CHOICES students eagerly participating in classroom activities.  Photo: Urban News

Staff reports

The Asheville Green Opportunities Training Team (Asheville GO) is a paid job training and placement program designed to prepare unemployed, out-of-school young adults in and around Asheville for living-wage jobs in the rapidly expanding green economy. The initiative was spearheaded by Getting Back to the Basics (GBTTB), a nonprofit organization begun by Asheville Police Department officer Quentin Miller. Green Opportunities is collaborating with Asheville Area Job Link and Asheville Housing Authority to offer young adults an opportunity to participate in its “CHOICES” program, through which participants develop responsibility, self-confidence, critical thinking skills, and leadership, and find meaningful employment.

After completing two weeks of classroom coursework, each student participates in a paid work-study program with Green Opportunities. This program offers a hands-on clinical curriculum and combines service projects, life skills training, support services, and on-the-job experience in promising fields of employment. The curriculum teaches green construction, clean energy, recycling, ecological landscaping, restoration, and sustainable agriculture.

Once students have been introduced to wide range of possible green career pathways, each participant selects one pathway to explore more deeply through an apprenticeship. The apprenticeships, hosted by local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits, provide on-the-job experience, and allow members to apply and enhance the skills gained during the earlier phases of the program.

“With this collaborative effort we can better serve our program participants, and reach our goals and objectives,” said Dwayne Barton, cofounder of Green Opportunities. “This allows us to work towards a common goal, which is to reach people where they are – to educate them – and help to develop their skill sets.  In doing so, our program participants can continue to live in the area, and find meaningful employment.”

GBTTB was founded in 2005 as a collaboration between Asheville City Schools, Asheville Police Department, Asheville Housing Authority, St. Matthias Episcopal Church, Buncombe County Sheriff Department, Boys Scouts Of America, Mission St. Joseph Hospitals, Mt. Zion Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Intervention (TPPI), and several members of the Asheville Buncombe County Community. 

Getting Back to the Basics - “Choices” program participants. First row seated (L-R): Asheley Klann, Chevell Mooney, Britne Wheeler. Second row: Blake Payne, Steven Jackson, Brian Foster, Vincent Henry, Tyrell Burton. Third row: Tillman Jackson,  Matthew Matinez, Taihem Penland, Daniel Wheeler, Cody Summers. Fourth row: Jonathan Goodson, James Mills, Shawn Diaz.