People & Programs
Spotlight on People & Programs
These are just a few of the interesting things going on that we have heard about. Got your own good example of progress on green-collar jobs, or how service is creating green pathways out of poverty? Green For All is collecting stories from around the country. Please email clearinghouse@greenforall.org with your suggestions.
Green-Collar Workers Vital to Washington, D.C. Policy Goals
As the Nation's capitol, Washington DC has an important leadership role to play in advancing the transformational potential of green jobs in America. And the city's elected and business leadership is already well attuned to the opportunities at hand. Mayor Fenty is creating a "Green Jobs Advisory Council," and has tapped the directors of the Department of Employment Services and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, among other city agencies, to play integral roles in the development of his green jobs training policies. Thus far, the central policy goals of the DC Green Collar Jobs Initiative are to develop local businesses and a labor pool capable of capitalizing on opportunities created by 1) the new Green Building Law, 2) integrated storm water management green urban infrastructure policies, 3) a forthcoming comprehensive energy policy, and 4) a city-wide commitment to reducing carbon emissions to fight climate change. Together, these policies will create a large demand for a variety of green-collar jobs, and vibrant new markets for DC-area businesses.
Big Plans for Jobs and Energy Savings by Milwaukee Energy Efficiency
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy, in cooperation with local political, labor, business, and community leaders, is organizing a large building-energy efficiency project in Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Energy Efficiency, or Me2. Me2 aims to retrofit as many of the city's residential, commercial, and institutional buildings as possible, leading to a significant reduction in overall energy use, and corresponding cost savings. It will employ up to $500 million in private capital, to be paid back via charges on participants' energy- or water-utility bills. The program will be designed so that building occupants save more in energy costs than they spend for retrofits. Me2 will train and employ Milwaukee residents of underserved communities to do much of the work, estimated at up to 7,000 person-years for efficiency-measure installation.
New York City's Planyc 2030 Will Create Thousands of Green-Collar Jobs
New York City recently launched several long-term sustainability initiatives that will expand green collar jobs citywide. In April 2007, Mayor Bloomberg released PlaNYC 2030: 127 initiatives with 10 major goals. PlaNYC's goals range from ensuring that every New Yorker has access to a park within a 10 minute walk to achieving the cleanest air of any big city in America. Meeting these goals will create opportunities in many green collar fields, including urban forestry, renewable energy, and stormwater management. This fall the City Council's Climate Protection Act codified the goal of reducing citywide greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030. Meeting this goal will create thousands of jobs, particularly in energy efficiency retrofits for existing buildings.
Los Angeles Apollo Alliance Partners with City to Create Jobs and Opportunities in Green Retrofits
The Los Angeles Apollo Alliance has been making huge strides in their Green Jobs Campaign to retrofit city buildings and create jobs for low income communities of color. After an initial study of economic trends and opportunities, the campaign kicked off in August of 2006 when over 500 residents came together at a church in South LA to applaud Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti, and local Councilman Herb Wesson as they signed the "Apollo Challenge" and committed to working with the Alliance to shape green workforce and economic development strategies.
Solar Richmond Trains Low Income Residents
A unique jobs training program in Richmond, California is moving low-income residents and youth of color into the green economy. As the green-collar jobs idea builds momentum throughout the nation, this program is among the first to "walk the talk" by providing low cost and free solar system installation to low-income homeowners and training low-income residents from the community to do the work.
Oakland Green Jobs Corp Fights Poverty, Pollution
The Oakland Green Jobs Corps is a complete job training pathway into green careers for Oakland residents with barriers to employment. Beginning in 2008, it will provide young adults with job training, support, and hands-on work experience so that they can independently pursue opportunities in the new energy economy.
Newark Neighborhood Revitalization Effort Trains Green-Collar Workers
The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) is a Community Development Corporation transforming a low-income neighborhood in Newark into an arts and cultural district. The arts and cultural district will include 300 "green" mixed-income housing units, music festivals, historic restoration projects and the Museum of African American Music. There will be over one-million square feet of development, including sixteen USGBC LEED Certified buildings and participation in the USGBC LEED-Neighborhood Development pilot program.
Cooling Roofs and Creating Opportunities in Baltimore
Full-time service can act as a stepping-stone in green pathways out of poverty. Service and conservation corps like Civic Works train youth in green construction and weatherization, with the goal of linking them to good jobs in the green economy. B'more Green, one of Civic Works' initiatives, is an innovative job-training program designed to prepare unemployed or underemployed Baltimore residents for entry level careers in the field of environmental technology. Upon completion, graduates receive assistance with securing jobs that build on their training.
New Orleans Reconstruction Corps to Create Green Pathways out of Poverty Starting in Marcn '08
Starting in March '08, 800 young people will begin as full-time corps members in the New Orleans Reconstruction Corps reducing energy consumption in homes and buildings, improving public spaces and restoring the natural environment in the Greater New Orleans area. Mostly court-involved, formerly incarcerated youth, the corps members will gain experience through their service on a path to employment in the green economy. Service is the centerpiece of a program model that includes formal working partnerships with justice agencies, employers, and other community agencies; individual case management and intensive services; life-skills development, education, and employment preparation - and meaningful service projects.
Sustainable South Bronx: Green Jobs, Not Jails
Sustainable South Bronx connects poverty alleviation with the environment in ways that benefit both concerns. Their Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training program has successfully moved people from welfare into living wage green-collar jobs for 4 years, while SSBx concurrently advocates policies that fuel demand for those jobs.
Chicago Organizations Launch Green-Collar Jobs Initiative
The Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Initiative was founded in September 2007 and is a collaboration of sustainable and educational organizations whose focuses include: workforce development, sustainable business initiatives, labor, environmental education and green building leaders. The founding groups are, LEED Council, Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance, Wilbur Wright College, Chicago Federation of Labor- Workers Assistance Committee, City of Chicago - Department of Environment, Delta Institute, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, US Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter, BIG: Blacks in Green. Other organizations have joined this initiative as information about its activities have become more widespread.
Wilbur Wright College Trains Workers in Building Energy Technologies
Wilbur Wright College (one of the City Colleges of Chicago) developed, accredited, and, in the fall of 2006 began offering a six-course, 21-credit hour Occupational Certificate in Building Energy Technologies (BET). During curriculum development, learning objectives and topics were suggested by a focus group of professionals in the sustainable construction sectors (architects, energy engineers, organized labor, construction contractors, etc.) The intent was to address labor market needs identified within the booming green building field in the Chicagoland area. The initial target student population was incumbent workers in the construction industry and trades. This project was funded through grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Chicago, A Green-Collar Jobs Pioneer
Mayor Richard Daley has declared his intention of transforming Chicago into the "the greenest city in America" - and green jobs are a key component of this effort. For the last 12 years, Chicago has administered a green-collar job training program called "GreenCorps Chicago." Over the course of 9 months, program participants - primarily ex-offenders - receive training in one of four separate tracks: landscaping and urban gardening; computer refurbishing and recycling; household hazardous waste handling; and home weatherization. While receiving training, participants give back by building community gardens or refurbishing computers for underprivileged residents.
