The Propulsion Lab: Cal Maritime &
Center for Urban Excellence Pilot Program Overview
(Bioeconomy/Biotechnology Career Awareness & Industry Exposure Focus)
Join the Propulsion Lab as a Cal Maritime Cadet Peer Mentor & Coach!
We are looking for current Cal Maritime student Cadet Peer Mentors & Coaches to support community campus tours and hands-on workshops!
We are looking for current Cal Maritime student Cadet Peer Mentors & Coaches to support community campus tours and hands-on workshops!
|
|
Who: The Propulsion Lab Pilot Program targets 12 minority, low-income, low-education youth in Vallejo, CA and Greater Solano County.
What: This initiative is designed to increase community awareness and create viable pathways into bioeconomy/biotechnology careers. It leverages the expertise of Cal Maritime’s Oceanography Program and the Center for Urban Excellence’s Workforce Development Programming. Funded by SWDB ARPA.
When: The project spans from September 2024 through May 2025
Where: Activities will take place at various locations, including at Cal Maritime, Solano Community College, and various local bioeconomy companies.
Partnerships: The program integrates the mentorship skills of Cal Maritime cadets with the comprehensive support of CUE, providing a supportive learning and development environment for participants.
Program Activities:
Targeted Outreach: The program will concentrate its efforts in ARPA-designated areas of Fairfield and Vallejo. It will utilize community events, partnerships with schools serving high percentages of low-income students, social media, and local media to recruit and engage potential participants. The outreach will feature culturally relevant materials designed to resonate with the community’s diverse backgrounds.
Program Outcomes: The goal is to build community awareness and clear pathways into entry level careers not limited to Environmental, Marine and Field Technicians, and Research and Laboratory Assistants, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the bioeconomy sector.
The leaders of The Propulsion Lab Pilot Program
What: This initiative is designed to increase community awareness and create viable pathways into bioeconomy/biotechnology careers. It leverages the expertise of Cal Maritime’s Oceanography Program and the Center for Urban Excellence’s Workforce Development Programming. Funded by SWDB ARPA.
When: The project spans from September 2024 through May 2025
Where: Activities will take place at various locations, including at Cal Maritime, Solano Community College, and various local bioeconomy companies.
Partnerships: The program integrates the mentorship skills of Cal Maritime cadets with the comprehensive support of CUE, providing a supportive learning and development environment for participants.
Program Activities:
- Skills Workshops: Conducted weekly during the Spring Semester 2025, these workshops will teach essential skills such as laboratory techniques, environmental monitoring, data analysis, and sustainable practices.
- Career Advising: Led by Cal Maritime faculty and aided by cadet peer mentors, sessions will cover key areas like biotechnology, marine science, and environmental sustainability.
- Industry Insights: CUE will arrange informational interviews and guest speaker sessions with professionals from the bioeconomy sector to give participants a deeper understanding of the industry and its career opportunities.
- Industry Tours: Participants will visit bioeconomy/biotechnology companies and research facilities to see the work environment and potential career paths firsthand.
- Subsidized Internships: Minimum of 100 hours
Targeted Outreach: The program will concentrate its efforts in ARPA-designated areas of Fairfield and Vallejo. It will utilize community events, partnerships with schools serving high percentages of low-income students, social media, and local media to recruit and engage potential participants. The outreach will feature culturally relevant materials designed to resonate with the community’s diverse backgrounds.
Program Outcomes: The goal is to build community awareness and clear pathways into entry level careers not limited to Environmental, Marine and Field Technicians, and Research and Laboratory Assistants, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the bioeconomy sector.
The leaders of The Propulsion Lab Pilot Program
- Reina Robinson - CEO of the Center for Urban Excellence (CUE)
- Anisa Smith- Chief Workforce Officer (CUE)
- Capt. Steve Browne - Master Mariner and Dean of the School of Maritime Transportation, Logistics, and Management at Cal Maritime.
- Associate Professor Tony Lewis, Ph.D. - Department of International Business & Logistics at Cal Maritime.
- Pippen Dew- President - Solano Association of Realtors, Board Member - SF Bay Ferry, Vallejo Mayoral Candidate
