WHAT IS ASHEVILLE GO?The Asheville Green Opportunity Corps (Asheville GO) is a paid training and leadership program designed to prepare under-served young adults (ages 18-25) for living wage jobs in the rapidly expanding Green Economy. Our hands-on curriculum combines community service projects, life skills training, and on-the-job experience in order to provide GO members with everything they need to launch successful careers in promising fields like green construction, clean energy, recycling, ecological landscaping and restoration, and sustainable agriculture.
Asheville GO is a collaborative program administered by the Clean Air Community Trust in partnership with numerous local businesses, government agencies and nonprofits. These include the Asheville Housing Authority, the Land of Sky Regional Council, the City of Asheville, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Progress Energy, the Community Foundation of WNC, Habitat for Humanity, the Western NC Green Building Council, and many more.
WHY GO?The green economy is growing fast, creating thousands of so-called “green collar” jobs that pay a living wage, offer advancement opportunities, and serve the community and the planet. Asheville GO is designed to help those who have the most to gain from these jobs access them through a combination of service-learning projects, apprenticeships and one-on-one support.
GO CURRICULUMAsheville GO’s curriculum is designed to provide its members with the foundation they need to launch successful green careers. Curricular components include:
Life Skills Training – Research indicates that, more than any other quality, employers seek workers with basic job-readiness skills. This means communicating effectively, working as part of a team, taking initiative, following through on commitments and other important life skills. Our life skills curriculum will also include workshops on money management, conflict resolution and entrepreneurship. Asheville GO will use leadership expeditions and retreats, trainings, and mentoring to equip its members with the soft skills they need to succeed in any job environment.
Community and Environmental Service Projects – GO members will learn the necessary technical skills through real-world projects that leave a lasting impact on their community and the environment. Enlisting career professionals to design and coordinate these projects will ensure that the projects are authentic and provide GO members with the skills and experience most relevant to the job.
Apprenticeships – Once they have been introduced to the range of possible green career pathways through service projects, each GO member will select one pathway to explore more deeply through an apprenticeship. These apprenticeships, hosted by local businesses, government agencies and nonprofits, will provide on-the-job experience and allow GO members to apply and enhance the skills gained during the earlier phases of the program.
Community College Coursework – Whether they are studying environmental science or pursuing their GED, GO members will complement their practical, hands-on learning with classroom learning through Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. Program coordinators will help each GO member select the coursework that best fits his or her education background, goals, and career focus.
Mentoring – Adult volunteers will be available to guide each Asheville GO member throughout the program experience, helping them with schoolwork, counseling them about classes and career pathways, and preparing them for what comes after graduation.
Personal Expression – GO members will be encouraged to use art, poetry, music and other creative outlets to record and interpret their experience throughout the program. Each GO member will maintain a journal and we will host monthly community events to showcase GO members’ experiences and accomplishments with the public.
IMPACTAsheville GO will help improve the lives of young men and women while benefitting the local community and the environment. Specifically, the program will achieve the following short and long-term results:
Life and Employability Skills – GO members will gain “soft” skills that enhance their ability to pursue and be successful in any career.
Technical Skills – GO members will gain “hard” skills that directly enhance their ability to access green collar jobs.
College Credit – GO members will receive credit for much of their coursework through AB Tech, including OSHA safety training certification, Career Readiness Certificates, and GEDs for participants lacking them prior to entering the program.
Academic Credit – GO members will receive academic credit for their coursework through a local community college, including GEDs for participants lacking them prior to entering the program.
Economic Advancement – By paying stipends, Asheville GO will enable its members to support themselves during the program. After graduation, GO members will go on to green collar jobs that pay a living wage.
Climate Change Response – Asheville GO will help the region respond to climate change by implementing tangible, highly visible projects that meaningfully reduce CO2 emissions and influence public behaviors.
Green Workforce Development – Asheville GO will support the emergence of a strong green economy in Western North Carolina by producing well-trained, entry-level employees for local companies.
ABOUT THE CLEAN AIR COMMUNITY TRUSTThe Clean Air Community Trust has been delivering successful community education programs for students and professionals in Western North Carolina for the last five years. We intend to capitalize on our successes, as well as our strong partnership network, to develop a Green Opportunity Corps in Asheville. We envision that the program, once fully established, will become its own organization, operating independently from the Clean Air Community Trust and expanding its impact throughout the region and beyond.
GET INVOLVEDAsheville GO is continually seeking new partnerships with green businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, funders and community volunteers to support pilot program activities. For more information please visit our website at
www.greenopportunities.org, or contact: Dan Leroy at (828) 318-9916 or email
dan@greenopportunities.org or DeWayne Barton at (828) 275-5305 or email
blove@greenopportunities.org.
