{"id":22802,"date":"2026-04-17T09:54:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T14:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sabathani.webaloolabs.com\/?p=22802"},"modified":"2026-04-17T09:54:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T14:54:41","slug":"where-climate-action-meets-career-pathways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sabathani.webaloolabs.com\/?p=22802","title":{"rendered":"Where Climate Action Meets Career Pathways\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Earth Day approaches, conversations around sustainability often focus on the environment \u2014 clean air, renewable energy, and reducing our carbon footprint. At Sabathani Community Center, that work is happening in real time. But just as important is\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span><\/i>\u00a0gets to be part of that future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through the\u00a0<\/span>Community Energy Project<\/span><\/a>, Sabathani is not only investing in long-term environmental solutions like geothermal heating, solar energy, and battery storage, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0also creating hands-on workforce opportunities that connect community members to growing careers in the energy and construction sectors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Project with Community at the Center<\/h2>\n

Currently underway at Sabathani is a major infrastructure transformation: the installation of a geothermal HVAC system, alongside future solar and battery storage systems. These upgrades are expected to significantly reduce energy use, lower operating costs, and strengthen the building\u2019s\u00a0resilience\u00a0\u2014\u00a0ensuring that critical services can continue even during power outages.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But behind the scenes, another kind of work is\u00a0happening:\u00a0training, exposure, and skill-building for people entering the field.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through a paid internship program\u00a0(with funding from Xcel Energy Foundation)\u00a0running from March through December, three Community Energy Project interns are working alongside project partners to support the installation and learn firsthand what it takes to build more energy-efficient systems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meet the Interns<\/h2>\n

Each intern brings a unique background\u00a0and a shared interest in building something bigger than themselves.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tefera<\/span><\/b> comes to the project with experience in welding and hands-on work. After completing Home Energy Training through the Center for Energy and Environment and earning his\u00a0Building Science Principles certification at Sabathani,\u00a0he was drawn to the technical side of construction and saw this as an opportunity to deepen his skills.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0especially interested in gaining real-world experience in the field and exploring where this path can take him.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MJ\u00a0<\/span><\/b>is using the internship to explore different areas within construction,\u00a0particularly HVAC and electrical systems.\u00a0Also\u00a0a graduate of the Home Energy Training program\u00a0at Sabathani, MJ sees this as a chance to figure out where\u00a0he wants to\u00a0focus\u00a0his career while contributing to something meaningful.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIf energy goes out, the building will still stay on,\u201d he shared. \u201cIt\u2019s helping the community.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Outside of work, MJ brings an entrepreneurial spirit. He previously started his own tea business,\u00a0Himalko\u00a0Tea,\u00a0and\u00a0has\u00a0a curiosity that\u00a0shows\u00a0up in\u00a0everything from documentaries\u00a0to\u00a0new ideas.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Areianna\u00a0(Arei)\u00a0<\/span><\/b>brings more than 15 years of construction experience, primarily in single-family housing, along with recent electrical training through MSEEP.\u00a0While she waits to be called into union electrical work, she saw this internship as a way to stay active in the field while expanding her knowledge.<\/span> \u201cIt\u2019s an eye-opener\u00a0\u2014\u00a0what it really takes for buildings to be energy efficient,\u201d she noted.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Arei\u00a0is especially interested in how energy systems function within buildings and is eager to apply her experience to larger-scale efficiency projects like this one.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning by Doing<\/h2>\n

Right now, much of the interns\u2019 work involves preparing the space for installation\u00a0\u2014\u00a0construction cleaning, organizing, and supporting the crews that will carry out the geothermal work.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0hands-on, behind-the-scenes labor that keeps the project moving.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But just as important is what\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0gaining: exposure to complex systems, collaboration with experienced contractors, and a clearer understanding of where they want to grow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For MJ,\u00a0it\u2019s exploring\u00a0HVAC and electrical pathways.<\/span>
\nFor Tefera,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0building technical construction experience.<\/span>
\nFor\u00a0Arei,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0expanding into energy systems and large-scale efficiency projects.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why This Work Matters<\/h2>\n

Projects like this are often talked about in terms of environmental benefits,\u00a0and those are real. Reduced emissions. Lower energy costs. Increased resilience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0another impact that matters just as much.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Access to careers in clean energy and construction\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0always been\u00a0equitable. By creating entry points into these fields\u00a0\u2014\u00a0especially through paid, hands-on opportunities\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Sabathani is helping ensure that the benefits of the green economy are shared more broadly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is what environmental justice looks like in practice: not just cleaner buildings, but clearer pathways to stability, skills, and long-term opportunity in the green economy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/h2>\n

As construction continues and Earth Day invites us to reflect on the future\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0building, Sabathani\u2019s Community Energy Project offers a glimpse of what\u2019s possible when environmental goals and community investment move in tandem.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A more sustainable building.<\/span>
\nA more resilient community.<\/span>
\nAnd a workforce\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0ready to lead what comes next.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Sabathani staff, board members, interns, and community members gathered behind the building for a ceremonial groundbreaking, marking continued progress on geothermal well drilling for the Community Energy Project.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As Earth Day approaches, conversations around sustainability often focus on the environment \u2014 clean air, renewable energy, and reducing our carbon footprint. At Sabathani Community Center, that work is happening in real time. But just as important is\u00a0who\u00a0gets to be part of that future.\u00a0 Through the\u00a0Community Energy Project, Sabathani is not only investing in long-term […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":22803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\nWhere Climate Action Meets Career Pathways\u00a0 - Sabathani Community Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sabathani.webaloolabs.com\/?p=22802\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Where Climate Action Meets Career Pathways\u00a0 - Sabathani Community Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As Earth Day approaches, conversations around sustainability often focus on the environment \u2014 clean air, renewable energy, and reducing our carbon footprint. 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