SEI
  • About Us
    • Programs
    • SEI's Team
    • Our History
    • Media & News
    • Strategic Priorities
  • Stories
  • Get Involved
    • Advisory Committees
    • Our Board
    • Partners
    • Awards
    • Contact
  • Careers
  • Give
    • Workplace Giving
    • Donate Stock

SEI Statement on AmeriCorps Funding Cuts to CCEO

5/5/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
Dear Friends and Supporters of SEI:

It is with a heavy heart that I share the difficult news that our AmeriCorps grant, which supported SEI’s Climate Corps Education Outside program, was canceled without notice, along with 1,000 other program grants nationwide. This vital program has brought garden-based education to more than 10,000 children in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties each year since 2019. As a result, we face the heartbreaking reality that 29 dedicated garden educators — individuals who have inspired curiosity, nurtured growth, and built community in Bay Area school gardens — will be losing their jobs. 

Despite this sudden and immediate loss of AmeriCorps funding, we are currently able to retain our 29 Fellows until May 15 through alternative funding sources. Our goal is to extend this timeline so that students, teachers, and Fellows can experience as much closure and stability as possible. We are urgently calling on our community for emergency support to help bridge this gap.
Donate Here
Your generosity will make a direct impact. With $30,000, we could extend the fellowships for an additional week. With $60,000, we could extend until the end of May. Would you please help us extend our garden educator fellowships by one or more weeks? Every little bit helps. Please donate to SEI today through May 15, and your donation will be dedicated to CCEO. 

We are deeply grateful for your support and thank you for believing in our mission and the power of community action. 

In gratitude, 
Cyane Dandridge

0 Comments

Board Spotlight Shines on Alyssa Thomas

4/21/2025

1 Comment

 
By Simone Slykhous 
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. 
Picture
Alyssa Thomas, SEI's newest board member
Before shaping Invest in Our Future's workforce development portfolio, Alyssa was the Senior Manager of Workforce Development for SunPower Corporation. She supported initiatives to train, recruit, and retain a skilled and diverse workforce, ranging from apprenticeships to employee resource groups. As lead, Alyssa redesigned the mission, funding areas, and operating procedures for the SunPower Foundation. Alyssa's government work includes workforce and economic development roles for the City of New York and City of Philadelphia.

Read More
1 Comment

HBCU Energy Leadership Pathway: Empowering Future Energy Leaders

4/2/2025

0 Comments

 
By Gabbie Ulloa-Rodrigues
Picture
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." 

Read More
0 Comments

Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: Goodwill’s Career Path to HVAC Success

2/27/2025

0 Comments

 
By Isaí Rea
Picture
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.

Read More
0 Comments

Constructing a Greener Future: Transforming Washington’s Built Environment

11/12/2024

1 Comment

 
By Simone Slykhous
Picture
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. 

Read More
1 Comment

Empowering Future Innovators: Introducing the Sustainable Enterprise Curriculum

10/15/2024

0 Comments

 
By Isabelle Rajewski-Samko and Simone Slykhous
Picture
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. 
Request Curriculum

Read More
0 Comments

Inside the Mind of a Climate Stewards Instructor

10/11/2024

0 Comments

 
By Matilda Peck
Cathy Johnson
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.”

Read More
0 Comments

Energize Careers: A New Start

7/30/2024

0 Comments

 
By Isaí Rea
Graduates of the Tesla START program at Rio Hondo College, an Energize Careers partner, in 2023.
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. ​

Read More
0 Comments

Student Leaders for Active Transportation

7/29/2024

0 Comments

 
By Corey Robinson
Corey Robinson, SEI Project Coordinator supports with Dr. MLK Jr. Academy’s National Bike to School Day event.
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.

Read More
0 Comments

Climate Hero Shares Her Story

7/29/2024

0 Comments

 
By Matilda Peck
Anna Oliva at the June 2024 launch of Drawdown’s Neighborhood: San Francisco Bay Area, a climate solutions short documentary series.
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. 

Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Get In Touch

    Do you know an environmental leader who should be featured in a story?  Reach out to [email protected]. 

    Categories

    All
    Board Spotlight
    Career Pathways
    CCEO
    Climate Change
    Climate Corps
    Education Resources
    Energize Careers
    Energize Colleges
    Energize Schools
    Environmental Challenge
    Fellow Spotlight
    Garden Education
    HIgher Education
    School Of Environmental Leadership
    School Sustainability
    Youth Action
    Zero Waste Marin

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    February 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    April 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020

    RSS Feed

Get Involved

Mission

Careers

Give

Picture
Picture

​Contact Us

Read our Impact Report 

​Download our Impact Report

​Media Kit

​SEI Headquarters
100 Smith Ranch Road, Suite 124
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone:  (415) 507 - 2181
​Email: [email protected] 
States where we work:
​Arizona
California 
Colorado
Indiana
New Mexico
New York 
New Jersey
North Carolina 
Oregon
Washington

Washington, D.C.

Connect

Subscribe to the SEI quarterly newsletter to get involved and receive updates
subscribe

SEI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Strategic Energy Innovations © ​2024.   Privacy Policy   Terms of Use
  • About Us
    • Programs
    • SEI's Team
    • Our History
    • Media & News
    • Strategic Priorities
  • Stories
  • Get Involved
    • Advisory Committees
    • Our Board
    • Partners
    • Awards
    • Contact
  • Careers
  • Give
    • Workplace Giving
    • Donate Stock