By David A. Hill, Editorial Director

Denver - Colorado is quickly becoming a hub for alternative energy companies. Match this industry growth with the state’s low graduation rates and the growing number of workers reaching retirement age, and you get a workforce shortage. Like many other industries, the alternative energy providers will recruit talent from outside of Colorado if they can’t get the workers they need from within the state.

One familiar name helping to address the shortage of trained workers is GoodWill Industries of Denver.

Goodwill’s instruction primarily targets at-risk young people who have barriers to a college education. Last year, its Youth Services Division served over 24,000 in Metro Denver high schools and northern Colorado through its classes on job readiness, postsecondary planning and its mentoring program. 

It was a natural fit for Goodwill to be the recipient of a WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) grant to pilot the Turn It On! Energy Workforce Program.

60 senior-level students are enrolled in the one-year “energy careers” elective at East and Montebello High Schools, which focuses on math, mechanical concepts, problem-solving and job-readiness skills. Students also receive support from a case manager who provides tutoring, mentoring, career exploration, and job placement.

Partnering for Students’ Futures

GoodWill’s partnership with a growing number of metro Denver school districts is paying off with higher senior graduation rates at the partnering high schools - a robust average of 94%, compared to 47% in many other Denver urban school districts.

“When a student is given the skills necessary to plan a future,
it gives them incentive to graduate,” says Joyce Schlose, VP of
Workforce Development at Goodwill. “Our programs help students
develop a plan and give them the necessary skills to enter the
workforce or go to college after high school. When these young
people can see a future, they tend to stay in school.”

The organization expects to graduate 80% of the students, with
most of them entering apprenticeship programs. Students like
Chris Martinez (pictured) are reaping the benefits of the
Energy Workforce curriculum.

“As a high school dropout, Chris had very few choices for the
future,” GoodWill’s Meaghan Carabello tells Colorado Energy
News. “After going through our program, he began exploring his
options in the energy field. Now equipped with the skills and
experience he needs, Chris graduated from West High School and
is well on his way to a successful career in energy.”

Hands-On and On-Site

As mentioned previusly, the Turn It On! Energy Workforce
instruction provides basic skills students mush have in order to
land jobs in the industry, including resume writing, job
interview techniques and prep work for taking and passing the
Electrical Institute exam, a requirement of many new
energy jobs.

The instruction isn’t relegated strictly to the classroom. Students
regularly go on field trips to sites involved with energy.
They recently visited an energy-efficient modular home
manufacturer in Milliken, as well as Xcel Energy’s Cherokee
Generating station. In addition, a new program this year called
the Green Team Project calls for students and mentors to
retrofit a house in the metro area with new green technology.

Contributions Drive the Program

Donations and retail sales are the funding mechanisms for
GoodWill’s career training programs and, as always, it welcomes
help with the former.

GoodWill Industries of Denver is also seeking additional partnerships
with energy businesses who can provide intern opportunities to
students, become mentors, sponsor a site visit or provide a job
shadow opportunity. Of course, cash donations are always welcome.

Individuals and companies interested in contributing to
GoodWill of Denver’s educational program should contact Meaghan
Carabello at 303-650-7734 or mcarabello@goodwilldenver.org