NC GREEN JOBS TRAINING RETREAT

Summary: The NC Community Development Initiative (“the Initiative”) and Green Opportunities want to share what they have learned about building strong green job training programs in low-income communities. They are co-sponsoring a multi-day training retreat for community-based development organizations and their partners in Asheville on April 17-19, 2012.*

The NC Green Jobs Training Retreat will provide participants with the opportunity to fully learn about GO’s approach to community empowerment, green training, services, collaboration and sustainability. It will also provide community teams with the opportunity to tailor this model to work in their own communities. Community teams are essential to making the GO model work so applicants must apply and attend in teams of two to six participants. We are now accepting applications from NC teams to participate in the all expense paid retreat. We will select teams from up to six communities.

Background: The Initiative is a nationally recognized community economic development intermediary dedicated to securing decent housing, services and jobs for low-income people across North Carolina. One of our central goals is to help CDCs and other organizations promote green development in low-income communities through training, financial and technical assistance and partnerships. Green Opportunities (GO) is a community-based development organization In Asheville dedicated to improving lives, communities and the health of the environment through innovative green collar job training and placement programs. In the three short years since its establishment, GO has grown to a staff over 15 and a $1 million budget. Due in large part to GO's innovative approach to community empowerment and its extensive and committed network of partners, GO has trained over 300 low-income, unemployed individuals and placed 100 of those trainees in local jobs.

Eligibility: Teams wishing to attend should meet the following criteria:
1. A community-based development organization with a track record of working in low income communities in NC to create jobs and build individual and community assets.
2. A focus and strong interest in workforce development in the green economy.
3. A focus on serving people facing barriers to employment.
4. An established set of public and private partners in the community. Representatives from at least two of the partnering organizations must commit to attending. Partners can include the CED organization, city or county, workforce development, economic development, post secondary education, community service providers, and other
active community organizations.

Focus: Specific components of the retreat will include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Case studies and reflective discussion on GO’s experience, including history, successes, lessons learned, and testimonials from program participants.
2. Facilitated team-building initiatives and workshops on collaborative network planning and financial sustainability strategies, discussions on adapting to community contexts.
3. Social enterprise panel discussion followed by individual and team exercises.
4. Field trips/site visits to a GO project site and to observe GO training programs; each followed by guided reflective discussions for teams.
5. In-depth strategic planning activities and guidance on future steps for development.
6. Follow up technical assistance to teams.

Time Frame: The training will begin with lunch on Tuesday, April 17th and conclude at midday on Thursday, April 19th. Participants are strongly encouraged to travel together to Asheville.

Attendance: The Initiative will cover all travel and lodging expenses for each team, up to six persons per team. Meals will also be provided. All training and technical assistance costs are also covered.

How to Apply: Applicants should express their interest in participation by filling out the form located at
the website below, no later than February 20, 2012:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=d...
Vl9IRkpkd016cER4d0E6MQ#gid=0

(You may have to copy and paste the link into your browser address bar if clicking on

the link does not work).

Questions or comments can be sent to Green Opportunities, PO Box 7235, Asheville,
NC 28802 or by email to apply@greenopportunities.org.