ORANGE COUNTY CONSERVATION CORPS (3) - 2010

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I. About fhe Program A. Executive Sc~fnnaafy Taller San Jose-in partnership with the Orange County Conservation Corps (OCCC)-seeks funding to recruit and train 20 out-of school Santa Ana youth in the fundamentals of green construction. The growth of the nation's green industry creates enormous employment opportutzities in an otherwise stagnant economy. This boom presents these two agencies with the opportunity to continue to do what they have been doing for many years-link unemployed and unskilled urban youth to elltzy-Ievel jobs that offer pathways out of poverty. Professionals in the building trades are not only looking far workers with traditional skills, but also for those who have up-to-date training and certification in energy-efficient technology. The proposed training in Green Construction will initially focus on solar panel installation and expand to include weatherization. The program--which will begin in January 2010-will include core training in basic construction skills, green teclulology, life skills, job readiness programming and athree= month externship providing on-the job training. Program training is offered at TaIlez• San Jose's facilities in partnership with Golden West College and Tierra Institute International and the on- the jab training is offered by the OCCC in conjunction with its industry paI•tners. Tallef• San Jose (St. Joseph's Workshop} has one focused mussion-to walk undereducated, - unskilled and unemployed young people (ages 18-28} out of poverty through job training that offers the hope of a productive and self-reliant future. Young people in Santa Ana, who have not completed high school, who have no de#ined job skills, and who have criminal records, face a number of significant obstacles. Taller San Jose addresses these barriers to eInploylllent or academic achievement through intensive classroom instruction, hands-on training, and effective adult mentoring. It is a highly focused, goal-oriented program that challenges its participants to build a foundation for future sustainability. Through intensive job-training efforts in office careers, medical careers, and construction, youth acquire essential hands-on skills while learning . how to adhere to basic employment principles such as: showing up on-time and as scheduled, woI•king as team members to complete assignments, keeping work aI•eas clean, safely using all tools and equipment, and property filling out time cards. Taller San Jose challenges students to complete the following seven goals: obtain a high school diploma; open and use a bank account; • enroll in a computer class; find a job paying above the minimum wage; relnain crime free; register to vote; and obtain a valid driver's license. Trainees are also provided support services that ijrclude mentoring and counseling, legal assistance and job placement. The vision is to assist out-of-school youth to become economically self-sufficient in a relatively short period of time through intensive hands-on job training coupled with employability and social development. The more than 200 youth who attend Taller -San Jose annually reflect the following profile: Ethnic diversdty: 72% of youth are Latino, 13% are Caucasian, 7% Asian, 3% African American and 5% Other; Age: Youth arrd young adults between the ages of 18 and 28. Median age is 23; Corr~•t-involvente~rt: 59% of male students are currently on probation or parole; Edc[catiott ntrd s/dll levels: 9S% are deficient in basic skills (i.e., 6{I' grade math and reading levels); 38% did not complete their High School Diploma; Job ex~et•lence: 77% are unemployed. 37% have never held a job. Of those who have been employed, 85% have not held a job for more than 6 months; Fa111i1y hl'Oflle: 22% of female students and 17% of male students are parents. Long-term Life changes for Taller San Jose graduates include: 92% of students are not arrested for violent crime as tong as 3 years post-graduation; and, 82% of students who complete their program goals move on to full-time employment beyond minimum wage or to community EXHIBIT A fpouro,•raGy r/~e Si,rers of St. Jorepl: of Ormrge