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Income inequality

San Gabriel Valley

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Our understanding of the issues we are addressing is comprehensive. The Latino and Latina Roundtable has been running a project that places unemployed and underemployed individuals who have barriers to employment in high road jobs for over 1 year. We have seen the gaps that exist and training is what is needed. We have extensive knowledge of advocacy and experience with grassroots community organizing and relationship building with organized labor.  We are advocates and leaders in the economic justice space as well as key stakeholders in the local environmental justice movement. We are linking and building partnerships with local and statewide organizations and agencies to bring resources to this area that desperately needs attention and is highly under-resourced. As an organization our role and vision is a vibrant community with people involved and informed and able to access resources that exist in other communities. We have the trust of our community and can collaborate for change.

This program will create an onramp for trainees to become high roads job candidates in clean tech industries. There has been innovation and adoption of green technology such as solar panels and back-up batteries. However, there is a shortage of trained individuals with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to take on the service jobs that require the technology to continue to operate at its optimal level. There is a high need for electricians and the adequate training. These jobs are not something that someone can go online or on Youtube to find a solution. They need training from experts because a mistake can have serious consequences. For example in the solar panel industry, there is a shortage of technicians that can diagnose, repair, and maintain. We need individuals with technical knowledge as well as strong customer service skills and responsiveness. By creating this green tech onramp and working with our community closely we will make an impact and create excitement as well as a climate where innovation is possible. The trainees will learn about the importance of their future jobs and how that is contributing to the solutions for climate change and making advancements in the field. A secondary issue is that there is no incubation of technology or innovation in this area driven by the community at a grassroots level. We have university and community college partners, however this is an opportunity to create something new with local workers eager for an opportunity.

Los Angeles County is already a vibrant place because of its diversity and economic opportunities, however that promise of economic prosperity doesn't exist for everyone.The county is very difficult county to navigate for low-income communities, non-English speakers, and those facing barriers to employment. Many people, especially in the San Gabriel Valley areas and unincorporated parts of the county are being left behind to the point that they will never catch up. They are losing their jobs in a changing economy. In the SGV, we don't have the resources that exist in the City of Los Angeles and therefore we need to bring those opportunities to this region, especially green tech jobs. Our cities face a heavy pollution burden. Los Angeles County will be more equitable and more energy efficient. Funding green tech projects in the SGV gives this community a fair chance at addressing climate change and creating a local green workforce. Our success will solve an energy and equity problem.