At the SJVCEO, one of the pillars of our work promotes enhancing local control to the communities that we serve. Allowing the stakeholders and residents to make the decisions, influence policy, and establish goals for their community brings a sense of ownership and comradery to the region.

It is always a great day when we see energy related stories into the news, but even better when this news is coming from our own backyard. Our California communities are making strides and creating change where change is needed. Enhancing access to employment into a region that is often overlooked by countless programs and opportunities makes this news even better.

However, as we continue our journey through climate change, policy adjustments, social and environmental justice, we need an expansion. Looking beyond clean energy careers, we need to create and promote “climate adaptive careers” that will serve at the forefront of an equitable workforce.

As the new year commences, SJVCEO’s dedication to fighting for equitable workforce initiatives will push through. 2020 presented a new set of challenges for all and while we conquered through them (with some successes and some failures), our eyes opened even wider to the inequities in communities throughout California that were suffering at disproportionate levels. The year ahead presents a new chapter for us to author that will not only address these challenges head on but create a space for stakeholders to engage and converse about these challenges.

In the year 2020, any good news makes the days seem a little less dark and today I came across a story that brought quite a bit of light into the day.

Over this last weekend, as wildfires continue to blaze through the majority of California, our first responders are fighting tirelessly to save the communities that we love and cherish. Amongst this group of people, are inmates throughout counties in California.