Designed and championed by the Ella Baker Center and the Oakland Apollo Alliance, the Oakland Green Jobs Corps is a job-training and employment pipeline providing "green pathways out of poverty" for low-income adults in Oakland. Based on the Pinderhughes Model, this groundbreaking program prepares trainees for careers in the Bay Area's most vibrant green industries, including energy efficiency, green construction and solar.
UPDATE:
On June 22, the first class of the Oakland Green Jobs Corps graduated. We celebrated the occasion with a graduation ceremony attended by hundreds of friends and family and featuring speakers such as Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, Peralta Community College Chancellor Elihu Harris, and Cypress Mandela Director Art Shanks. Check out some pictures of the graduation and profiles of some of the graduates.
THE PARTNERS:
- Laney College: a premier regional community college providing green vocational education.
- Cypress Mandela Construction Training Program: a renowned pre-apprenticeship program that serves young adults with barriers to employment; has strong connections to the building trades unions.
- Growth Sector, Inc.: a workforce intermediary connecting employers, government, and community agencies.
THE PROGRAM:
The first cycle of the program will train 40 young adults and will incorporate four stages: recruitment, pre-education and training, green-collar skills training and education, and on-the-job training with green employers.
Stage 1: Outreach, Recruitment, and Assessment, led by Cypress Mandela, will involve community outreach to recruit low-income young adults in Oakland and will include a College Placement Assessment.
Stage 2: Pre-Construction and Basic Skills Training, led by Cypress Mandela, will provide a range of services, including introduction to the skilled trades; carpentry; GED preparation; basic literacy and math; job readiness including resume development, interviewing skills, financial planning; social services and support including driver’s license acquisition, court intervention and record expungement as needed, drug and alcohol counseling, and support in acquiring other needed services such as childcare and financial aid.
Stage 3: Laney College Bridge to Solar and Green Construction, led jointly by Laney College and Cypress Mandela, will focus on the education and training specifically needed for green-collar employment. Students will earn community college credit. Education and training will emphasize solar installation, energy efficiency in buildings, green construction, and an introduction to the principles of ecology, environmental sustainability, and environmental justice. Social support and case management continue throughout.
Stage 4: Paid Work Experience, On-the-Job Training, led jointly by Cypress Mandela and Growth Sector, will place participants into paid on-the-job training opportunities, and apprenticeships. The program will provide case management and support services for both employers and trainees throughout this phase to maximize retention and success.
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES:
The program will place graduates in full time jobs with solar firms and green construction contractors. The typical starting wage in the solar industry is $15 per hour. The wages for starting apprentices in the construction trades range from $12 to $16 per hour. Cypress Mandela has a long history of close relationships with the Alameda County Building Trades Council, the building trades unions, and developers, general contractors, and subcontractors. The Oakland Green Employer Council and PG&E subcontractors will provide other placements, especially those related to solar firms and energy efficiency firms.
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS:
Several other organizations and individuals will have ongoing relationships with the Oakland Green Jobs Corps:
- Oakland Mayor's Office: Representing the city's government, the Mayor's office will administer the grant and provide leadership to identify additional resources and funding.
- Oakland Green Employer Council: This is a circle of over a dozen green-collar employers in energy efficiency, solar and green construction that have committed to providing trainees with on-the-job training and potential long-term employment.
- RFP Selection Committee: These five individuals were the expert and neutral committee that selected the winners of the contract. They will continue to evaluate and provide technical assistance for the program.
- Raquel Pinderhughes Ph D: Her research and the "Pinderhughes Model" informed the development of the Oakland Green Jobs Corps training model and the Green Employer Council. She continues to advise the program and is involed in replicating the program in other cities around the country.
- Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and Oakland Apollo Alliance: They are the original architects and champions of this program, and will continue to advocate for additional resources and funding.
