SAMPAN: Green is in at AACA
Oct. 9,2009
It’s hopping at the Asian American Civic Association (AACA). This 42-year-old community-based organization in Boston Chinatown rolls out new services, programs and projects practically every month. Buds and Blossoms, the first Mandarin-speaking childcare center in Boston, will open this November at AACA’s facility on Tyler Street. AACA’s Youth Center, which kicked off this spring, has already gained wide recognition for its well-rounded youth programs. And there’s more.
As an effort to echo environmental awareness, AACA is also participating in numerous ‘green’ projects, which seek to beautify the community and prepare for job-readiness. In light of the high unemployment rate, AACA will soon launch its employment center, serving job-seekers in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. The Sampan catches up with AACA staff members: Christopher Albrizio, BEEMS Program Director, Wendy Huang, Recruitment Coordinator and Elena Kuyun, Employment Specialist, on the latest news.
Sampan: What ‘green’ programs does AACA offer?
Albrizo: AACA offers one ‘green’ training program and is in the development stage of a second. The one that is currently offered is called Building Energy Efficient Maintenance Skills (BEEMS). The BEEMS program is a 22 week training program designed to train “green-collar” building maintenance workers. The goal of the program is to provide intensive training to students to prepare them for a maintenance job at an American company. Technical training consists of the basics and fundamentals of the various trades, including carpentry, plumbing, painting, electricity, appliance repair, general maintenance, and occupational safety in addition to energy efficiency/conservation measures and “green” building. Students are also trained in workplace English, basic math and measurement, basic computer knowledge, and customer service skills. Students study maintenance related vocabulary and have intensive preparation in job readiness. Job readiness skills include writing a resume/cover letter, interview practice/preparation, and how to find and apply for a job.
The ‘green’ training program that is currently being developed is called Energy Efficiency Technician Apprenticeship Program (EETAP). EETAP is a three-part apprenticeship program designed to train immigrants/non-native English speakers and other low-income and under-skilled individuals to be certified Energy Efficiency Technicians, an occupation that involves energy auditing and basic weatherization skills. The three parts of the program will consist of: 1) a pre-apprenticeship component designed to prepare participants by improving basic skills (i.e. math, reading, ESOL, etc.) to be ready for an apprenticeship; 2) an apprenticeship component that is registered with the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Training (DAT) that consists of on-the-job training and classroom instruction in related topics; and 3) a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification preparation component designed to prepare apprentices and others to take and pass the Building Analyst certification exam.
Sampan: AACA has recently won a couple of “green” grants. What are they?
Albrizio: BEEMS was awarded a $125,000 Neighborhood Jobs Trust (NJT) grant that is administered through the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) of the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Jobs and Community Services (JCS). The NJT grant funds 20 slots for Boston residents for training in BEEMS and runs from February 2009 through July 2010.
AACA also recently received an $117,270 capacity building grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and Commonwealth Corporation to develop and build capacity for the EETAP. This is a capacity building grant, so it does not fund implementation/execution of the program, but rather provides funding to develop and build capacity. This grant will run from October 2009 through June 2010.
Last but not least, on September 25, AACA also received a grant from the Barr Foundation for Sustainable Chinatown. The Sustainable Chinatown is a proposed public private partnership between the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA)’s GreenTech initiative, AACA and interested business owners in Chinatown. The project will address business competitiveness issues – rising energy, water, and solid waste management costs – with practical and affordable solutions that help business owners reduce costs and environmental impacts, build long term sustainable business expertise capacity in the community, while helping the City of Boston meet its aggressive greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy goals.
This project will comprise three main elements: energy efficiency, renewable energy and waste management. The end goals of the project are to develop and expand sustainable business strategy awareness; improve business competitiveness and reduce environmental impact by aggressively promoting proven sustainability strategies with business owners; build community awareness around the links of Sustainable Chinatown to both business viability, and resident health with a print and electronic public awareness campaign; help meet City of Boston goals related to climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and economic development.
Sampan: What services does the Employment Center provide?
Kuyun: Assistance with job search - one-on-one, or we have ongoing classes every first and third Monday of each month, job interview preparation, including mock interviews, resume preparation and critique, assistance with job placement, and career counseling.
Sampan: There is a new schedule for some of AACA’s programs. Could you explain how the new schedule works?
Huang: AACA is now offering job training programs year-round. ASCENT and BEEMS have five start dates a year, in Sept., Nov, Jan, April and June, about every 9 weeks. PACE continues to run twice a year in Sept. and Jan. More start dates means people who are interested in training don’t have to wait as long for a program to start. We have kept the programs the same, but for ASCENT and BEEMS we separated the curriculum into two parts that are taught independently of each other. So students starting in November might have classmates who’ve been in school since September. When January rolls around, the students who started in Sept would have completed the program. New students starting in January are in class with students who started in November.
