GO Training Team |
The GO Training Team (GO TT, formerly Asheville GO) is a paid training and placement “pre-apprenticeship” program designed to prepare low-income, unemployed young adults (ages 16-24) for living wage jobs in the rapidly expanding green economy. Our hands-on curriculum combines service projects, life skills training, case management, and on-the-job experience in promising fields like green construction, clean energy, recycling, ecological landscaping and restoration, and sustainable agriculture.
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Why GO?
The green economy is growing fast, creating green collar jobs that pay a living wage, offer advancement opportunities, and serve the community and the planet. GO TT is designed to help individuals with barriers to employment, who have the most to gain from these jobs, access them through a combination of service-learning projects, life skills training, on-the-job training and one-on-one support.
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GO Curriculum
The GO Training Team curriculum is designed to provide its members with the foundation they need to launch successful green careers. Curricular components include:
Community and Environmental Service Projects – GO Training Team members 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 ensures 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 selects one pathway to explore more deeply through an apprenticeship. These apprenticeships, hosted by local businesses, government agencies and nonprofits, provide on-the-job experience and allow GO members to apply and enhance the skills gained during the earlier phases of the program
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 includes workshops on money management, conflict resolution, communication and entrepreneurship. We also use leadership expeditions and retreats, trainings, and mentoring to equip our trainees with the soft skills they need to succeed in any job environment.
Community College Coursework – Whether they are studying environmental science, becoming OSHA certified, or pursuing their GED, GO trainees complement their practical, hands-on learning with classroom learning through Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. Program coordinators help each GO trainee select the coursework that best fits his or her education background, goals, and career focus.
Case Management – Out staff members assess each GO member to identify his or her individual goals and barriers to employment. Once identified, we help connect members to the resources in the community they need to overcome these barriers and accomplish their goals most effectively.
Personal Expression – GO members are encouraged to use art, poetry, music, athletics and other creative outlets to record and interpret their experience throughout the program. Each GO member keeps a journal and we host community events to showcase our members’ experiences and accomplishments for the public.
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Results
Since the pilot class in 2008, 34 young adults have attended the GO Training Team; 27 completed the pre-apprenticeship program, and 22 were placed directly into jobs or paid apprenticeships.
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