Earth Systems Science, Inc.

Building Bridges from National Parks to Communities

May 13, 2003

Once again, Earth Systems Science, Inc. (ESSI) is actively building bridges between the National Parks and communities. This time the focus is Manzanar National Historic Site. ESSI collaborated with Manzanar Superintendent Frank Hays to reach out to ?“Healthy Communities of Inyo County?” to give local youth in the Independence and Lone Pine areas by inviting them to join the Expo Rangers. This would allow local youth to participate in the ongoing Public Land Corps (PLC) grant. The Expo Rangers is the youth component of the Expo Neighbors Environmental Group (ENEG) based in the Exposition Neighborhood of Los Angeles. ENEG and ESSI are active members of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and its local affiliate the Los Angeles Community Partners (LACP). Details remain to be sorted out, but indicators are good for forging mutually beneficial alliances with the Inyo County group.

On other fronts, ESSI took steps to help Manzanar NHS on two other ongoing efforts: the Oral History project and the restoration of a WWII era mess hall. The Oral History project is in need of volunteers to transcribe a number of tape-recorded oral histories of former Manzanar internees. A call was put out on the Pasadena City College (PCC) electronic bulletin board and resulted in at least 5 prospective volunteers---three of whom were faculty willing to provide students with involvement opportunities. Faculty in PCCs Engineering and Technology Division were approached in a brainstorming session about participating in an effort of historic building restoration. The National Park Service (NPS) located a WWII era mess (dining) hall at the Bishop airport. It purchased the structure and moved it to Block 14 at Manzanar NHS. The Superintendent asked for ESSI to help find a building trades class that might take on the restoration effort as a project. An NPS historic building restoration specialist would direct the students. Robert Navarro, PCC E & T Division Dean reported keen interest and excitement among his faculty. Discussions are underway to explore various approaches for involvement. It?’s difficult to say exactly what the outcome will be, but Navaro stated that the faculty felt honored to be asked to consider participating in the project.

ESSI visited PCC Building Construction program students on the construction site of a model home. Two student teams were addressed and introduced to the Manzanar project. More than a dozen students expressed interest in exploring the possibilities of participating in such a project. Some were considering joining Expo Rangers for the ongoing PLC projects.

ESSI has a strong record of accomplishment. They tend to focus on getting tangible results and try to avoid unnecessary bureaucratic entanglements. They prefer to ?“network?” rather than ?“not work?” when it comes to youth, the environment, education, and job skills development. ESSI serves as the curriculum consultant for the ENEG on the Manzanar PLC. (See previous news articles about the Expo Rangers and the PLCs.)