What CYPRESS MANDELA TRAINING CENTER does

Cypress Mandela Training Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2019 and headquartered in Oakland, California. The center delivers a free, 16-week pre-apprenticeship construction training program targeted at underserved adults in the Bay Area, with the explicit objective of preparing participants for entry into registered apprenticeship programs with Building Trade Unions. Reported graduate salary outcomes range from $54,000 to $120,000, positioning the program as a wage-mobility pipeline into unionized construction trades. The center is led by Interim Executive Director Charles Simmons Jr. and operates with a small team of 1-10 employees supplemented by volunteer services.

The program's underlying model combines classroom-based instruction with hands-on construction exposure delivered over a structured 16-week curriculum. Upon completion, graduates transition into union apprenticeship pathways supported by partnerships with major institutional employers and public agencies, including Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), the University of California, Berkeley, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These partnerships serve dual functions: providing financial and in-kind support during training, and creating structured employment pipelines upon graduation.

The center's business model is philanthropic in nature. As a 501(c)(3), revenue is generated through donations, grants from institutional and corporate partners, and contributed volunteer services. There is no tuition charged to participants, and the organization does not generate earned revenue from product or service sales. Operating scale is small, with paid headcount reported at 1-10 employees, which constrains both geographic reach and the ability to scale cohort throughput without additional funding or partner expansion.

Name

CYPRESS MANDELA TRAINING CENTER

Legal name

Cypress Mandela, Inc.

Website

https://cypressmandela.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cypress Mandela Training Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Oakland, California that provides free 16-week pre-apprenticeship construction training to underserved Bay Area adults, placing graduates into union building trades apprenticeships with reported salaries of $54,000-$120,000.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Workforce Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Renewable Energy Electrical (Solar PV, Wind, Storage) (EDAOABAI)

Keywords

• Construction trades training
• Pre-apprenticeship program
• Green construction skills
• Workforce development services
• Vocational job training

Headquarters

HQ city

OAKLAND, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a non-profit organization, Cypress Mandela relies primarily on tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund operations. The organization also accepts material donations including lumber, tools, and office equipment.
2. Government and Institutional Grants: Training programs are funded through partnerships with government agencies and institutions, including EPA environmental training grants and utility company workforce development programs.
3. Volunteer Services: Tradespeople volunteer their time to train students, providing in-kind labor that supports the program without direct monetary exchange.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cypress Mandela Training Center delivers a free 16-week pre-apprenticeship Green Construction Training program that combines classroom instruction with hands-on practical training across cement work, framing, structural steel, electrical and plumbing fundamentals, and solar/weatherization. The program prepares Bay Area adults ages 18 and older for skilled trades careers and includes skills assessment, testing, and direct job placement into Building Trade Unions. It is supported by supplementary EPA, UC Berkeley, PG&E, and BART certification and pathway programs.

Product overview

Cypress Mandela Training Center operates as a single, unified job training organization offering a free 16-week Pre-Apprenticeship Green Construction Training program as its core product. This core program is supplemented by additional certification programs including EPA Environmental Health & Safety (8 weeks), UC Berkeley Labor Occupational Health & Safety, PG&E Power Pathway Program, and BART Pathway Training Program. The organization also hosts the Annual Russell Bouligny Golf Tournament as a fundraising event. All programs together provide pathways to careers in construction trades with salary ranges from $54,000 to $120,000 annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Salary range upon graduation: $54,000 - $120,000 annually

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPG&E Power Pathway Program provides advanced training opportunities for program graduates. Entry to Gas Operations (Gas Utility Worker School) and Electric Operations (Pole and Tower Climbing) pathways. Program supports workforce development for utility sector employment.
• Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBART Pathway Training Program provides specialized training for Track Worker and Structure Worker positions. Direct employment pathway for program graduates into BART infrastructure maintenance roles.
• UC Berkeley Labor Occupational Health & Safety ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides certification program in occupational health and safety for program participants, enhancing their credentials and employment prospects in the construction industry.
• Building Trade UnionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram prepares graduates for union membership and provides direct pathways into Building Trade Unions including carpenters, ironworkers, cement masons, and operating engineers. Graduates join unions of their choice upon program completion.
• KENNEK MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides video footage for the organization's website and promotional materials, supporting marketing and awareness efforts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cypress-mandela-training-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CYPRESS MANDELA TRAINING CENTER