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SEI is proud of the incredible and inspiring sustainability leaders who serve on our board. Today, we spotlight Alyssa Thomas, Program Officer of Invest in Our Future. For 10 years, Alyssa has been committed to building just and equitable economic opportunities for communities, businesses, and workers.
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 Participants of the E4 Carolinas HBCU Energy Leadership Pathway Initiative #1 The HBCU Energy Leadership Pathway is more than just a program. It’s a gateway to meaningful careers in energy for students in the Carolinas. "Yet, this program is about so much more than just career readiness — it’s about empowering our future leaders and making sure HBCU students have a seat at the table in shaping the future of energy," says Aleena Oakley, the HBCU Pathway Program Coordinator. "Our goal is to provide HBCU students with the skills, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive in the energy sector."
Offered by energy trade association E4 Carolinas, in partnership with SEI, the Pathway builds a workforce ready to drive innovation and equity in energy. The goal is to increase the number of HBCU students pursuing careers in this vital industry. Open to students of all majors, this program provides hands-on experiences, mentorship, and career development opportunities. Ken Canavan, President of E4 Carolinas mentioned: "As a society, all we do, all we create, all we innovate depends on energy. A career in energy is not only personally rewarding but provides the foundation for today’s society. This program provides students with an opportunity to engage in this important field and employers exceptionally qualified candidates. It is a win for all." By Isaí Rea  Tyler (left) and Christopher (right) during a class tour at J&J Air Systems, now both employed at Supreme Air Systems. Goodwill of Silicon Valley’s Career Technical Education program empowers students to secure long-term employment and develop professionally and personally. GSVC’s no-cost, entry-level professional skills training programs (supported by the Energize Careers program) are designed to help students overcome systemic challenges such as generational poverty, housing insecurity, and justice system involvement.
GWSV serves Santa Clara County including recent graduates, Tyler Harrison and Christopher Cajero. As classmates, Tyler and Christopher developed a friendship. After Christopher landed a job at Supreme Air Systems (an HVAC company), he referred Tyler, securing gainful employment for both. Now, they apply their skills daily, proving how mentorship and opportunity can rewrite futures.  Seattle, Washington. Image courtesy of Thom Milkovic. SEI’s Climate Corps program has been awarded two U.S. Department of Energy grants with the state of Washington and the City of Seattle. These awards will fund nearly 100 Climate Corps Fellows over 9 years to support the implementation of Washington’s first-in-nation Clean Buildings Performance Standard and the City of Seattle’s Building Emissions Performance Standard.
 G.O.A.T Totes is a green business created by juniors of Marin School of Environmental Leadership. Only 21 percent of teachers feel "very informed" about climate change, according to a recent survey conducted by the North American Association for Environmental Education, leaving 79 percent of educators less confident.
Recognizing this challenge, SEI’s Energize Schools program is excited to announce a recently updated course: the Sustainable Enterprise Course Curriculum. This high school course is designed to equip educators climate-related coursework so they may become more informed and confident facilitating meaningful conversations with their eager students. By Matilda Peck  Cathy Johnson has been teaching the UC Climate Stewards course to SEI Climate Corps Fellows since 2023. What does it mean to teach climate stewardship? I asked Cathy Johnson, an instructor of the UC Climate Stewards course. Johnson administers the course to SEI’s Climate Corps Fellows as a key component of their professional training. “I want Fellows to finish the course with confidence to talk about climate change,” Johnson said. “And with hope — that they are part of the solution and that everything they do matters, every step, every conversation, every action.”
By Isaí Rea  Graduates of the Tesla START program at Rio Hondo College, an Energize Careers partner, in 2023. Solving the climate crisis can feel insurmountable, but we know that it’s possible – with the right people. Currently, there’s a massive workforce gap in the energy efficiency sector and other green workforce industries. Simply put, there aren’t enough skilled people to fill these jobs.
 Corey Robinson, SEI Project Coordinator supports with Dr. MLK Jr. Academy’s National Bike to School Day event. Giveaways and raffle prizes were available for any student that walked or rolled to school. The end of this 2023-2024 school year was an exciting milestone for SEI’s education team: a successful first year of the Youth Leading Active Communities (YLAC). Working with four elementary and middle schools in Marin County, our pilot program utilized a student leadership model, empowering students to identify opportunities for active and sustainable transportation in their communities.
By Matilda Peck  Anna Oliva at the June 2024 launch of Drawdown’s Neighborhood: San Francisco Bay Area, a climate solutions short documentary series. "My climate story matters and can impact other young professionals beginning their careers,” said SEI Climate Corps alumni Anna Oliva. A year after concluding her Climate Corps Fellowship, Oliva is one of seven Bay Area climate heroes featured in Drawdown’s Neighborhood: San Francisco Bay Area, a climate solutions short documentary series presented by Project Drawdown.
 Andrew Hurtado and Evelyn La visited MEarth to conduct research for their internship projects. This semester, exciting things are happening at California State University, Monterey Bay. Two Energize Colleges interns, Andrew Hurtado and Evelyn La, are driving climate projects under the guidance of Daniel Fernandez, Professor in the Department of Applied Environmental Science.
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