Rancho Cielo YouthBuild
Rancho Cielo YouthBuild Program is a construction vocational training program supported in part by a U.S. Department of Labor grant. (This grant pays for many of the program costs, but not all; additionally, it does not cover ANY of the construction costs.)
Like the Rancho Cielo Drummond Culinary Academy, a cohort of 32 students spend half of their time in the academic classroom (with John Muir Charter School on site), and half of their time in vocational training. Rather than working with a Certified Executive Chef Instructor in a commercial kitchen, they are working on a construction site with a Licensed General Contractor Instructor. 16 crew members at a time will work hands-on with program staff (at a ratio of 8:1) in every aspect of the construction of two new wood-framed transitional houses per year, from layout to framing to landscaping. Concepts learned at the worksite will be supported and reinforced through classroom vocational instruction. Various partners support the implementation of the occupational training and will play a vital role in the implementation of this component. Construction training resulting in a nationally recognized industry credential will be completed using the pre-apprenticeship construction training (PACT) curriculum provided by the Home Builders Institute. Our local Junior College, Hartnell College, will support the occupational training efforts by providing Green Construction classes: Intro to Green Building (CON 120) and Green Building Methods and Materials (CON 125). Students will co-enroll in JMCS AND Hartnell College for these classes, receiving college credit and paving a path directly into the College’s Center for Sustainable Design and Construction. Students will learn basic skills in the classroom and then use those skills during construction vocational training, applying them at the worksite. YB students at the work site will be trained using the OSHA safety standards for construction industry by the Construction Trainer, who will be OSHA-certified. This OSHA training will directly increase their safety and employability in future construction jobs.
Rancho Cielo’s approved Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report include the construction of 5 multi-occupant transitional houses, designed to be independent living units for youth aged 18-24. Successful participants in Rancho Cielo programs needing a safe place to live as a transition to a new life will be eligible to apply to be renters. Rent will be charged on a sliding scale, depending on income. The residents will create and enforce their own living behavioral guidelines, which will include no alcohol or drugs of any kind.
While the houses are being built as part of the vocational training of this program, they will not be occupied until EIR conditions are met.