Andy Phuong is helping lead sustainability initiatives across Petaluma City Schools—from analyzing school energy use to proposing alternatives to plastic packaging in the lunch system. Now a second-year intern, Andy reflects on how CAPS opened doors he once thought were out of reach, from driving climate action at his school to earning a spot in a competitive UC Davis research program.

In 2024, we received a $500,000 grant from the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) initiative, allowing us to take a significant step toward developing a registered youth apprenticeship program for students from age 16 to 24. These apprenticeships will provide students with structured industry training and certifications, helping them transition from high school to careers in the green economy.