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Green Careers Guidance Initiative (GCGI)

ACOE’s Green Careers Guidance Initiative is improving student guidance from high school into the skilled trades, automotive, and manufacturing careers.

Our goal is to expedite the journey into living wage jobs for high school graduates while doing our part to address the housing and climate crises by eliminating workforce barriers in the industries most crucial to reversing and adapting to climate change.

We support students from their Senior year through post graduate training and into their first jobs. We provide support in educational program selection and application, success coaching through training, and job coaching to ensure success in initial employment. Alumni join a network that help them continuing advancing toward living wage careers for the long haul.

Overview

Five construction workers in high-visibility yellow shirts pose inside a building undergoing renovation. Two workers wearing safety vests and hard hats collaborate on a construction project, using power tools on wooden boards. A group of diverse professionals sit around a wooden conference table, collaborating and sorting cards during a meeting.

For Students

Two workers wearing safety vests and hard hats collaborate on a construction project, using power tools on wooden boards.

High school students interested in receiving information about opportunities to enter the trades can complete the form below.

Students from GCGI Partner Schools will receive follow up from a GCGI Career Guide. Other students will receive monthly newsletters with resources.

Use the Guidance Resources below to explore your options. We recommend reviewing them in sequential order, ideally alongside guidance staff at your school to help further develop your plan.

Student Interest Form

For School Guidance Staff

A group of diverse professionals sit around a wooden conference table, collaborating and sorting cards during a meeting.

Counseling students to join the skilled trades is a complex process that can include a combination of community college, pre-apprenticeship programs, apprenticeship programs, and direct entry employment opportunities.

We provide guidance resources and professional development to support guidance staff in this process. Explore our opportunities in the Resources Module below.

If you are at a GCGI Partner School and want to refer a student to receive in-person 1:1 guidance from an ACOE Career Guide, please complete the referral form below

Guidance Interest Form

For Employers in the Trades

Five construction workers in high-visibility yellow shirts pose inside a building undergoing renovation.

We help you find entry level local young workers and support their success.

We partner with companies who are invested in mentoring and employing the next generation of skilled workers. We facilitate matching and interviews and provide job coaching in the first month of employment to ensure a smooth start.

In some circumstances we offer subsidies (wage reimbursements or stipends) to cover the cost of hiring one of our young workers.

If you foresee hiring needs for new young workers from Alameda County in the coming year, please complete the Employer Interest form below and we’ll reach out about next steps.

Employer Interest Form

School District, Community College, and Community Based Organizations
Contact GCGI Program Director, Nick Beasley to discuss partnerships.

Contact Nick Beasley →
Media and Funders
Contact the GCGI leadership team.

Contact GCGI Team →

Resources

Guidance Resources

Entering the Trades is a complex process. ACOE’s GCGI Team has organized the various first experiences HS graduates can take into the trades into four categories we call “Trailheads"

Community College CTE Programs
Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
Apprenticeship Programs
Entry Level Employment

Akin to different hiking trails, some are steeper and require more preparation or commitment, others are easier to access. The resources provided below are intended to support students to make good choices about their next steps. We recommend reviewing them in sequential order. We also recommend that guidance staff attend one of ACOE's GCGI PD sessions to become more adept at using these resources

Deliverables

Trailheads Accessibility Continuum A printable graphic providing a brief and digestible reference for students to understand ease of access to different entry points for the construction industry.

View Continuum Resource
Trailheads Comparison A printable graphic to provide more specific information about the different entry points for the construction industry. Useful for comparing options.

View Comparison (English) View Comparison (Spanish)
Trailheads One Pagers More comprehensive summaries about the different entry points. Useful to provide once a student has looked at the Continuum and Comparison.

View One Pagers Resource
Trailheads Capacity Five year estimate of local apprenticeship programs and pre apprenticeship programs. Community College Programs Under Construction.

View Capacity Document
Trailheads Directory More comprehensive summaries about the different entry points. Useful to provide once a student has looked at the Continuum and Comparison. Regularly updated.

View Directory Document