Ms. Armenta is a life-long learner and an “Educator for Leadership and Change”. It is her purpose to serve with passion and compassion to empower the disenfranchised and underrepresented people to use their gifts and voices. She desires to provide access to Environmental Education and Workforce Development programs that support personal and professional career paths of interest intended to effect change within their own sphere of influence. Programs and projects help develop sustainable communities thus, creating environmental, social and economic justice, which are the cornerstones of a prosperous and productive society.

JoAnn received her Bachelors Degree in Business Science and Management from Pepperdine University, her Masters in Organizational Leadership from Biola University, and presently working on her Doctoral degree in Education Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University.

Ms. Armenta has her teaching credentials and recently stopped teaching adult education courses in Real Estate due to the downturn in the market. She is often invited to speak to students about environmental education and workforce development opportunities in the renewable energy industries. Education and outreach to municipalities, and organizations advancing environmental solutions through energy-efficient and advanced transportation technologies, alternative and renewable energy and alternative education.

As an educator, Ms. Armenta organized a team of graduate students to develop and implement an eight-week curriculum for pre-school children and their guardians called “Tender Motions”. The curriculum was implemented into Mommy and Me and First 5 pre-school program in two school districts. Each lesson incorporated unique alternative-learning techniques accompanied by explorative exercises designed to engage children’s guardians as active participants in preparing their children to be passionate about learning in and out of an academic environment.

From 1995 to 2003, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) www.scag.ca.gov, the largest Metropolitan Planning Organization in the nation employed Ms. Armenta. Her exposure and experience while at SCAG prepared her for her current position as Coordinator for the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. As coordinator for the largest coalition in the nation, she has been part of many national planning committees and is currently serving on the Coordinator Advisory Committee to the Department of Energy representing the Western region. For information about the program, please link to:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/about.html

In 2003, Ms. Armenta began working for The Southern California Economic Partnership (The Partnership), a Non-profit organization whose purpose is Social welfare www.the-partnership.org. The Partnership administers the Clean Cities program. A Clean Cities Coordinator responsibilities and tasks are designed to support the Clean Cities Mission to advance energy, economic, and environmental security of the United States by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that reduce the use of petroleum in the transportation sector through the deployment of Alternative Fueled Vehicles, Alternative Fuels and the development of the supportive infrastructure. Coordinator activities across the country are implementation and facilitation intensive. The goal is to develop partnerships with local, state and federal agencies that support industry and stakeholders conduct community outreach, plan education programs, and advise on alternative energy solutions to municipalities and educators. Other activities and responsibilities include; public speaking, environmental education, program and curriculum development, event coordination, membership drives, fund raising, grant writing, project development and management. The Southern California Clean Cities Coalition region currently serves six counties and 187 cities. For more details about the program, please go to:
http://www.the-partnership.org/ccities.htm

Government and stakeholder collaboration benefit from each other’s participation. Others benefiting include individuals, local/regional communities, local businesses, educators, academic institutions, government and our Environment. Coordinators conduct workshops and coordinate events that inform the general public, policy makers, educators and students about the viable and available alternative energy solutions that create career path opportunities through advanced transportation technologies, renewable energy, and the environmental sciences. For example, stakeholders with their experience and expertise in their respective fields develop curriculum and coordinate workshops that facilitate career path and workforce development in various alternative transportation technologies and environmental sciences fields. Projects and programs leverage off each other to maximize resources and their efforts in meeting their mutual objectives to reduce are dependence on fossil fuel simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint.

Through Ms. Armenta’s experiences working for the advancement of Alternative and Renewable Energy technologies, she has over the years nurtured and developed key partners interested in supporting her newly formed non-profit organization. Purpose Focused Alternative Learning Centers. Partners and supportive members are committed to the creation of a the Alternative Learning Centers advance personal and professional development, environmental education, partnerships, entrepreneurship, civic responsibility and community activism that will result in a sustainable and equitable future for All Life.

Purpose Focused was created to develop sustainable communities through environmental education and the deployment of alternative and renewable energy, advanced transportation technologies and strategies, including workforce development in the alternative energy fields and environmental and health sciences.
Those of us who can make a difference have a responsibility to do so. Everyone has a stake in the future of preserving our planet that supports all life forms. The time is NOW to examine our individual and collective daily consumption to disposal choices and their direct effect on our environment for future generations to come. It is time to empower people in their communities to address and identify solutions to their current environmental, economic and social conditions.
Purpose Focused environmental education programs and projects are designed to motivate and engage people from all backgrounds. Students and the general public become part of the solution by supporting strategies that empower and create responsible sustainable change. Purpose Focused Alternative Learning Center’s specialize in the deployment of sustainable strategies, developed through collaborative partnerships comprised of community residents, community leadership, local businesses, and organizations in the alternative energy industry.
Purpose Focused supports the implementation of Federal, State, Regional and Local Government renewable energy and alternative vehicle and re-fueling infrastructure projects. There are many viable solutions available, if implemented could mitigate many environmental, economic and social challenges people and communities are struggling to overcome.
Learning Center foster community service programs, bringing students and community together with experts in their respective fields. Experts provide insights and opportunities that address community concerns. The most valuable lesson participants learn is the importance of giving back to their communities, empowering individuals to become part of the solution. Service learning is key and provides immediate benefits to family, friends and the larger community.

The U.S. EPA Border 2012 program developed a project that exemplifies the cooperative and collaborative efforts of government, community and students derive and develop solutions to mitigate pollution. Through the cooperative efforts a program/project in the sister towns of Nogales, Mexico and Nogales, Arizona was formed to facilitating the development of a project involving the collaboration between the University of Arizona and Instituto Tecnológico de Nogales in Sonora, advancing the development and application of refining BIO-DIESEL from yellow grease diverted from the sewer. Project link:
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/relatedstories/208725.php

The U.S. EPA Border 2012 program developed a project that exemplifies the cooperative and collaborative efforts of government, community and students derive and develop solutions to mitigate pollution. Through the cooperative efforts of the University of Arizona and Instituto Tecnológico de Nogales in Sonora, a program/project was developed in the sister towns of Nogales, Mexico and Nogales, Arizona to facilitate the collection of yellow grease (diverted from the being dumped directly into the sewer) for the development and application of refining BIO-DIESEL. Project link:
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/relatedstories/208725.php

In conclusion, it is of vital importance that every measure possible is taken to shift our demand for goods and services, so as to reduce our individual and collective carbon footprint where possible. Partnerships developed with government, educational institutions, educators and industry leaders are key in the development and deployment of holistic projects/programs that support the transformation and redefining of how we interact and respond to environmental, social and economic disparities and injustices. We as a people and the Earth that supports Life can no longer tolerate the exploitation of people and their natural resources.
Let us not measure our success based upon what we have or who we think we are, rather on what we aspire to become, and that is who we truly are. Remember to Live with Honor and Integrity and you Will enjoy Peace and Harmony in your Life and those you touch.