ATLANTA PARTNERS PROVIDE ‘GREEN’ JOBS TRAINING TO YOUTH WHO REDUCE POWER AND WATER EXPENSES FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY

In less than a month, a projected savings of over 4 to 5 million dollars in energy and water consumption has been created by youth who were trained through the Atlanta Mentorship Program for Sustainability (AMPS), a ‘green’ jobs partnership between the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA), Let’s Raise A Million (LRAM), Sustainable Atlanta, and the Department of Watershed (DWM). The partnership, which supplies free energy saving light bulbs and low-flow water kits to modest mean residents throughout the community, selected 20 Mayor’s Youth Program participants, trained them in installation procedures, and hired them to install the devices throughout the community.

Modest-mean residents in communities like Ashby Park, Magnolia Park, Chappell Forest, Overlook Atlanta, and Mozley park were targeted to receive free energy saving light bulbs (carbon fluorescent bulbs), which last 8 to 10 times longer than the average light bulb (incandescent bulbs), and low-flow water kits, which are designed to decrease water consumption. Michael Boss, a new city resident who received the environmental friendly kit, said, “I think it’s great. It helps decrease your bills. The less you spend on water and power the more you save.” Boss was impressed by the students who installed the eco-friendly kits inside his home. Noticing their workmanship, leadership style, and age, he said “It’s great to see kids doing positive things. They could be doing things they shouldn’t be doing. It’s good seeing them doing things that benefit their future, it’s a skill they can pick up.”

The Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, whose mission is to “develop and cultivate an adequate pool of qualified employees for the growing business market,” is focusing on new initiatives that provide job training programs to meet the growing demand for professionals skilled in energy efficiency and renewable energy installations. “Our partnership with LRAM, Sustainable Atlanta, and the Department of Watershed allowed us to train a group of our Mayor’s Youth Program students in an industry that is expected to grow by 52 percent over the next seven years*, ” said Deborah Lum, executive director of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency.

The participating students are recent graduates of the Atlanta Public School System who participate in the Mayor’s Youth Program (MYP), an effort managed by the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency and initiated by Mayor Shirley Franklin. The program uses summer employment and training resources to help prepare students for life after high school graduation. Students participating in the ‘green’ jobs initiative were trained and supervised by college students from LRAM, a student-led urban ecological project that conducts energy efficient “clean bulb” retrofits and energy audits in low income communities while informing residents of the economic and environmental benefits of energy conservation. “LRAM not only trained our youth to provide energy efficient services to the community, but also became mentors to our students who hope to follow in their footsteps and pursue careers in the same field,” said Lum.

Students like Najah Jones-Williams, a graduate of North Atlanta High School, who wants to pursue a ‘green’ job to fund her education while she attends Georgia Perimeter College. “This is my first ‘green’ job. I would like to go further into the ‘green’ jobs business because they have good paying jobs.” Jones-Williams appreciates the monetary advantage she will have by pursing an environmental career, but also recognizes the impact the program has had on her life. “I used to use so much water. I would continuously run the water while I washed the dishes, but now I make dish-water and I’m more conscious of my water and power usage.”

The partnership between the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA), Let’s Raise A Million (LRAM), Sustainable Atlanta, and the Department of Watershed has created a positive effect on the Atlanta community at so many levels, by providing education and hands-on resources. AMPS introduces youth to think about why sustainable initiatives matter to their lives, while LRAM provides the energy saving light bulbs and the Department of Watershed provided the low-flow water kits. "By showing residents how to use energy conservation measures effectively we are reducing costs and increasing savings during these tough economic times. It’s a win-win situation,” said Antonio Lockett, a LRAM mentor. "We are at a critical point in how we use energy. We have the chance to implement lasting sustainability initiatives and provide youth with meaningful green job opportunities”.

About Atlanta Workforce Development Agency
Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) is a collaborative partnership between Atlanta’s public and private sector, which develops and cultivates an adequate pool of qualified employees for the growing business market. AWDA is a bureau of the City of Atlanta under the Executive Offices of the Mayor, and was created through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) signed into legislation in 1998. AWDA's primary purpose is to administer employment and training programs to the citizens of Atlanta to offer workforce solution services to metro Atlanta businesses.

About the Mayor’s Youth Program
The Mayor’s Youth Program, managed by the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, began in 2005 as Mayor Shirley Franklin’s initiative to adopt the Atlanta Public School System senior class and help them develop and implement a practical and individualized plan for their future. Students are connected to opportunities that enhance their ability to set goals for post-secondary success through workforce readiness training, summer internships, mentoring, and the financial assistance necessary to transition into a two or four year college, technical college, the workforce, or the military.

About Let’s Raise a Million
Let’s Raise a Million (LRAM) is a student-led, nonprofit charitable and environmental justice focused organization committed to introducing energy saving solutions to low-income households that will promote healthier living practices as well as reducing the burden of high energy bills. Organized on the campus of Morehouse College in the fall of 2007, LRAM’s goal is to raise funds for, obtain, and install one million energy efficient light bulbs or “Clean Bulbs” that will be delivered to households of modest means. Volunteers go into homes and install the bulbs as well as educate participants on the energy savings and environmental advantages of using Clean Bulbs.

About Sustainable Atlanta
Sustainable Atlanta serves as an agent for developing the blueprint for ensuring Atlanta’s world-class environmental sustainability. The organization’s strategic value lies in connecting via public/private partnerships including business, organizations, institutions and residents to develop solutions and implement action plans to address the challenges and opportunities inherent in the relationship between environment, equity and the economy. From the development of strategies to help achieve sustainable building and abundant water to zero waste, Sustainable Atlanta focuses on increasing commitment, capacity and velocity to advance Atlanta’s sustainability.

About the Department of Watershed Management
Created by Mayor Shirley Franklin in September 2002, the Department of Watershed Management is dedicated to providing the highest quality drinking water and wastewater services to City of Atlanta businesses and residents and to its wholesale customers at the lowest possible cost, while protecting urban waterways, conserving natural resources, and providing clean, safe water for downstream customers. Led by Commissioner Rob Hunter, the Department has responsibility for the City’s drinking water and wastewater systems. It is currently midway into the $3.9 billion Clean Water Atlanta Program, a complete overhaul of the City’s water and sewer infrastructure.

* Report released by the Whitehouse Council of Economic Advisers on July 13, 2009.