As part of their commitment to the community, Finger Lakes ReUse (FLR) has been offering ReSET, a free job training program, since 2013. ReSET is a program that helps underserved members of the community obtain skills and experience needed to obtain future jobs. This 10 week, unpaid, entry-level program allows participants to pursue skills in one of three tracks. The technology track teaches understanding computer components, repair, software, and troubleshooting, for 16 hours per week. A 2018 ReSET promotion writes that beginning a career in IT (Information Technology) can feel very daunting, and ReSET Tech is a way to give people underrepresented in technology fields, like women and people of color, a starting point into a tech career. The second track is for retail and customer service, and the newest offering is a pilot program, started in December 2020, called Green Energy Workforce Training.
The green energy pilot track is a collaboration of the ReUse center with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE). I contacted Dr. Aloja Airewele, the CCE member who leads this training. He graciously had a Zoom conversation with me, and I got a better understanding of the program and his role.
The Green Energy Workforce Training focuses on teaching employment skills for people who may enter sustainable industries, such as green construction and renewable energy. As a track within ReSET, Green Energy Workforce trainees get general instruction at FLR and work with Aloja to concentrate on 10 modules in the “Roots of Success” curriculum. This curriculum teaches environmental literacy on issues of waste management, transportation, water treatment, and agriculture, as well as skills like financial literacy, job interview preparation, and community organization. The variety of topics gives trainees a well-rounded education on environmental problems and professional skills, both of which trainees can use when pursuing career pathways.
Aloja is currently working with four adults through a hybrid learning model. When in-person, trainees get instruction and do hands-on work at FLR’s newest location, “The ReUse Caboose and Training Center,” at 700 W. Buffalo St. When at home, trainees Zoom into the lessons. Aloja told me that just last week, the group finished their building module and went on a field trip to observe the green aspects of design at Gates Hall on the Cornell Campus.
When I asked Aloja about his favorite part of his job, he told me that he feels gratified by the educational component. “I love hearing trainees say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that before!’ when learning about the carbon footprint of their sandwich, or the energy consumption of incandescent light bulbs versus LEDs,” Aloja said. When referring to human-driven climate change, he mentioned, “I like helping ordinary people ‘get it.’” The trainees may or may not end up in the green sector of the economy, but either way, Aloja likes teaching them more about the world and skills to help them attain future jobs.
At the moment, Aloja is content to have the small group of trainees, but when the pandemic subsides, he imagines having around 15 participants. His green energy program, like the other tracks of ReSET, is completely free, and it is a great way for people to learn new skills and build pathways to future employment. If you are a high school senior interested in going straight to the workforce after graduation, consider the ReSET program (ithacareuse.org/reset) to improve your job readiness. Training programs are just one way that FLR contributes to our community, and if you want to learn more about Finger Lakes ReUse in general, check out my related article.