President Kenneth Adams Shares Remarks with Second Cohort of NYCHA Clean Energy Academy
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (December 19, 2023) — The second cohort of the New York Housing Authority (NYCHA) Clean Energy Academy graduated on December 19, with a ceremony scheduled at the New York City Housing Authority Ceremonial Room (5th Floor). The ceremony celebrated the achievements and the program completion of 15 NYCHA residents who participated in the 16-week training program.
Graduates, who were presented with certificates, received several industry certifications, including 30-hour OSHA Safety Training, 10-hour Site Safety Training (Fall Prevention and Drug and Alcohol Awareness), Flagger and Scaffold Certification, Asbestos and Confined Space Awareness, and more.
The NYCHA Clean Energy Academy (NCEA) provides residents with a 280-hour training program where they gain construction skills training; hands-on learning; workforce preparation; visits to NYCHA Weatherization Assistance Program project sites; and specialized training on clean energy, including building electrification, clean energy technologies, and energy efficiency.
The NCEA is a nearly $2 million partnership between NYCHA and the Public Housing Community Fund, in collaboration with LaGuardia Community College/CUNY. It is funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), National Grid, Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, New York Power Authority (NYPA), NorthLight Foundation, and Rise Light and Power.
The graduation ceremony was emceed by Josephine Melendez, Assistant Director of Adult Education and Training for NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), and Egan Waggoner, a consultant with NYCHA’s Asset & Capital Management’s Office of Sustainability Programs – both NYCHA teams helped oversee the program.
Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College, was also invited to speak during the ceremony.
“Congratulations to Cohort 2 of the NYCHA Clean Energy Academy,” President Adams said. “Today’s celebration is another step closer to making a difference in today’s job market — creating sustainable career pathways for residents who have obtained the skills in renewable and clean energy. I wish you much success in the future.”
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 degrees and certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to educate New Yorkers seeking new skills and careers. As an institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of underserved populations. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students while providing them with access to a high quality, affordable college education.
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