Articles
“Initiative Strives To Train New Yorkers
In Green Construction”, © Asa Aarons, New York 1 News,
July 19, 2009
A new job initiative
announced this past week aims to help not only
low-income New Yorkers, but also the environment. NY1
Employment reporter Asa Aarons filed the following
report.
Sunshine will power part of New York State's
Career Pathways Initiative, a new $12.7 million investment in job training.
"There are job opportunities available now,"
explains Kristin Proud, Deputy Director of State Operations in the Governor's
Office and overseeing the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
"They are well-paying jobs with real future opportunities ahead of them."
The state has setup 28 training centers designed
to help low-income workers get a hold on the future. Many of the jobs are in the
green sector, one of the reasons they made the announcement at a solar powered
job site.
Organizers say that as the technology evolves, so
will those who work in it.
"It is what the program is named, Career
Pathways," says Proud. "You can get basic training and improve as you go along.
I think some of the people here today have been doing that."
Among those is Derek Hyatt, who not too long ago
was training at a Strive program in the Bronx to do green weatherproofing. He's
now working a full-time job and training for another one.
"I'm employed at Chelsea Piers and taking tests
to get a job in green careers," he says. "I'm going to continue in the green
construction field."
Kevin Sterling was in the Bronx class as well.
He's now doing full-time eco-friendly carpentry.
"Construction is brutal, but it's a good learning
experience in the end," Sterling says. "You're working hard, but you're making
good money."
People who are eligible for the training include
New York residents receiving public assistance, low-wage workers, and families.
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