Jobs for the Future (JFF) and National Wildlife Federation (NWF) are partners in the Greenforce Initiative, an effort to strengthen the capacity of community colleges in six regions of the U.S. to green the skills of our modern workforce; regions include Illinois (Chicago), Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington (Seattle). The Greenforce Initiative:
- Strengthens workforce development and sustainability practices at community colleges;
- Advances the basic skills of lower-skilled adults, focusing on sustainability, green and STEM skills; and
- Increases the ability of lower-skilled adults to access jobs and career pathways in their local communities.
The Greenforce Initiative builds upon the combined experience of NWF and JFF in environmental sustainability and workforce development, aided by our networks of partners and shared belief in the critical role community colleges play in preparing America's workforce.
NWF and JFF share a desire to increase the capacity of community colleges to help nontraditional students enter the job market with marketable sustainability skills.
Read our Greenforce Initiative One-pager.
Read our press release announcing the launch of Phase II - The Greenforce Initiative Links Employers and Community Colleges to Meet Growing Need for Sustainability Skills, October 15, 2012
Read about the Greenforce Initiative's NASA Project - Building a Diverse, Green Workforce: Integrating Climate Change Science into Community College Green Career Education and Training.
The following Greenforce Initiative partners have received innovation grants to advance their green workforce and campus sustainability efforts:
Illinois:
College of Lake County
Lincoln Land Community College
Olive-Harvey College (City College of Chicago)
Richard J. Daley Community College (City College of Chicago)
Wilbur Wright College (City College of Chicago)
Michigan:
Delta College
Lake Michigan College
Lansing Community College
St. Clair County Community College
Wayne County Community College
North Carolina:
Haywood Community College
Nash Community College
Southeastern Community College
Stanly Community College
Wake Technical Community College
Texas:
South Texas College
San Antonio College
Virginia:
Blue Ridge Community College
Germanna Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Thomas Nelson Community College
Washington:
Highline Community College
Seattle Community College District
South Seattle Community College
North Seattle Community College
Clover Park Technical College
To learn more about the innovation grant projects, go to the individual region pages listed above in the right hand column.