Community Leaders Gather
to Celebrate "Green" Grads
GBCE - The Green Team trains 14 in weatherization techniques
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. –September 29, 2009 — Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises, Inc. (GBCE), also known as The Green Team, recently held a graduation ceremony to honor 14 newly trained graduates who have successfully completed Weatherization Technician Training. This hands-on training course focuses on techniques and applications used in residential energy conservation to increase efficiency and minimize heat loss.
"We were thrilled that members of the community came out to support these students as they embark on a new career," said Adrienne Houël, President and CEO of GBCE. "These 14 graduates are fully trained prepared to make Bridgeport a cleaner, greener City for future generations. We congratulate our students for making a positive step in their lives and look forward to training even more residents of the Greater Bridgeport Area in "green jobs" in the coming months and years."
On hand for the celebration were over 60 members of the community, family and friends of the graduates, including: Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who presented the graduates with their diplomas; Charlie Tisdale, Executive Director of Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD), who presented the students with a stipend; previous GBCE graduates; Armando Goncalves, Division President, Southern Connecticut, Westchester County of People's United Bank, and Board Chair for GBCE; and potential employers, such as Steve Gulick of Gulick Building and Development. In addition to the stipend, each student received a tool kit and drill as a graduation gift from GBCE.
This class was funded by The WorkPlace, Inc.'s WIRED initiative and Fairfield County Community Foundation.
GBCE has another round of Weatherization Technician Training set to begin on October 13th with students from the Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program at The Workplace, Inc.
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About The Green Team: Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises Inc. (GBCE), more commonly known as The Green Team, was formed in December of 2006 with a three pronged program, focused on developing green businesses, training low-income residents to be employed in those businesses, and creating partnerships across the region and state with private industry in an effort to define their needs and develop relevant training for new, green jobs. Since its inception, The Green Team has trained, graduated, and employed more than 80 students, nearly all of which are actively working in the green economy sector. The organization plans to train, and place 75 more students in 2009.
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