it's good to be green

Summer Job Program helps prepare Torrance students for a working world

High school student Priscilla Morales had no idea that she would spend the summer helping to manage a youth reading program at North Torrance Library.  Nevertheless, she couldn't pass up the opportunity to be part of the 17th annual Torrance Green Team and gain her first job experience in an entirely unique way.

The "Green Team" is a summer employment program with an educational component that provides high school juniors and seniors with valuable work experience while receiving work-skills training; in a completely supported environment.  The program is a partnership between ExxonMobil, the City of Torrance and Torrance Unified School District.

Priscilla, a senior at North Torrance High School, was one of the 45 Green Team participants selected out of hundreds of applicants.  "I loved working at the North Torrance Library and learned a lot from my supervisor.  After this summer I feel more ready for the next step in my life."

"Supporting the Green Team is just one of the ways the Refinery gives back to the Torrance community and provides youth with experiences that might not have been possible otherwise," said Refinery Manager Max Ocansey.  "Each year, it's incredible to see how the students grow in just one summer."

 The Green Team has been one of the ExxonMobil Foundation's signature community programs since its launch in 1981.  In addition to Torrance, the Green Team exists in 10 other cities around the country, and has reached about 7,700 students since its inception.  To date, the ExxonMobil Foundation has granted more than $1.5 million to the Torrance Green Team and 650 local students have successfully graduated from the program.