Pathways out of Poverty  ![]()
Co-op Power’s Good Green Jobs Program provides training and ongoing support to give young people and out-of-work adults a pathway out of poverty. Co-op Power will provide a comprehensive set of services including hands-on training, internships, on-the-job training, mentoring, job retention, and professional development opportunities for trainees. These services bridge the gap between the streets and the classroom, between the classroom and a job, between a job and a career.
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Work that:
• Requires creativity
• Cannot be outsourced
• Pays good wages
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Focus on the Transitional Workforce:
• Long-time Unemployed
• Dislocated Workers
• Under-educated
• Any others that face barriers to employment
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Want to Participate?
We’re Now Accepting Both New Trainees and Employer Partners!
- Training Available to Anyone who Makes Under Three Times the Poverty Limit
- Stipends for Trainees and On the Job Training Reimbursements for Employers
- Provides funds for: Job Training, Certifications, & Career Coaching
- Training for: Solar Hot Water Installation, Energy Efficiency Installation, & Green Product Sales
Contact Chris Pletcher at Co-op Power for more details:
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Office: 413-772-8898 Cell: 413-834-0977
Co-op Power Leadership Retreat Session IV
February 3rd and 4th, 2012
The Roundhouse, 68 Van Nuys Road, Colrain, MA.
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Learn leadership skills required to transition our region to a sustainable and just energy future, addressing multi-class/multi-racial community organizing, community finance, green job and green business development, and community-based sustainable energy solutions. Network with other community leaders across the Northeast.
A Dialogue on Organized Labor, Social Justice and Sustainability with Joe Alvarez. Joe will frame his background and his reflections on lessons learned related to community organizing, labor, race, class, equity and justice. He’ll talk about Occupy Wall Street and his understanding of how movements and institutions relate to each other as they work for justice and sustainability.
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 Joe Alvarez is a leadership and organization development consultant focused on unions and non-profits with social and economic justice missions. Joe co- founded the Alvarez Porter Group (www.alvarezporter.com) to help leaders and organizations work effectively toward creating a just, equitable and sustainable world. He helps leaders build organizations that are visionary, strategic and results-driven; well led and well run; with competent and inspired staff who work together effectively; with structures and systems that are aligned with their strategy and vision. Alvarez Porter Group focuses its work around 3 main areas: Leadership Development, Strategy & Planning and Facilitating Powerful Conversations.
Joe’s work with unions has involved him in a number of industries, including retail, food processing, arts and entertainment, transportation, public sector, education, construction, and health care. Joe has also worked with national, state, and local union federations, as well as with unions in Indonesia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. His work among non-profits has been with organizations involved in community organizing, civil rights, housing, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
Joe was the Northeast Regional Director of the AFL-CIO before pursuing a graduate degree in leadership and organizational development. Joe designed and co-led the AFL-CIO’s “New Alliance” program, a major national, state-by-state campaign to revitalize and reorganize state and local AFL-CIO bodies. In 2000, Joe helped found the New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute, where he still teaches. He also teaches at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Extension Division, and in American University’s Organization Development masters program.
Joe is married with two adult children. He lives in New York with his wife, Sally. More details of Joe’s work can be found on his website. www.alvarezporter.com
Register Now!
All Members, leaders of Local Organizing Councils, people who are interested in developing a Local Organizing Council, Energy Coaches, Board Members, potential Board Members, and community leaders are strongly encouraged to attend.
Register Now!
Questions?
Email to
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Fax to 413-527-0300
Call 413-772-8898 or tollfree 877-266-7543
Past Leadership Summits
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Lynn Benander, Lead Trainer
As Manager of Co-op Power, Lynn Benander works with community leaders to build community ownership of sustainable energy resources. Prior to joining Co-op Power, she ran a center for cooperative development in the Northeastern US and coordinated a training program for cooperative development specialists for a national network of cooperative development centers. She'll share lessons learned from fifteen years of group-based, community business development.
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Mark Tajima, Case Study Presenter
Mark Tajima brings a strong background in finance, strategic planning, education, and energy efficiency. He helped create the business plan that secured the $540,000 grant to launch Energia and now works there as the Residential Energy Efficiency Crew Leader. Mark currently is Chair of the board of Co-op Power and is a member of the board of Northeast Biodiesel. Mark has 20 years of experience in banking, and 10 years of experience in energy efficiency work. Mark has been involved with Co-op Power since 2009.
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Scott Guzman, Case Study Presenter
Scott Guzman is a renewable energy entrepreneur with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. While in college, he was a member of the President's Task Force on Sustainability, the student Green Team, and a member of the WPI Entrepreneurship club. He is currently working as a Biofuels Engineer for Empower Energy Co-Op, Biodiesel Division - Worcester, MA. As a founding member-owner, Scott has been involved in each aspect of the business, including formation of the Co-Op structure, accounting, management of warehouse operations, waste vegetable oil collection and sales.
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Session I: Community Organizing:
From Civil Rights to Mondragon
Speakers:
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Civil Rights and Cooperative Activist for 40
years; Co-op Power's Director of
Community Development Programs
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Danah Tench
Staff Lawyer for Environment Northeast;
Founding member of Co-op Power
Metro-East
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Training Materials from the Retreat
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