Every year, hundreds of local youth walk through the door of YouthWorks looking for the opportunity to learn skills, to continue their education, to find a career and to give back to the community. It is distressing to encounter so many youth with the desire to get out of survival mode and emerge as productive citizens struggling find their calling in Santa Fe.

YouthWorks works tirelessly to prepare youth for the challenges beyond our walls. It will take our whole community to improve the prospects for our young people. By bringing businesses, nonprofits, the Santa Fe Community College and the city together, the Santa Fe Green Collar Apprenticeship Program is helping to lead the way.

On Oct. 6, the City Council unanimously approved an innovative business contract between YouthWorks and the City of Santa Fe Economic Development Program to provide apprenticeship placements for at least 30 at-risk youth in green industries. This represents a real commitment on behalf of our city and community in creating career and education pathways for local youth that will strengthen our local economy and establish Santa Fe as a leader in sustainability and workforce development. This timely vision for our youth and our community represents one of the largest investments in the promotion of green-collar jobs of any city in the United States.

Not only are green-collar jobs one of the fastest growing sectors of the American economy, they are the kind of jobs our community needs: Accessible, stable work that is good for workers, good for businesses, good for the community and the environment.

YouthWorks would like to honor Mayor David Coss, the Santa Fe City Council and local business leaders, Cedar Mountain Solar, Los Amigos, and Shanahan and Associates, for their commitment to the youth of Santa Fe.

Melynn Schuyler is the executive director of YouthWorks in Santa Fe.