Applications are Open!
The Sacramento Sustainability Academy is a workforce development program to provide young people an introduction to climate action and community resilience work. Building on SSP’s history of providing youth and young adults with hands-on experience with tools, home repairs, and high impact community projects, the Academy is focused on energy efficiency through the lens of building science, urban agriculture as a tool for achieving food security/sovereignty through permaculture design principles (often referred to as Afro-Indigenous wisdom), and manufacturing design skills to provide young people high demand and cutting edge skills for high paying professions. We are launching our newest program track, Architecture, Building, & Construction in January 2026.
Upcoming Cohorts
COHORT 8: Winter-Spring 2026: Architecture, Building, & Construction
We are excited to announce we have received funding from Sacramento Children’s Fund: Measure L through the City of Sacramento to offer three additional SSA cohorts!
COHORT 9: Spring & Fall 2026: Urban Agriculture
We are thrilled to share we have received funding from California Volunteers’ Youth Service Corps through the City of Sacramento to offer two additional SSA cohorts!
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
1. All program participants must reside within Sacramento city limits.
- Applicants residing outside of City of Sacramento city limits will not be considered.
- Applicants can verify their address is within city boundaries with this link: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/mayor-council/Find-Your-District
2. Meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Resides within a Qualified Census Tract (a low-income area as designated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development);
- Resides in a low- or moderate-income household;
- Resides in a household that experienced unemployment;
- Resides in a household that experienced increased food or housing insecurity;
- Resides in a household that is receiving services from Tribal governments; or
- Resides in a household that qualifies for the following federal assistance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Free and Reduced Price School Lunch and Breakfast, Head Start, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, Section 8 Vouchers, or Pell Grant.
3. Priority will be given to individuals who:
- Have not participated in an AmeriCorps program;
- May have difficulty finding employment;
- Are low-income;
- Are unemployed and/or out of school;
- Are or were justice-involved;
- Are in or transitioning from foster care; or
- Are engaged with the mental health or substance abuse system.
Questions? Reach out to program leaders at ssa@sierraserviceproject.org.