Green Job Academy provides an opportunity for employment for the large segment of unemployed on welfare. I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Fullerton who is the Co-Creator of Green Jobs Academy and partner at ILM Group focused on recruiting for the Cleantech industry. Karen says it is truly wonderful that Green jobs unlike other sector jobs cover the entire gamut of jobs for folks with minimum education to the Harvard MBA.
Karen has always had a passion for Social Justice and was able to bring her passion and skill set together to creating an alternative-staffing agency—Green Jobs Academy. The agency deals with green jobs program for Calworks—responsible for the welfare to work program. The academy uses Raquel Pinderhughes curriculum from dept of urban studies and planning and San Francisco State and Karen staffing agency to create a unique and highly effective program for Calworks. The program is subsidized by the govt.; stimulus dollars being put to great use.
The program is 16 weeks in duration of which 8-weeks are in-class training and 8-weeks internship with Green companies. She says that 80% of the students get permanent employment and are able to get off welfare. About 70% of the student body is female; women who were teenage mothers or simply fell out of the workforce.
The training and the Green Job academy includes hard and soft skills, environmental literacy, financial literacy and subjects like health and well being. There is a qualification process to take part in the Green Jobs Academy.
Karen sees the future of this program to expand to the unemployed and career transitioners that are interested in seeking a career in the Green economy.
Check out my interview with Karen.
