering her community, and we’re seeing stories like this across the state.

Shawnee Caruthers: That’s incredible. What led you to this line of work? Why did you decide this was the career for you?

Josh Fryday: I’ve always wanted to make a difference and have an impact. From a young age, I was aware of the inequities and injustices in our world, and I wanted to do something about it. Service gave me that avenue. Whether as a high school student working on international poverty and health in the Dominican Republic, an officer in the Navy responding to the tsunami in Japan, or serving as the mayor of my hometown, service has been my way to create change. Governor Newsom’s vision for service resonated with me because it’s about empowering others to create change. Service allows us to connect with people from different backgrounds and accomplish something together, which I believe is essential in a divided world.

Shawnee Caruthers: How does volunteerism benefit communities and individuals?

Josh Fryday: For communities, change often starts with individuals stepping up, whether by tutoring, attending city council meetings, or volunteering. These actions are the foundation of our democratic society and essential to creating change. We’ve seen communities transformed through our tree planting programs or how they support each other in disasters. For individuals, there’s a unique joy and sense of purpose that comes from helping others. Research shows that volunteering improves mental and physical health and even contributes to economic resilience. Our mission at California Volunteers is to make these opportunities accessible to everyone, ensuring that all Californians have a chance to make a meaningful contribution.

Shawnee Caruthers: How do you make service accessible to everyone?

Josh Fryday: We have to create opportunities and invest in infrastructure. Governor Newsom has dedicated hundreds of millions of dollars to programs like College Corps, which offers low-income students a debt-free path by serving for an academic year and receiving $10,000. We call it the California GI Bill. This initiative allows students to gain experience, build social capital, and help the community while reducing student debt. We’ve also made it accessible to Dreamers, who are often excluded from federal service programs. Programs like Climate Corps also provide stipends and scholarships, allowing people to serve in their communities regardless of their financial background. Creating a culture of service is also essential, where leaders—from CEOs to university presidents—value service and make it an expectation.

Shawnee Caruthers: Are there other ways you’re embedded in the school system to support this vision?

Josh Fryday: Absolutely. In our College Corps program, we partner with 46 universities across California, with over 3,200 students involved. Half of these students are working as tutors and mentors in low-income schools, helping students most affected by COVID. We also have AmeriCorps members serving in schools, and we’re starting a pilot to scale service learning in high schools. The goal is to create meaningful volunteer experiences that help students find purpose and community connection. We’re also working on career pathways, like our Climate Corps members connecting directly to jobs in the green economy, as well as a partnership with the California Department of Education to build a pipeline of future teachers from service members.

Shawnee Caruthers: Beyond service, are you also thinking about what it means to be a citizen, not just in California but as a global citizen?

Josh Fryday: Yes, absolutely. We believe everyone has value and something to contribute. For example, we created a program specifically for foster youth transitioning out of care, providing them with paid service opportunities and a college scholarship. We also have a Youth Jobs Corps for formerly incarcerated individuals, offering them service roles that help them reenter society. The message we want to send is that everyone has something valuable to offer, and sometimes life experiences, especially challenging ones, can be the most valuable because they allow people to connect and give back in unique ways.

Shawnee Caruthers: That’s a great perspective. I’m also curious about the green career pathways you mentioned. Are these embedded in career and technical programs or mostly extracurricular?

Josh Fryday: We’re building training into our service programs, so when people complete their service, they leave with credentials and certificates that hold economic value and are recognized by employers. We’re partnering with community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and corporations to ensure that these trainings lead to viable careers. Honestly, I was surprised by how little has historically been done to connect community service to career pathways. We’re now working on building these connections to launch participants into careers where they can continue to serve California.

Shawnee Caruthers: How do you help participants make that leap from service experience to a career?

Josh Fryday: We’re learning as we go, but one thing we’re doing is connecting young people in our programs to employers. For example, we’re holding a job fair for College Corps members, exposing them to potential employers. Our Youth Jobs Corps program provides wraparound services, like resume building, leadership training, and networking, to prepare participants for their next steps. We’re intentionally building both the skills they need and the community connections to support them.

Shawnee Caruthers: How do you see the California Volunteers program expanding in the future?

Josh Fryday: We hope it expands aggressively. Governor Newsom has been clear about this goal. When we launched Climate Action Corps, he said we’re creating a level of climate action that’s never been done before, with hopes that it will be replicated nationwide and globally. We want every state to have a College Corps to help address the student debt crisis while supporting local communities. Ultimately, our goal is to create opportunities for people to serve early in life, reinforcing that being a Californian—or an American—means being connected, giving back, and being part of a compassionate, community-oriented society.

Shawnee Caruthers: To make this actionable, if a high school principal wants to create a culture of volunteerism in their school, what’s the best first step?

Josh Fryday: Principals have an awesome opportunity to create a culture of service by emphasizing that when students graduate, it’s not just about how much money they’ll make—it’s also about how they’ll help others. Schools can consider making service a graduation requirement, while being mindful not to add unnecessary barriers for students facing challenges. Principals can advocate for creating meaningful service experiences that allow students to feel the joy of helping others. They can also advocate with college presidents, local government leaders, and other community figures to create opportunities for students to serve meaningfully, in ways that will help them develop both personally and professionally. Principals can really use their platform to encourage a culture where service is valued alongside academic success. When students have that experience and can see the impact they’re making, it can change their lives

Shawnee Caruthers: I’ve definitely felt the joy throughout this interview. Thank you for sharing all the great information and for joining us today to talk about service and what it means—not just for California, but for all of us to serve as global citizens. Thank you for being here, and a huge thank you to Mason, our podcast producer.

Josh Fryday: Thank you both. I’m very grateful.

Links:

• Josh Fryday
• California Volunteers
• College Corps
• Climate Action Corps
• Mission: Joy 
• On To Greener Pathways: The Future of Work Has New Opportunities for Students