Our Approach to Green Jobs Training

Our approach is guided by four core principles:

1. Anchoring green jobs training in environmental justice education.

2. Partnering with subject matter experts.

3. Collaboratively designing learning programs with employers to enhance employment prospects for trainees.

4. Providing mentorship to trainees.

In our green jobs training program, we prioritize educating trainees about the fundamental importance of environmental issues and climate change within black and equity-seeking communities. We structure the training content in two parts: first, emphasizing environmental justice education, followed by a focus on subject matter expertise.

For instance, with participants in the Next Gen Builders program, we highlight the significant impact of climate change on black and brown communities. We then present green construction jobs as a viable strategy for individuals like them, offering not only stable employment but also a means to safeguard their communities. Following our Next Gen Builders training, numerous attendees expressed keen interest in pursuing careers in green construction.

The final component of our training program involves connecting trainees with employers through strategic partnerships. This enables us to co-create essential training content, and subsequently provide free or subsidized advanced training along with placement opportunities through internships and paid positions.

Mentoring trainees, our fourth principle, holds particular significance. In some of the communities we serve, the most pressing challenges often revolve around a lack of mentoring and emotional and psychological support. Our mentoring approach involves placing trainees in organizations where culturally sensitive mentors are available. This exposure provides them with expert knowledge and insights into the day-to-day workings of these organizations. Additionally, we complement organizational mentoring with individual mentoring coordinated by BE Initiative for the trainees