Water Energy Education
Alliance (WEEA)

Purpose

The Water Energy Education Alliance (WEEA or Alliance) is a coalition of water, energy, and education leaders working together to build and bolster career pathways to water and energy jobs for all California students. WEEA is a collection of more than 260 professional organizations statewide, including water and energy agencies, City/County Departments of Education, school districts, colleges, technical trade schools, and more. The Alliance is administered and led by the municipal water district of Orange County (MWDOC).

Looking to join the next WEEA Roundtable? Visit the Municipal Water District of Orange County WEEA Website for the most current information, meeting dates, and other resources.

History

In 2018, the California Environmental Education Foundation (CEEF) launched the formation of WEEA thanks to funding supplied by utility industry sponsors and a generous grant from Ten Strands. This innovative Alliance brought together a vibrant coalition of utility industry, business, non-profit, and education professionals committed to building and strengthening career technical education (CTE) pathways for California high school students in the water and energy sectors.

The Alliance, led by a highly credentialed and experienced leadership team embedded within CEEF, held its first Leadership Roundtable meeting in November 2018.  In addition to CEEF, the first WEEA sponsors were the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) which cohosted the first four meetings held at LADWP headquarters.

Since its inception, WEEA has grown into a robust community of engaged members who share resources, successes, challenges, and partnership ideas. Participants are encouraged to develop regional partnerships by forming cohorts that focus on offering our next generation of essential workers with carefully articulated CTE workforce programs and activities, at both the high school and community college levels, that lead to sustainable, rewarding, and lucrative careers in water and energy.

Vision

In 2020, at the request of CEEF, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) assumed leadership of WEEA and has cultivated the same commitment and vision as the leadership of CEEF. As of Summer 2021, WEEA has hosted eight (8) Leadership Roundtable meetings, with three (3) more currently scheduled; has active participation from over 50 organizations throughout Southern California; and has six (6) paid sponsorship commitments from both the water and energy sectors secured for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Visit the Municipal Water District of Orange County WEEA Website for the most current information, meeting dates, and other resources.

Sponsors

Current WEEA sponsors include MWDOC, MWD, LADWP, Moulton Niguel Water District, the Water Replenishment District, Eastern Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, and the Western Municipal Water District. Additional support for WEEA is provided by CEEF and California Community Colleges through their in-kind consultation services which are highly valued due to their distinct areas of expertise.

The water and energy industry is expecting a wave of retirements in the next decade. With an urgent need for skilled technical workers on the horizon, WEEA serves as a catalyst for industry and education partners to learn from each other and uncover the academic and CTE needs and requirements of school districts, as well as the fundamental workforce needs of the water and energy sectors.