Results |
2008-2009 PILOT PROGRAM RESULTS
Economic Impacts
89% of Asheville GO members received higher earnings as a result of the program
67% of GO members received financial education and counseling through OnTrack
71% of Pre-Apprenticeship graduates are currently employed in permanent positions or paid apprenticeships
Social Justice Impacts
Green Opportunities actively seeks to recruit and train members of the community who are too often left behind—low-income youth and youth of color—offering them quality opportunities to prepare for profitable green-collar careers. All nine of the GO members for the pilot program were recruited from low-wealth communities, all were unemployed prior to the start of the program, and all possessed at least one barrier to employment. Other statistics about the Asheville GO pilot class include:
89% lived in public housing
55% did not possess a high school diploma or GED
89% were African American
33% were single moms
The average age was 23
With the support of the program:
78% of GO members completed AB Tech coursework (including OSHA Construction certification course, Basic Computer Skills, and Pathways to Employment)
60% of GO members lacking a General Education Degree or high school diploma are enrolled in programs to complete them
100% of the GO members who had unresolved court issues at the start of the program resolved them with the support of the program
Environmental Impacts
GO members completed the following Community/Environmental Service Projects during the pilot program:
• Natural building at the Vance Elementary School Community Garden
• Building a cob pizza oven at the Burton Street Community Peace Garden
• Installing a rainwater catchment system at the Burton Street Community Peace Garden
• Sustainable food production at the Pisgah View Peace Garden and Pearson Garden
Monitoring and removing invasive exotic species and planting native trees and shrubs along the Appalachian Trail near Hot Springs
• Ecological landscaping at Warren Wilson College.
• Fall maintenance work at the South Asheville African American Cemetery
• Installing a living roof at Vance Elementary School
• Weatherizing homes for low-income, senior citizens in rural areas
• Building a solar hot water system at the Long Branch Environmental Education Center
• Construction of affordable, energy-efficient housing with Habitat for Humanity
• Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents for public housing residents
