DeWayne Barton is co-founder and co-director of Green Opportunities, an Asheville-based, community-based development organization dedicated to improving lives, communities and the health of the planet through innovative green collar job training and placement programs.
DeWayne had been active in his community for years, working with area youth to develop and tend community gardens, clear sidewalks, and do landscaping projects along neighborhood streets. One afternoon he stopped by the offices of the Green Building Council to explore opportunities for area youth in the green building field. Though they didn’t have any programs available, they knew of someone else in the community with similar interests. DeWayne was introduced to Dan Leroy and Green Opportunities was born.