Biographies of the 2010 participants in our Leaders in Field Training (LIFT) program. If you are an employer in the green building sector, you may be interested in interviewing these professional youth.
My name is Tiffany Haynes, I was born on march 13, 1988 which of course makes me 22 years old. I was born and raised in Oakland, California. I am respectful, as well as a respectable, very compassionate, kind, caring person. Since an adolescent I have been very interested in biology and science as well as helping others. I enjoy spending time at parks and marinas because I love the sun and water. I find it very relaxing to sit in the sun while listening to water's movement. 2010 will be my second year working with CYES and I am so honored. Last year I was an Energy Specialist where I have gained lots of personal and job development skills. Because of that I was able to come back as LIFT for the Richmond site. Once again I am grateful and honored to be here and work side by side with the family of Rising Sun as well as the CYES family in serving my community.
When I was introduced to the CYES program in May of 2009, I loved how the program has been put into place to help better our future by not only just looking into our youth or by just thinking of our environment but by incorporating the two together. I believe that both aspects: youth and environment, are equally important and CYES has strong belief in that too. CYES teaches environmental awareness and job readiness as well as leadership to all those who come in contact with them and I am of no exception. I am so grateful to Rising Sun for caring about the communities and world as a whole. With that said I am here to gain more knowledge on leadership roles and environmental consciousness. I am super excited to be a peer mentor to all of the CYES Energy Specialists and am ready to help them develop their own leadership and environmental consciousness just as my LIFT and managers did for me when I was an ES. This will be an enjoyable summer and I am always available for advice, friendship, and a shoulder to lean on.
Tiffany's blog - A Day in the Life of the Richmond Site
My name is Chris Hoeper-Tomich. I’m a 20 year old Berkeley resident, born and raised. I’m a 3rd year student enrolled at UC Santa Cruz and majoring in Biological Sciences. I have always had an interest in environmental issues, among them ecology and clean energy are foremost. It is fascinating how we can harness energy to power our homes from such basic elemental forces as the sun, the wind, and water. The CYES program has helped me learn more methods of producing renewable energy and learn more about resource conservation
I originally discovered CYES through the Berkeley High career center. They had a variety of job applications, which I filled out and sent to a variety of different local companies. Luckily I was called in to interview with the job that I most wanted; an Energy Specialist with Rising Sun Energy Center. I got the job and haven’t looked back since. This will be my third year in the program, and my first year as a LIFT. I hope to bring my previous CYES experience to the Oakland site, to help both the mangers and youth have a great summer.
I worked for Rising Sun in 2009 as an Energy Specialist (ES) and really enjoyed the work I did for them. It made me feel like I was really contributing to a greater good, making people happy, and making money all at once. When the 2010 summer started I wanted to move up the ladder at Rising Sun and contribute more than I did the previous year. That is why I applied for the LIFT position. It would provide me with all the perks of being an ES, but it would also allow me to move ahead with my life and allow me to guide youth toward a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. This job is an all around positive contributor to my healthy and happy life and that is why I am glad to be a part of such a great non-profit organization.
My name is Hannah Anderson and I was born and raised in Fremont, California. I am currently 19 years old and have three super fluffy and adorable cats. I have had a job every summer and sometimes during the school year since I was 14 years old. I have always enjoyed learning and gaining new experiences. I am currently a student at the community college in Fremont called Ohlone College. I love the Bay Area and its diversity so I will be transferring to Cal State East Bay in the fall of 2011 and plan to major in Advertising Communications and minor in Psychology. I hope to gain insight into the way the public’s mind works and learn how to bring the companies I support to the public in a positive way.
I worked with CYES last year as an Energy Specialist and then decided to apply as a LIFT this summer for the Fremont site. The goals of this company are things I strongly support and I feel like I am making a difference every day that I work for Rising Sun. I hope to continue working for Rising Sun after this summer and apply my knowledge into spreading the word of their programs. I also have the goals of making whatever I do with them as fun and exciting as possible while getting everything done efficiently. A little fun makes a work day go by a million times faster.
My name is Milana Ruffin and I was born in Oakland, California at Kaiser Hospital on March 26th 1988. I attended all Berkeley schools and graduated from Berkeley High in 2006. I am also a mother of a 3 year old boy. When I was in high school I worked with kids and at the Berkeley Health Department. What I did at the health department was educate kids about nutrition and healthy living. I love working with youth because they are our future.
Would you be interested in interviewing any of these graduates about green sector job prospects? Contact Natesha Tabor, CYES Program Manager: by phone at (510) 665-1501 x15 or via email.
The LIFT serving lunch on our youth training day!