We propose an E-learning green jobs program where a cohort of five families will receive COVID-19 safe workforce training that will provide them with environmental knowledge emphasizing how solar energy and solar storage could affect the world and the areas in which they live. We seek to create a once in a lifetime learning experience and give it to families in need. Support those most vulnerable in practical education that gives them skills that can help better their lives as well as the communities in which they live. At the end of the cohort we will host a Green Jobs expo at local libraries that will allow other community members to also be exposed to the educational content within our program.

We plan to run a remote educational program with five families that participate in practical learning through E-learning platforms. The program will consist of certification courses about plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and solar energy. The program will be completely remote, each family within the cohort will be given a Lenovo laptop, an internet hotspot, and a VR headset so that they can adequately participate in the program in a Covid-19 safe manner. We are expecting the household to participate, as the program is completely remote and the necessary gear will be shipped to them. We are seeking to enroll families made up of single mothers/fathers and their child(s) specifically. So each cohort will have five families with a minimum of ten participants. We will use an E-learning platform, Interplay Learning, that is VR integrated and also facilitates data collection of students’ progress. The cohort families will receive a VR headset to fully participate in the VR plumbing and solar training. The training includes learning from uncomplex tasks, such as learning how to fix a sink, to more complex assignments like installing solar panels; all from the safety of participants’ living rooms.

These experiences are not only futurist tech, but the technology allows for other benefits and experiences as well. Through VR, we will be taking the cohorts periodically on trips to popular and essential waterways from the safety of the home. We will take the cohorts on a trip to the Hoh Rain Forest, a project we have developed with help of the Port of Seattle and the Hoh tribe. We will also take participants on green local business tours such as Dynamic Waters, a local rainwater harvesting company. We will host special speakers from green businesses to share with the cohort their experience building a local environmentally-conscious company.

The cohort will be supported by our technical contractor Key Studios. Adam C. Powers, the founder, and his team of youth apprentices will be tasked with providing live support to navigate technical challenges and build a knowledge base for the students to rely on. Key Studios will also manage both E-learning platforms, Interplay Learning and Trainual, that cohort members will use throughout the program. All technical and subject matter support will be provided over the phone, chat, or video call, all remotely. In case of any major technical issue, the student will ship the equipment back to our central location, the tech team will remedy the problem, clear the equipment, and send it back to the students for the continuation of the program. Key Studios will also be able to track participants’ progress in real-time and export each student's report, manage the back end database, and send data reports on progress at the end of each month. In addition, they will manage the surveying of the cohort through the program.

After the program ends will be taking devices and setting up the educational VR content within libraries to show case it as a green jobs expo. (Covid-19 permitting) we will set up for a couple of hours within the libraries community rooms and allow community members to experience what it would be like to install solar panels through the use of the VR gear. Other experiences will include experiencing what it would be like to install rain water harvesting as well as what Bio gas digestors are and how they can benefit the local environment and local economy. In addition we will be also allowing community members to visit the Hoh rainforest and Tacoma Water Ways. We plan to run these Green Jobs expos at the Des Moines, Burien, Federal way and Tukwila Libraries.

Funding Source Example: South King County Fund Environmental Grants Program

The project starts with a Community Call out Survey to reach out to prospective participants through e-posters on social media, emails, reaching our partners, and other organizations to spread the word about our new program. There will be an online application for families to fill out.

The Online Application will help determine if this project is the right program for the interested participants and if the family fits the program as well. The Online Application will ask interested participants to answer questions about their demographics, economic standings, household income, and other information that will help determine the impact of our program on the participants.

Online Interview

After carefully reviewing every applicants' submissions, we will host online Interviews with qualifying applicants. Seven families will be selected and asked to sign a Cohort Contract.

The Cohort Contract will include specifications about handling the shipped equipment, course specifications, and a liability contract for the gear we will provide.

In order to better understand the needs of the participants, an online Pre-cohort Survey will be conducted. The families will be asked to share prior experience in topics included in the online E-learning Training such as knowledge on solar and electrical energy, water cycle, plumbing, and HVAC. This survey will be repeated on month 3 as a Mid-cohort Survey and at the end of the program as the post-Cohort Survey. We are not expecting families to have any background knowledge in course content. Rather, the survey is intended to allow us to acquire a baseline of knowledge from our students and track their progress.

Shortly after the pre-cohort survey, the tech gear will be shipped to participants. Equipment includes a Lenovo laptop, a hotspot, and a VR Headset.

The program will last six months with regular check-ins on families. Week one is designed to welcome families. In this first week, there will be an Online Orientation for the seven families.

Tech Onboarding

welcome families. In this first week, there will be an Online Orientation for the seven families. We will kick off with a General Student Orientation, continuing with instructions on how to set up the devices we shipped and how to take care of them.

Then, an Online Meal Prep Party will be hosted by Shennetta Smith, the founder and Chief Executive Operator of Diamonds in The Rough Foundation Inc., an organization dedicated to helping women and children in the next phase of living without domestic violence. The first week's orientation will continue with an Online Training Session about the modules we expect participants to complete during their time on the program.

The first week's orientation will continue with an Online Training Session about the modules we expect participants to complete during their time on the program.

Finally, during week one, an Online VR Training will take place to make sure families get the full experience during the program with the correct use and care of the VR set

After week one, we are expecting students to continue the Online E-Learning Training on plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and solar energy through Interplay Learning at their own pace.

We will be collecting data throughout the program to record the progress of our participants. Our internal team will perform weekly evaluations on the positive impacts on our families. We practice an open and fair data philosophy that allows our families and stakeholders to view the aggregated data in a user-friendly dashboard.

In addition to the weekly Online E-Learning Training, Online VR Training will continue for our cohort for the last of the program.

We are expecting a special speaker from Dynamic Waters LLC during week two to talk about their experience as a female BIPOC in the environmentally-conscious water and landscape business. This activity is meant to help students reflect on the connections between their weekly learning and a sustainable and environmentally-conscious way to apply that learning (i.e., starting a business that offers sustainable alternatives to the communities and clients).

We will be collecting data throughout the program to record the progress of our participants. Our internal team will perform weekly evaluations on the positive impacts on our families. We practice an open and fair data philosophy that allows our families and stakeholders to view the aggregated data in a user-friendly dashboard.

In month three, in addition to the ongoing online training, we will host two special events. A special speaker from Impact Bioenergy

Netflix Party watch party. These social events are meant to help create a safe community environment and remind our families of the importance of self-care and healing through relationship and community bonds

The following month, we will be taking our families through the Hon Rain Forest for a VR experience. In a very similar way to the trip to Tacoma Water Ways, we are expecting our families to enjoy an outdoor activity from the comfort of their home and experience a social-emotional way to reflect on the programs’ goals.

We will be collecting data throughout the program to record the progress of our participants. Our internal team will perform weekly evaluations on the positive impacts on our families. We practice an open and fair data philosophy that allows our families and stakeholders to view the aggregated data in a user-friendly dashboard.

For the last month of the program, we will be preparing to finalize the cohort.

Families will take their last Online E-learning Training during the first two weeks of the month

We will be collecting data throughout the program to record the progress of our participants. Our internal team will perform weekly evaluations on the positive impacts on our families. We practice an open and fair data philosophy that allows our families and stakeholders to view the aggregated data in a user-friendly dashboard.

Prep Party will be hosted by Shenneta Smith to conclude our cohort.

Families will fill out the Post Cohort Survey

The Families will return the equipment

Shortly after we receive the gear back, we will ship out certifications of completion of the program to our families.

After the program ends will be taking the devices and setting up the educational VR content within libraries to show case a Green Jobs expo. We will be using these events as recruiting opportunity for the next cohort.

FAQ

What if the students don’t send back the gear?

In the contract, it will be listed that the gear is a loan for the purpose of completing the classwork. In case the gear is not returned, participants will be taking on the financial responsibility to pay for the gear.

Why a household rather than a student?

We have a hardware team that will be focused on fixing any broken gear. The students must ship back the gear to our headquarters, equipment will be fixed and sent back to participants for the completion of the program.

Why a household rather than a student?

We are seeking for households to participate to take advantage of the program and technology provided and expand our impact not only on individuals but their families as well. This way, we ensure access to resources to multiple personnel. In addition, because the program is completely remote, family members can be students of the program and continue with their weekly responsibilities. Also because of COVID-19, we feel this will be a safer approach to learning than having out of house learning.

What's the cost per household?

The average cost per household breaks down to around $5,000. As we are seeking to have two students minimum per household to an average cost per student of $2,500.

What can they do after the program? Will this educational program get students a job?

The courses that the students will be taking are certified. However, that does not guarantee participants will be ready for the workforce. Many trade jobs require direct experience as well. The main purpose of the program is to give the base knowledge to the students, understanding that plumbing and electrical systems directly affect the students’ lives and homes. The knowledge obtained during this program not only puts participants on track to trade jobs, but the skills they develop can help them maintain and upgrade their personal homes, empowering them to have better control of their living environments. In addition, their experience in the program will give them insight into their environment and their surroundings, and help them to be better stewards of the land and place we all call home.

How do the students get the gear?

We will be shipping the gear directly to the household of the student. Due to the high cost of the technology being shipped, package tracking will be added to each shipment as well as insurance to guarantee the safety of the gear.

What if the students are not familiar with the gear?

We will have a live remote support team that will help with any hardware or software issues. The students will have access to live technical support and to subject matter experts that act as course tutors to help explain ideas and concepts that might be difficult to grasp. Technical support and subject matter experts will be available through phone, chat, and video call.