Southwest Center for Environmental Excellence and Opportunity Year End Report211 (Final Deliverable)

摘要

The Southwest Center for Environmental Excellence and Opportunity (Southwest211u001eCEEO) has been in existence since October 1996 at Albuquerque Technical 211u001eVocational Institute's (TVI) South Valley Campus. The Special Project was 211u001ecomprised of three objectives: (1) Increasing the number of Hispanics in careers 211u001erelated to the environment by improving education and job training opportunities; 211u001e(2) Strengthening the infrastructure of Hispanic businesses and building their 211u001ecapacity to participate in environmental clean-up activities and potential 211u001etechnology commercialization; and (3) Increasing the Hispanic community's 211u001eunderstanding of and participation in environmental protection through improved 211u001eaccess to information and outreach activities, paying attention to cultural and 211u001elinguistic issues. The Southwest CEEO has been successful in each of the above 211u001eobjective areas and continues to provide valuable services to TVI and the 211u001ecommunity. The Southwest CEEO has developed a scholarship/mentorship program 211u001einvolving business and industry, community organizations, and TVI faculty that 211u001ewill be replicated by other student mentorship programs. The Southwest CEEO has 211u001eawarded approximately $50,000 over the two-year program funded by the U.S. 211u001eDepartment of Energy Oakland Operations Office. The Southwest CEEO has also 211u001edeveloped a K-12 partnership with Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) to enhance 211u001eenvironmental education for students and professional development for teachers. 211u001eIncorporated into these student activities are experimental learning 211u001eopportunities and curriculum development and/or enhancement. The Southwest CEEO 211u001ehas worked closely with the TVI Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to 211u001esupport Hispanic businesses in technology partnership activities. The Southwest 211u001eCEEO in partnership the TVI SBDC has provided a large business forum and business 211u001eworkshops. In addition, the Southwest CEEO has developed a Technology Transfer 211u001eModel that will be expanded in the future to a technology transfer guide to be 211u001eused by New Mexico SBDC's. The Southwest CEEO has been active in the Albuquerque 211u001eSouth Valley Community and Bernalillo County to promote more Hispanic community 211u001eparticipation in environmental issues and education opportunities. The Southwest 211u001eCEEO has hosted community environmental forums, workshops, and conferences. The 211u001eSouthwest CEEO is also participating on the Bernalillo County Environmental 211u001eHealth Department Technology Deployment Initiative Advisory committee, Hispanic 211u001eStatement of Cooperation Group, and the Groundwater Protection and Action Plan 211u001e(GPAP) Committee.