4.10.2007 - 02:05pm ET

(CSRwire) BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2007--Baltimore high school students now have a hands-on opportunity to explore a new career path in environmental conservation. Today, Johnson Controls, in partnership with the Student Conservation Association and Civic Works, launched Baltimore's Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC). The program provides meaningful summer jobs, with a focus on conservation and leadership development, to Baltimore high school students.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon presided over the event and announced the program at City Hall. At the launch, she called the CLC a great way for Baltimore students to meaningfully contribute to the city's recently launched "Cleaner and Greener" campaign. She was joined by Charles Harvey, vice president of diversity and public affairs for Johnson Controls, a Fortune 100 company that creates smart environments for vehicles, homes and workplaces.

"This is an exciting new approach to greening city parks and supporting career development among Baltimore youth," said Mayor Dixon. "The Conservation Leadership Corps will empower Baltimore youth with skills to develop their futures and at the same time support our 'clean and green city."

Baltimore is the second of three pilot cities where Johnson Controls has launched the summer job program. It kicked off in 2006 in Milwaukee, Johnson Controls global headquarters, where 100 percent of the student workers completed the program and nearly 40 percent recorded perfect attendance.

"The CLC program realizes our long-standing commitment to encouraging diversity, developing talented and strong leaders of tomorrow, and promoting sustainability and environmental conservation," said Harvey. "We are pleased to be able to sponsor this program in Baltimore."

A total of 40 Baltimore City Public School students will be accepted into the program. CLC is designed to help participating young people develop important work and leadership skills, explore career possibilities and discover new ways to shape their futures while improving their city's environment. Selected students will undergo a one-week job readiness class in June, followed by six weeks working in the parks on projects such as building bridges, removing invasive plant species, digging ditches, and repairing trails.

"We are looking forward to a very successful partnership with Johnson Controls and our friends at Civic Works, which will ultimately be a tremendous asset to the city of Baltimore," said Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks' Director, Connie A. Brown. "This program is a part of Recreation and Parks' mission and ongoing commitment to provide Baltimore's youth with diverse educational, environmental and leisure opportunities that will produce well-rounded citizens and community leaders."

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), a nationwide organization that gives high school and college-age students practical conservation experience, will administer the CLC curriculum in conjunction with the program's local partner, Civic Works, Baltimore's nonprofit youth service corps.

Johnson Controls and SCA partnered in the successful pilot program in Milwaukee in 2006. Milwaukee's 40 students learned about sustainability and environmental issues and gained hands-on experience in building trails, bridges and other park structures. In addition, participants had the opportunity to mentor children through local Boys' and Girls' Clubs. Seventy percent of participants surveyed believed the learning experience would help their educations and future careers.

Johnson Controls and SCA will implement the CLC program in a third pilot city next year. Through its collaboration with SCA, Johnson Controls hopes to create a model program that can be duplicated in other cities and supported by additional companies in the future.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automobile interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) has 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations serving customers within 125 countries. Founded in 1885, the company is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For additional information, please visit johnsoncontrols.com.

About Student Conservation Association

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a nationwide conservation force of college and high school volunteers who protect and restore America's parks, forests and other public lands. For nearly 50 years, SCA's active, hand-on approach to conservation has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and save our planet.

About Civic Works

Civic Works, Baltimore's nonprofit community youth and service corps, provides critical services throughout the Baltimore area. Founded in 1993, Civic Works fosters individual growth and development in its corps members through team-based service projects in tutoring, community beautification, home re-building and workforce training.


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