Green Jobs Youth Development

The Green Jobs Youth Development (GJYD) program helps at-risk teens become economically self-sufficient through the development of job readiness skills and employment preparedness and helps stabilize neighborhoods by fostering environmental stewardship and protection. In previous years, the Green Jobs program engaged youth over a six month period. In response to a growing need among community members for job skills training, the Housing Authority of New Haven has expanded its commitment to the program for a full year in 2019-2020. This will enable more students to participate and will provide them with greater consistency, which is a best practice when working with low-income youth to build skills. Establishing Green Jobs on a year-round, long-term basis for up to 25 at-risk teens is a core priority for Solar Youth. 

The program has three key components: Job Readiness Skill Develpoment, Community Service, Environemental Exploration.

early/mid Jan. - Hire GJ Coordinator and Youth educator for Winter/Spring season.

late Jan/early Feb. - Train staff, recruit and interview student interns.

Early/mid Feb. - Select student interns and conduct parent orientation session

Feb. 18 -  Program Kick-off (Spring session continues through May 15, 2020)

Solar Youth works with youth in New Haven’s lowest income communities, primarily those with the highest percentage of children in poverty and who traditionally have few opportunities to develop effective job preparedness skills or learn about attainable career goals. These youth face incredible challenges such as high family unemployment, crime and violence in their neighborhoods, and are often not able to graduate from high school. The Green Jobs program was launched in 2010 in response to a great need for job readiness training as well as constructive out-of-school opportunities for at-risk teens. In past years, participants in the GJYD program have found employment in areas such as landscaping, retail management and hospital administration.

“If it weren’t for Solar Youth, I wouldn’t have worked at all.” – Montrel, Patient Care Administrator, Norwalk Hospital and former SY Green Jobs Intern.