The Green Economy Goes Homeboy

August 31, 2009

Former Los Angeles gangsters seeking to reenter the workforce are trading in their gang colors for a new hue: Green. By training to become photovoltaic (PV) panel installers, these ex-gang members are joining the Green Economy and capitalizing on the influx of government funds for renewable energy projects intended to stimulate business and strengthen the green technology sector of the US economy.

Homeboy Industries, a LA-based nonprofit that helps former criminals find employment is collaborating with the East Los Angeles Skills Center (ELASC) to funnel ex-cons into courses that teach design, construction, and installation of PV panels. According to the relevant ELASC online course description, this 100 hour class introduces solar electrical theory, PV safety, basic load analysis, system sizing, and components and hardware among other lessons.

According to a Homeboy Industries press release entitled, “A New Gang Comes to Los Angeles: Solar-Panel Installers,” many course graduates are already working, earning about $15 an hour with hourly wage prospects up to $30 an hour for experienced installers. One of the companies employing reformed gang members to install PV is LA-based Phat Energy, which constructs PV as well as solar hot water, solar pool heating, and solar ventilation installations for residential and commercial customers.

ABC News has posted a nice report, “From Gangs to ‘Green Collar’,” on this initiative.

Posted by Matthew Traum on August 31, 2009 | Comments (2)

October 8, 2009

In response to: The Green Economy Goes Homeboy
tony almeida commented:

Ummmm, "government funds" are generally to subsidise the *demand* for PV and other "green energy" projects (tax credits and the like), *not* to feed as-stated non-profit organisations.
And even if they were, if you were an ex-con, would you be more interested in doing something useful such as installing PV panels, or scrubbing rest-stop toilets? Hell, let's give ex-cons a second chance by being medical test subjects and human guinea-pigs, why don't we?

September 29, 2009

In response to: The Green Economy Goes Homeboy
Plexus commented:

I'm all for giving someone a second chance, but perhaps we should employ the law abiding and hard working folks who recently lost their jobs before we train ex-cons. Instead of having the "ex-gang members capitalizing on the influx of goverment funds", they should be scrubbing rest area toilets and cleaning up trash along the highways.

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