Long before the phrase "green-collar jobs" became part of the vernacular, the young adults at ¡Youthworks! were part of that job sector, working to control erosion and restore riparian habitat.

Now, the organization is becoming a bigger player in the growing need for employees with skills that promote environmental sustainability. Three Santa Fe companies and six area youth are wrapping up a pilot "green collar" apprenticeship program that provides on-the-job training in cooperation with the Santa Fe Alliance.

Instead of preparing youth for jobs traditionally described by other colors — blue collar for manufacturing or white collar for office work — green jobs are those related to local investments in energy efficiency or renewable energy.

Tobe Bott-Lyons, ¡Youthworks! education director, said he hopes that means the program will lead some youth to solid careers in areas that range from solar-panel installation to water conservation. Over the next year, he aims to include up to 35 high-risk youths in the program.

"We are working toward an economy based on eliminating poverty and catching those people who have fallen through the cracks. This is how we do that and address the environmental crisis," said Bott-Lyons.

Dominic Cantu,18, and Julio Muñoz, 19, have spent the last three months on job sites with Shanahan and Associates, a local company building about 120 energy-efficient homes on the city's south side.

They've spent a lot of time on "thermal bypass," a building method that calls for extreme insulation tactics to prevent air from leaking in or out of a home. Instead of nailing up a roll of fiberglass and calling it a day, the company makes each wall and joint as airtight as possible.

"I didn't even know about it," said Muñoz. "They told us to think about it like a box, that we have to cover every corner. I worked with my uncle on framing, and we never did that. I see that it's good to do that."

"At first, I thought we were being punished. They were making us caulk all these things and crawl in these spaces." said Cantu. "I never thought it would make your house cooler."

Both teens dropped out of high school, with Cantu following a troubled path and Muñoz going straight from his sophomore year to hard labor to help support his family. Now, both want to continue in the construction trade after their apprenticeship.

The program also helps apprentices obtain general equivalency diplomas and coordinates with Santa Fe Community College for a credit college-readiness regimen that includes math, science and computer literacy.

Bott-Lyons and business alliance director Vikki Pozzebon continue to recruit local companies to take mentorship roles in the program. Employers pay about $6.50 toward the $9.50 minimum wage for each apprentice, with money from program sponsors such as city economic-development grants making up the difference.

Boaz Soifer, general manager of Cedar Mountain Solar, said one of the two apprentices at his company will likely be offered a full-time job soon, and the company plans to take on more apprentices in the next round.

"Their pay is subsidized so that helps. We basically get two for the price of one," said Soifer. "And we feel like we are engaged in a community project, not just an insular business endeavor."

Shanahan job supervisor Charlie Dilullo said he's more than willing to exert extra patience with the apprentices. "I mean, I was these kids. I dropped out of high school, and then someone told me, 'Hey, give me few years of your life, and I will teach you how to build houses.' " he said. "I'd like to do the same for them, to give them something to look forward to. It got me off the streets. I can relate big time to them."

Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 or jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.