Cal EPIC Opens Doors to Economic Mobility in Clean Energy
Givante White had a background in the electric industry, but it was during his incarceration that these skills were developed. Though he intentionally refined his employable qualifications before release, job opportunities following incarceration are not guaranteed. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 27% of formerly incarcerated people are unemployed, a number higher than the total U.S. unemployment rate during any historical period.
Experiences like Givante’s reflect what many individuals in underserved communities face each day. Across the country, millions of people are left behind in the workforce due to significant barriers like a lack of reliable transportation, childcare or education affordability.
The California Energy, Power, Innovation, Collaborative (Cal EPIC), is a Sacramento-based nonprofit that works to change that narrative. The organization, a Powering Economic Opportunity Fund grantee, accelerates the research, development and innovation of clean energy and transportation technologies, and connects workers to training opportunities that eventually lead to meaningful employment.
With support from the GitLab Foundation, Cal EPIC expanded its free offerings, including EV technician training, electric forklift certifications and introductions to jobs in the growing, high-demand green industry. As a result, trainees can focus on gaining skills, not affordability, and go on to generate $411,000 more in individual lifetime earnings.
Cal EPIC’s partnership with Rivian, an electric SUV manufacturer, is a prime example of what this looks like in practice. The EV technician training program is a 20-week internship that combines classroom instruction with real-world, hands-on experience needed to thrive in the EV industry, pays a living wage and offers the potential for full-time employment upon graduation.
“Once I had the opportunity to be released back into society, I told myself that I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity I could to better myself. Today, I can actually say that I have a career, something that I’ve never had, and it’s life-changing,” said Givante, now a Cal EPIC technical trades graduate working at Rivian.
The GitLab Foundation is guided by a mission to create economic opportunity for all, and Cal EPIC demonstrates how meeting community needs changes the trajectory of lives.
“For the first time in my life I feel like my future is bright,” Givante shared.
The California Energy, Power, Innovation Collaborative (Cal EPIC) is on a mission to equip Sacramento’s workforce with skills needed to thrive in the emerging clean energy industry. It supports the region’s zero-carbon goals, uplifts its community and positions the city as a hub for clean mobility. Learn more at calepic.com.
Return on Investment
109x ROI
Based on the results received to date, this project has increased incomes for 225 individuals, increasing their annual incomes by $13,700 per person, for a total additional lifetime earnings of $411,000 per person.
Total lifetime earnings increase across all participants: $92,475,000.
$500,000 invested
