Education, Training, and Fun = Green Career

I-CARE Hosts Weatherization Event for Local Teens

I-CARE, in partnership with Huntersville-based company Sheercom LLC, is currently hosting a program aimed at giving participants the skills necessary for opportunities in the construction and weatherization business.

The three-week program gives those participants a basic knowledge of home systems. After completion participants will be trained in a cross-section of areas and will be equipped to apply for related jobs.

“We want to make sure the skills our people receive are transferrable,” said Jacqueline Patterson, Sheercom LLC owner.

During a recent class, nine participants from the Centralina WDB funded Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program and from Community Service Block Grant used props to test for possible air leaks that could be found in a home.

Randell Davis, 20, of Lincolnton, said he wants to gain more experience in the field. “Hopefully this will help me get a job out there somewhere,” he said.

Participants did hands-on work with professionals from Asheville-based company Go Green Construction.

There were different work stations set up in the cafeteria of Mitchell Community College’s Continuing Education building. The students were responsible for finding leaks in the stations and patching them.

The participants spent the first week of class learning technical terms of weatherization, energy auditing, green construction and more. The next week, the group performed diagnostic tests and a “blower door” test to find leaks in a home.

I-Care, Inc. Family Support Services Director Shelton Moore (also an Iredell County JobLink Management Team member) said they want to give participants an opportunity to receive the certifications to “give these men an opportunity to be more competitive in the job market.”

After completing the program participants will receive Building Performance Institute certification as well as weatherization certification.

This is the first time I-CARE has offered the program. “We hope we can offer this again in the fall,” Moore said.

Participants were chosen based on their aspirations or desire to work in the field of green construction or weatherization.

Tyrell Bennett, 20, said the certifications will help him achieve his goals. “I want to go to college and get a degree and hopefully this will help me get one,” he said.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina WDB Youth Council are proud partners with I-CARE and is excited to see partners connecting youth to future careers. Funding for the WIA Youth served was provided by Special Grant funds made available by the Centralina WDB. For more information on I-Care, Inc., the WIA program, or the Centralina WDB Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or npender@centralina.org.