The collaboration brings together three organizations with a common purpose: creating pathways to employment for individuals who face barriers to entering the workforce. Lao Family Community Development, an Oakland-based non-profit serving immigrants, refugees, and low-income individuals, provides grant funding that covers intern wages. The Alameda County Workforce Development Board oversees program supervision, while CEWS delivers hands-on technical training at our facilities.

This model proves that workforce development and environmental sustainability can advance together—creating jobs while keeping electronics out of landfills.

Our first cohort just completed 150 hours of intensive on-site training, with two interns working as technicians learning the fundamentals of electronics refurbishment, IT asset disposition, and e-waste processing. These aren’t ceremonial positions—our interns gain genuine job market skills through hands-on experience with the same equipment, processes, and quality standards that serve our 300+ business partners.

The training covers critical workplace competencies:

• Electronics disassembly and component identification
• Safe handling of electronic waste materials
• Quality control and testing procedures
• Data security protocols and secure data destruction
• Customer service and workplace professionalism
• Industry certifications and compliance standards

Perhaps most importantly, interns work directly on our Tech for Good program, refurbishing laptops that will be distributed free to underserved communities. They see firsthand how their work creates social impact—technology they restore becomes a student’s homework device, a job seeker’s application portal, or a family’s connection to digital resources.

The success of this program is measured not just in laptops refurbished but in careers launched. CEWS is hiring one graduate from this first cohort for a permanent position, demonstrating our commitment to creating sustainable employment opportunities.

For individuals seeking entry into the growing field of electronics recycling and IT asset disposition—an industry facing increasing demand as e-waste volumes surge—this program provides essential experience that opens doors. The skills gained translate across the technology sector, from electronics manufacturing to IT support to sustainability consulting.

This partnership reflects our broader commitment to community impact. Just as we believe electronics shouldn’t end up in landfills when they can be refurbished and reused, we believe talent shouldn’t be overlooked when barriers to entry can be removed through training and opportunity.

Lao Family Community Development’s mission aligns perfectly with ours. Through their Bay Tech Career Initiative and career preparation programs, they’ve built expertise in creating pathways for immigrants, refugees, and low-income individuals to access technology careers. Our partnership amplifies that work by providing real-world training in a growing industry sector.

The Alameda County Workforce Development Board’s involvement ensures quality oversight and connects our program to the broader regional workforce development ecosystem, creating potential for expansion and replication.

The completion of our first cohort marks a beginning, not an endpoint. We’re already planning the next round of internships, refining our curriculum based on lessons learned, and exploring how to scale this model.

We’re also strengthening connections with other workforce development organizations in the region, including The Unity Council and the Oakland Workforce Development Board, to expand access to these opportunities.

This program demonstrates what’s possible when organizations with complementary missions collaborate. Environmental sustainability, workforce development, and digital equity aren’t separate goals—they’re interconnected challenges that demand integrated solutions.

Whether you’re a non-profit organization seeking workforce development partnerships, a business interested in our Tech for Good program, or an individual looking for career training opportunities in electronics recycling, we invite you to connect with us.

Together, we’re proving that creating a sustainable future means investing in people as much as protecting the planet—one refurbished device and one trained technician at a time.

For more information about CEWS Tech for Good initiatives, visit CEWS.com/tech-for-good or contact us to discuss partnership opportunities.