Youth Leadership & Workforce Development
What is Youth Leadership & Workforce Development?
Through our youth leadership and workforce development programs, we work to guide and inspire students to understand sustainability principles and gain practical skills through hands-on projects that can help shape their decisions about further study, careers and as future leaders.
These programs foster skills that can provide steady employment, improve local communities and restore the environment. We are moving forward with establishing a comprehensive program for high school students aligned with leadership skills, hands-on training and certification, and have started an adult education program for those looking to build professional sustainable landscaping skills.
The goal is to guide and inspire students to live happy and healthy lives within the environmental capacity of one planet, to develop an understanding of sustainability principles and equip them with practical skills to make a difference while preparing them for the next green economy.
174
Youth Internship Participants
34
Professional & Adult Ed participants
Youth Engagement
High school students can participate in a number of internship opportunities through our programs.
Youth Cooking Program
Teens learn basic kitchen skills and recipes and the value of supporting their local food system.
2022 PDC
(September 2022-February 2023)
Develop a broad understanding of permaculture and design in a program combining class work with hands-on learning.
DIY Sustainable Design
A four-part garden design series to create a sustainable, resilient landscape.
Additional Resources
News and Updates
Youth Environmental Leaders Seek to Shape a Better World, Starting at Home
We’ve just completed SuSol’s first two Youth Environmental Leadership Fellowships. The high school students who participated in these programs are thoughtful, conscientious people who see the challenges ahead and are eager to find ways to improve themselves, their communities and the world.
DIY Sustainable Landscape Design Class a Hit for Homeowners
Heidi Varian participated in the DIY Sustainable Landscape Design class offered earlier this year. She wanted to use the class to gain design ideas for a historic home in Benicia that she is restoring with some friends to create a site people can visit for an “eco-vacation.” She shares her reflections on the class and process.
New Program to Focus on Air Quality in Fairfield
A new program that will focus on air quality concerns, causes and solutions will help Fairfield residents to address air pollution within the community. Sustainable Solano was recently awarded a $260,000 Community Air Grant that will support the planning and implementation of this new program over the next three years.