BOSTON - Wednesday,
October 27, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey today announced a partnership to
provide career development opportunities for young people who are
unemployed or underemployed, in green jobs and careers that help prepare
for the impacts of climate change. This partnership will be led by the
City’s Environment Department and Office of Workforce Development, in
collaboration with the Office of Public Safety, Department of Youth
Engagement and Employment, and Boston Centers for Youth & Families. The
initiative will be championed by the Green Jobs Community Advisory Board, a
group of public and private leaders in business, education, and workforce
development, committed to expanding green career opportunities for Boston
youth and residents.  “I have spent the
majority of my career advocating for equity and opportunity for Boston’s
youth,” said Mayor Janey. “The green jobs program serves the dual purpose
of creating job opportunities for our young people while protecting our
city and enhancing quality of life for all residents. I am proud of the
creation of this pilot and I look forward to seeing how all of its members
grow and succeed in the green economy.”
The priority of this
pilot program is to support Boston communities that have been hit
particularly hard by the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by
creating an equitable recovery and growing job opportunities that fight
climate change. The City of Boston’s green jobs program is inspired by the Philadelphia PowerCorpsPHL model that builds opportunities for young
people by tackling pressing environmental challenges and developing the
skills required to secure meaningful work. The program was designed with
“earn and learn” practices to ensure that members enter and succeed in
career pathways. Members go through specifically tailored phases, in a
field of their choosing, that embed service and equity, as well as direct
connections to job openings. The program will also offer connections to
continuing education opportunities, including through the City’s Tuition Free Community College program.
“Climate change
poses significant threats to Boston residents like sea level rise, extreme
heat and air pollution. Yet, it presents us with an opportunity to create
meaningful work to combat these issues for many of our most vulnerable
residents,” said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment,
Energy and Open Space. “Our new green jobs partnership will empower
disconnected young adults and returning citizens through developing
critical skills that will make our city more resilient.”
“Investing in green
jobs for our residents is a triple win for Boston,” said Trinh Nguyen,
Director of the Office of Workforce Development. “It means we are
supporting skills training and careers for residents, having the City as a
critical employer partner, and helping us reach our environmental
goals.”
Over the coming
months, the City of Boston will identify and hire an Executive Director
charged with implementing an ambitious training program to move residents
into green jobs after program completion. With support from the Executive
Director, the City of Boston will determine training pathways with the most
pressing needs and significant potential to protect the environment. The
City of Boston will identify and welcome community partners and non-profits
who would like to engage in this work.
“Boston is
definitely putting its best foot forward with this initiative,” said Kevin
McCaskill of Boston Public Schools and the Green Jobs Community Advisory
Board. “Providing access to green career opportunities for our
underrepresented youth will be a community benefit.”
This initiative
builds on the Janey Administration’s commitment to protecting the
environment and growing opportunities in the green economy. The Fiscal Year 2022 operating budget for
the Cabinet of Environment, Energy and Open Space included $1 million for
green jobs. An additional $3 million with funding from the American Rescue Plan was authorized by the City Council in July
2021 to grow the program. The City’s Environment Department convened a
group of stakeholders to create a Community Advisory Board that focused on
developing an investment plan driven by community needs and values. This
summer, the City of Boston launched a request for information on the future of green
jobs and shared a request for proposals for catalyst grants for
green and mobility job training. | 
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