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Board Spotlight Shines on Alyssa Thomas

4/21/2025

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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. 
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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.

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HBCU Energy Leadership Pathway: Empowering Future Energy Leaders

4/2/2025

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By Gabbie Ulloa-Rodrigues
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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."
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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." 

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

2/27/2025

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By Isaí Rea
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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. 
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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.

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Inside the Mind of a Climate Stewards Instructor

10/11/2024

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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.”

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Energize Careers: A New Start

7/30/2024

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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. ​

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Climate Hero Shares Her Story

7/29/2024

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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. 

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MEarth Inspires the Next Generation of Climate Leaders

4/29/2024

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By Gabriella Ulloa-Rodrigues
Andrew Hurtado and Evelyn La at MEarth, conducting research for their internship projects
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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From Garden Educators: Finding Inspiration and Community

10/19/2023

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By Matilda Peck
2023-2024 CCEO Fellows
2023-2024 CCEO Fellows gathered during orientation in Golden Gate Park.
On a hot day in August, I wandered through the San Francisco Botanical Garden, slightly lost. I’d come to meet the Climate Corps Education Outside (CCEO) Fellows, a group of passionate garden educators, in the midst of orientation for the 2023-2024 school year. Just as I was doubting my navigation, I heard laughter and excited voices up ahead and knew I’d come to the right place. The trail opened to a large clearing where thirty-six CCEO Fellows were gathering for lunch. ​

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How Beavers Can Help Mitigate Climate Change

4/17/2023

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By Nancy MacFarlane, Climate Corps Fellow
Nancy
MacFarlane is a Energy and Sustainability Associate at Santa Rosa Junior College​.
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Beaver Dam - Image courtesy of Graham Hobster
When you think about ways to mitigate climate change, do beavers and beaver dams come to mind? Maybe not, but have you ever seen a beaver in action or their dams? If so, you probably saw a lush surrounding landscape. Why might that be? Well, the water in the stream or creek slowly backs up behind the dams and covers the land, which then creates a wetland teeming with life. ​​

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4 ways high school and early college students can prepare for a green career

3/15/2022

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By Hannah Maryanski
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Summer is approaching, and if you are in high school or early in your college career, you might be thinking about starting your green career search over the break. Congratulations on taking the first steps! Here are 4 tips for finding a career in the environmental space.

Identify your interests
Environmental educator, renewable energy engineer, construction worker, community organizer, sustainability specialist—these can all be green jobs, and they’re all really different. It can be hard to know where to start when the field is so broad. Try narrowing in on a few areas that interest you. The SEI Green Careers Webinars Series can help by providing knowledge directly from sustainability professionals about their day-to-day work and career paths.

Labor market research from tools like California Career Zone can also help. Labor market information gives you general characteristics about jobs, like the type of education required. It can also show you what jobs are expected to pay well or be in high demand.

If you are interested in a career that doesn’t show up in your green jobs search, don’t worry! Let your creativity shine as you think of new ways to bring sustainability into any career path.

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