On June 12, UNITE-LA celebrated the first cohort of the Avantus Cleantech Career Academy.

Sixty-one future, cleantech leaders completed the 12-week paid, work-based program where students learned:

1. To discover the impacts of climate change and environmental injustices within their communities.
2. Explain the benefits, costs and cleantech companies/products connected to different renewable energy sources (hydrogen, solar, hydropower, wind).
3. Conduct a landscape analysis with regards to energy and the environment in their communities.
4. Describe the role of business, sales and construction in the cleantech industry.
5. Create a sales plan/pitch for a cleantech company and product in the L.A. region.
6. Articulate work experience in the Avantus Academy to relevant skills that they will take to future internships/jobs in cleantech.

Speakers included Alysia Bell, president of UNITE-LA; Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, CEO and founder of Avantus; Paul Krekorian, president of Los Angeles City Council; Francisco Rodriguez, chancellor of Los Angeles Community College District; and Denita Willoughby, UNITE-LA board member, Avantus consultant and CEO of Big Energy Group. Additionally, there was a student panel and student project highlights. Dr. Buttgenbach and President Bell presented participants with certificates of completion and highlighted the $1,000 scholarship students are eligible to receive to pursue higher education.