Just Workforce Development in Wildfire Management (Just Wildfire Workforce project)
California, USA
Project Description
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) is a nonprofit organization that provides career support to formerly incarcerated firefighters and marginalized communities who are interested in careers in the Wildland and Forestry sector. FFRP was developed in direct response to the growing need for wildfire-related personnel. Their mission is to increase wildfire personnel from non-traditional and underrepresented communities, providing them the training, skills, resources, and experiences needed to secure gainful employment.
The Just Wildfire Workforce project conducts a qualitative impact assessment to better understand the value and effectiveness of FFRP’s programming. Through interviews with current and former trainees and staff, the project highlights the social, economic, and career-building impacts of the program. By centering the voices of those directly involved, the research aims to capture what makes FFRP a uniquely transformative model for workforce development, climate resilience, and reentry support. The findings will be synthesized into a report to inform FFRP’s continued growth.
Year
2025
Project Status
In Progress
Client Organization
Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program
Students Involved
Alexandra Crilley Chloe Hernandez Kendall Koenen Daniela Giordano Zhuxin Wu
To me FFRP was not about making me a better firefighter or even making me a firefighter. It was about making me a better person. Being a good firefighter is a byproduct of being a good person, if you ask me. So I admire those character building sessions, or those character building conversations, or those character building projects.
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Photo of LA Career Training Center trainees on a hike
FFRP Training.jpeg
Photo of trainees heading to a hike and performing line checks
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Photo of trainees clearing a fire line
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Daniela Giordano, Lexi Crilley, Royal Ramey, Cari Pang Chen, and Alaina Bensching meet at Butano State Park