Introducing SEI's Newest Program: Energize Careers

By ​Rachel Su-Ang

The mission of SEI’s newest program, Energize Careers, is to “Create a diverse and representational sustainability workforce through industry-advised training of people who experience systemic barriers to high road employment.” The Energize Careers program offers holistic services to provide access to technical training, job placement, and employment support for traditionally underserved communities. 
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Through Energize Careers, SEI partners with top tier training institutions across California. Current partners include Cerritos College, Inland Empire Electrical Training Center, Proteus, Rio Hondo College, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, Sacramento City College, San Diego Electrical Training Institute, and San Jose City College. 

Energize Careers is looking for additional collaborators who provide unique education and training certificate programs to upskill the next generation of leaders in the sustainability sector.

​Benefits for Training Partners

The Energize Careers program is funded through the CA Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), which include PG&E, Southern California Edison, SDGE and SoCalGas. Partnering training institutions receive funding for the opportunities they provide to program participants. Energize Careers Training Partners receive funding for each individual who is trained, each individual who is placed into a career utilizing energy efficiency skills, and for each individual who retains their job for at least one year.

Partnering institutions are also eligible for academic project grants of up to $5k to create new programs or upgrade current curriculum to match today’s technological advances. Grant funds can be used for faculty stipends to teach new courses or for updating training equipment.

For example, San Jose City College used this funding to purchase refrigerators for their HVAC program and update their curriculum to contain modules on renewable refrigerants. At Rio Hondo College, partners utilized funds to offer LEED Green Associate certifications at no cost to qualifying participants.

Energize Careers staff support Training Partners by leveraging connections with  wraparound service providers, who play an essential role in reducing barriers to employment by supporting participants with needs like housing, transportation, childcare, career assistance, legal aid, and more. The Energize Careers team also facilitates relationships with employers who hire program participants for careers in the energy industry. In addition, training partners  receive customized support with program implementation.

Benefits for Students

Through Energize Careers, SEI strives to provide beneficial programs to those who are interested in climate careers, but are often restricted by common barriers to employment. We encourage these individuals to join our programs because of the comprehensive supportive services provided by partnerships with local workforce investment boards and other community based organizations, such as Goodwill and America’s Job Centers of CA (AJCCs).

Participants in these energy efficiency programs will train in fields such as green construction, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), building performance, and electrical wiring. During training, SEI also engages participants by offering warm-handoffs to wraparound service providers.

Some benefits to participating students include, no cost enrollment into training, job placement support, and assistance with reducing barriers to employment such as; transportation, childcare, tools, and more!

Connect with Energize Careers!

Interested in collaborating to build the next generation of leaders in sustainability? Check out our website and fill out the contact form to receive more information

Learn more at https://www.energizecareers.org/.