Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Energy Czar Carol Browner Visit Green Job Training Center
For Immediate Release
April 10, 2009
Contact
Ricci Graham
(510) 763-0370
Oakland – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Ms. Carol Browner, the assistant to President Obama for Energy and Climate Change, visited the Cypress Mandela Training Center on Friday, April 10, 2009 to tour the facility and meet with students and instructors.
Congresswoman Lee offered to host the listening tour after Ms. Browner expressed interest in visiting Cypress Mandela Training Center as part of her effort to gain greater awareness of existing green job programs throughout the country.
Community leaders and program developers who have worked to expand the emergent green jobs market provided Congresswoman Lee and Ms. Browner with a brief overview of their efforts to develop green jobs and green technologies throughout the 9th Congressional District.
“I am proud of the work that is being done in my district to develop green jobs and green technologies,” Congresswoman Lee said. “I wanted Ms. Browner to see first-hand the unique coalition that combines policy advocacy, education and outreach in an effort to provide at-risk youth with the skills needed to work in eco-friendly industries that will revitalize our communities and help to restore the economy. The work that is being done here in my district is setting an example the entire nation can follow.”
Ms. Browner said she was impressed by the work that is being done at the Mandela Training Center, adding: “The President's energy policy is focused on jump-starting the economy by creating millions of clean energy jobs. The skills and training provided at Cypress Mandela and through the Oakland Green Jobs Corps are a fundamental part of creating opportunity for all to build an American Clean Energy sector.”
During the tour, Congresswoman Lee and Ms. Browner met with students and instructors at the Cypress Mandela Training Center, along with representatives from the Green Job Corps, including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and Green For All.
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