Johnson Controls, a wide-ranging international technologically-minded company, has been helping Detroit-area teens learn the importance of conservation. Working in collaboration with the Student Conservation Association and The Greening of Detroit, Johnson Controls has sponsored a green jobs program called Conservation Leadership Corps. The Detroit Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) is run during the summer to ensure students have the free time to attend the program. Additional support for CLC is being provided by: the City of Detroit; DTE Energy Foundation; Growing Young Detroit Talent; PNC Bank and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
This week the Detroit Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) will put several high-school students to work at green jobs in the hope that the experience will encourage them to consider working in a green career field. The CLC encourages environmental conservation by putting students to work on essential environmental projects in the community parks. Besides learning about conservation, students learn how to become assets in thier community, how to become mentors to those around them and several valuable jobs skills.
Jennifer Mattes, the director of Global Public Affairs for Johnson Controls, believes that during the next six weeks, these green jobs will give Detroit high-school students an unusual opportunity to gain work experience, develop professional skills and learn how important it is to preserve and maintain the environment.
The high-school students will be working with various crew leaders over the course of the program. Their efforts will focus in Detroit?s Rouge Park, Belle Isle Park, Eliza Howell Park, Brightmoor neighborhood, D-Town Farm and Singing Tree Farm. Green training will involve teaching the students about native planting, new trail development and upkeep, outdoor classroom construction, invasive plant species removal, acreage expansion, and general operations and maintenance. During this same period of time, the students will be taught job-readiness skills, resume writing, interview skills and personal finance management.
Devon Buskin, Workforce Development Director for The Greening of Detroit has stated that this initiative will help Detroit youth gain unique and marketable skills in a city where overall unemployment is very high. The Greening of Detroit is comitted to providing green training to Detroit residents, introducing green careers into the city and promoting environmental awareness in the community.
Over 550 applicants had to complete a complex tryout process over a period of two months. They were assessed based on work ethic, leadership ability, civic engagement, and commitment to the environment. Out of the 550 people that applied, 80 were chosen to participate in the CLC program.
Many of the students, like Michaela Covington, a 17 year old CLC and Student Conservation Association member, have gained a new sense of pride for thier community and the city of Detroit. They feel like they are a part of the continuing process to effect positive changes in their city and are proud to partcipate in the environmental efforts. The youth of Detroit now have the option to work in the green career field of thier choice.
On the 1st of August, employees from Johnson Controls will be working, as volunteers, in tandem with the student teams from CLC. Johnson Controls employees and the CLC teams will be out at several Detroit-area locations for an environmental learning experience.
On the 10th of August, the students are scheduled to participate in a professional development day. The event will be hosted by Johnson Controls? Automotive Experience business in Plymouth. The students will be taught the importance of sustainability, energy efficiency and renewable resources. They will also be encouraged to look into the fields of automotive interior design and engineering, building efficiency and hybrid battery technology as possible green career choices. Information about Automotive Experience, Building Efficiency and Power Solutions ? businesses that form a part of Johnson Controls ? will be offered to the CLC students so that they can make an informed decision regarding possible green career paths.
On August 17th, at Belle Isle Park, a graduation ceremony for the CLC students will be held. Crew leaders and community partners will acknowledge the hard work of the CLC teams and present them with awards.
Other awesome places to find information on green jobs for teens and green career information that is changing lives and environments can be found at the Student Conservation Association, Johnson Controls and The Greening of Detroit. Another inspiring story we found about youths in struggling US cities that we found very informative was at John Controls talking about their Conservation Leadership Corps. This group actually participates in Milwaukee, Baltimore and Detroit. So far, 171 jobs have been created for teens in the green industry getting their feet wet for a future green career path that is sure to change the minds & hearts of many.
Source: http://thinkgreendegrees.com/creating-green-jobs-for-teens-youths-in-america
howard stern americas got talent china aircraft carrier barbara walters most fascinating person 2011 golden globe nominations los angeles clippers los angeles clippers charlize theron
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.