Step 1 – Training and Mentoring

The term “green jobs” is widely used, yet few organizations provide a clear definition. At BEI, based on our experience, we focus on three tiers of green employment:

Green construction-related jobs, which can benefit low-income community members with minimal to no advanced education.

Environmental policy positions for young professionals in the environmental sector.

Climate science roles for individuals with a background in advanced science education.

We’ve conducted experiments in supporting green construction jobs through collaboration with the Toronto Community Benefits Network, environmental policy work through our youth environmental justice internship program, and climate science jobs through our partnership with the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS). These initiatives have served as pilots, and our intention is to continue investing in this area.

The primary objective of our training is to inspire trainees to consider specializing in green employment. We achieve this by linking job opportunities to community concerns. While finding a job is a significant incentive, a deeper commitment to environmental justice serves as an even more compelling reason for specialization.

Step 2 – Financial support for advanced training

In addition to motivating trainees, we are to offer additional support in terms of free credentialing and discounted courses to make it easier for them to become employment-worthy. We design training programs in collaboration with employers so that our trainees only get the certifications and the advanced training that employers are looking for.

Step 3 – Job placements

Finally, we are also to offer placement opportunities to the trainees so that they can get entry-level opportunities in green sectors. We do this by building partnerships with employers and by matching their demand for skilled employees with the demand for employment thanks to co-designed training and mentoring programs.

For more information on how to support this program, kindly contact us at ncharles@beinitiative.com.