Program Summary

This summer Green Collar Technologies has partnered up with the Hawaii“i State Workforce Development in supprot of their opportunity for summer work experience program. During this six week period (June 16, 2009 - July 24, 2009) individuals of various ages, backgrounds and skills have come together to learn how to become more sustainable both in the environment ("offline sustainability") and on the internet ("online sustainability"). They learned a plethora of skills that employers are demanding ranging from rainwater harvesting, growing food crop, building sustainable developments, and using alternative sources of energy to online marketing, search engine optimization, server maintenance and online collaborative skills. The hopes of this program is to build greener economies on Hawai‘i Island, but it also had another resulting hope for the trainees. This program helped expose the trainees to knowledge and experiences that will hopefully make them more competitive and appealing the in the job search, application and interviewing processes. In this difficult economy it is difficult to find a job, and even more difficult to be sustainble. Hopefully this program has taught the trainnes how to create harmony between people and the planet!

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/24/09)

It's feels awkward to say it, but today is offically the late day of training for the Green Collar Jobs Training Program. What has started on June 16, 2009 has finally come to an end on July 24, 2009. The offline workers are headed down to Nanawale to once again work on Mark Hansen's Earthship, and what a way to end the program than on a project that eiptomizes the term "sustainability." Earthships are sustainable, affordable, reliable, and help reduce the human ecological program. Not to mention that Green Collar workers are the ones that are buildings these eco-friendly developments. The online workers continued to do what they do best on the internet, finishing daily tasks of blog posting, server maintainence, and client work. What better way to end their experience using the skills they have gained over the six week period of training.

In surprise news, Brent also gave all the trainees scholarships to attend classes on sustaianbility that will be offered in the fall. We are greatful for these scholarships and think these are one of the best ways to educated the future generations about a greener, more sustainable world! A great way to end the program!

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/23/09)

The weather for today was predicted to be cloudy with a high chance of showers, due to the bad weather off the south east end of Hawai‘i Island. However, if you lived here for some time, you probably realized that the weather can turn on a dime and it could be sunny one minute and raining heavily 5 minutes later. Luckily, for the Green Collar Jobs Training Program this means we experienced a very hot and clear, sunny day on Hawai‘i Island. The weather turned out for the best because the offline sustainability trainees headed down to Nanawale to put more time and effort in the Mark Hansen's sustainable, affordable, and modern Earthship.

Trainee's refined their Earthship skills and knowledge by again mixing the special concrete mix and packing it into the white bags that will help the mix retain the specific shape needed for the wall structure. The trainees are pretty excited that they are working on a building concept that is not really well known because it gives them a skill not too many people and hopefully will help them stand out when they are looking for jobs in the future. The trainees are also are hoping to raise awareness of this greener, sustainable home option.

Back in the office, the online sustainability group continued work on server maintainence, the Hawai‘i Sustainable Buisiness Directory, and starting to put closure to the summer 2009 Green Collar Jobs Training Program blogs.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/22/09)

Just Cruisin Coffee Shop in Downtown Hilo.

Work today was essentially the same as yesterday. The online sustainability group is continuing to work on daily tasks and attempting to complete the new tasks they set forth on previously, and the offline sustainability group is working at the Just Cruisin Coffee shop. They are again spreading cinder and filling the empty spots on the coffee shop property.

With less than two days left in the program is about time we start thinking about the future. Brent has hinted to the workers that there will be another Green Collar Training Program starting in the near future, but hasn't given the exact details. If you have any interest in the Green Collar Jobs Training Program or in Green Collar Technologies in general, keep in touch with our main website at greencollartech.com!