From Asheville Green Drinks, on its plans to present a 'green jobs panel' at its next enviro social hour:

The presentation will feature Green Opportunities (GO), an Asheville-based development organization dedicated to improving lives, communities, and the health of the planet through innovative green job training and placement programs. Co-Founder and Co-Director of GO, Dan Leroy, will lead the panel which includes other members of the organization. This is a unique opportunity to learn about green jobs in our community and this amazing organization!

GO is committed to empowering low-income neighborhoods in Asheville by preparing residents for well-paying jobs, completing hands-on projects that make these neighborhoods safer and more sustainable, and linking the residents of these neighborhoods to jobs and other community resources that lead to greater empowerment.

GO accomplishes their work through six primary programs:

GO Training Team (GO TT) is a paid, intensive job training and placement program designed to prepare low-income, unemployed young adults (ages 16-24) for living wage, green collar jobs. GO Youth’s “pre-apprenticeship” curriculum combines vocational skills training, community service projects, life skills training, academic support and on-the-job training in order to improve clients’ overall job-readiness and ability to be economically self-sufficient. Case managers help clients establish goals and overcome barriers to employment by linking clients to existing community support services. In addition, clients who lack GED’s prior to the start of the program receive regular tutoring until they earn their degree.

GO Weatherization Apprenticeship Training Team (GO WATT) is a paid apprenticeship program designed to further prepare GO Youth Team graduates for clean energy careers while improving the efficiency of houses in target Asheville neighborhoods. A partnership with Community Action Opportunities, the program provides free energy audits and weatherization services to qualified homeowners while providing on-the-job training for previously unemployed young adults.

Pathways to Green Jobs is a partnership with the Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry. Pathways to Green Jobs is designed to train and place eligible Asheville adults (18+) in green collar jobs—jobs that improve environmental and community health. Participants receive life skills training, nationally recognized technical certifications, case management and job placement services at no cost.

Hood Huggers, International is an afterschool program designed to introduce at-risk elementary, middle and high school students from low-income neighborhoods to green collar careers through service-learning projects that improve local communities. The program is designed to build the life skills and self-esteem of participating youth while offering them hands-on pre-employment skills training.

Socializing: 5:30PM Program: 6:00PM
NOTE CHANGE OF LOCATION: The Southern Kitchen and Bar, 41 North Lexington Ave, in downtown Asheville.