Program Outline

The Southern University Minority Worker Training Program is a collaborative effort between Dillard University's Deep South Center for Environmental Justice in New Orleans, Southern University's Center for Social Research in Baton Rouge, the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, the Citizens for Environmental Justice in Savannah, GA, the Center for Environmental and Economic Justice in Biloxi/Gulfport, MS, union organizations, minority-owned and institutional based training providers, and local, state and federal agencies. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences funds this program. This program is designed to assist young adults training them for careers in environmental remediation and construction. Our objective is to get as many of these adults as possible gainfully employed in the environmental field.

In order to be eligible for this program, applicants must live in East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Orleans , St. John , St. Charles , Jefferson , St. James, Iberville and Ascension Parishes . Candidates must be drug free, underemployed or unemployed. Students must complete an application, pass a TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education), complete an interview, and complete orientation. Additional requirements include the following:

•  Ability to read at or above an 8th grade level. This is important because most chemicals must be read about before using.

•  Maturity-Participants must be serious about the program and be able to function in a classroom setting as adults. Disrespect for the program, teachers or other participants is not tolerated.

•  Reliability-Participants are responsible for coming to training each day, on time and with all of the necessary materials.

•  Honesty-Participants caught cheating will be expelled from the program.

The Minority Worker Training Program consists of the following three phases:

• PHASE I ORIENTATION & BASIC SKILLS TRAINING - This involves one week of orientation and six weeks of training in math, life skills, job readiness and retention, physical fitness, computer basics, reading and study skills, and the basics of hazardous materials. Individual and group counseling is also provided each week.

• PHASE 2 TECHNICAL TRAINING - This involves 160 hours of hands-on training in General Construction, Hazardous Materials, Lead and Asbestos Abatement, and Mold Remediation.

• PHASE 3 JOB PLACEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP - After students are trained, we work aggressively with them to help them attain well paying jobs in the fields for which they have been trained and certified. We also assist with other life issues our graduates may face.