Preparing the Regional Workforce for a Greener Economy
May 5, 2011
8:30am to 3:30pm
Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center, South Seattle Community College, Georgetown Campus
The Greenforce Initiative, a partnership between the National Wildlife Federation and Jobs for the Future (JFF) is strengthening the capacity of community colleges to implement or refine quality pathways that lead to careers in the green sector. Building on the combined experience of NWF and JFF in environmental sustainability and workforce development and education, respectively, this initiative is providing high-impact assistance to community colleges in targeted regions across the U.S.
A key aspect of this work is the development of regional learning communities amongst community colleges to enable ongoing information sharing among campuses in each region and encourage formation of partnerships between multiple campuses as they pursue resources and projects for developing green career pathways that are accessible for lower-skilled adults and that integrate sustainability in campus operations, curricula and training programs.
In Seattle, the Greenforce Initiative is collaborating with South Seattle Community College and other partners to host a summit. The purpose of this summit is to provide in-person opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, sharing of best practices, and networking among curriculum-level education, workforce development, basic skills and sustainability leaders from community colleges in the greater Seattle region. The gathering will also serve as a launching point for a regional learning community. With the support of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, the summit will be free of charge for participants.
We believe this summit, and the learning community that will emerge, will provide valuable tools in advancing green career pathways and sustainability work at area community colleges. Summit participants will come away with more and stronger connections to peers in the region, information about local green workforce trends and potential, and knowledge of resources, opportunities, models, and strategies to help every campus strengthen education and workforce development efforts in green sectors.
The Goals of the Summit:
Who Should Attend:
We encourage colleges to send representatives from the following groups to the summit:
Participating Campuses and Organizations:
Bellevue Community College
Cascadia Community College
Clover Park Community College
Highline Community College
North Seattle Community College
Seattle Central Community College
Shoreline Community College
South Seattle Community College
Tacoma Community College
Agenda:
8:30am - Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00am - Welcome, Introductions and an Overview of The Greenforce Initiative
9:45am - Overview of Seattle Community College District Chancellor's Sustainability Initiative
10:15am - Best Bets for Connecting Low-Skill Adults to Green Jobs in Greater Seattle
11:15am - Break
11:30am - How Sustainability Impacts the Workforce Demands of Business and Industry
12:30pm - Networking Lunch - Sustaining the Momentum: Next Steps for the Seattle Greenforce Initiative, Moderator, Gloria Mwase, JFF
1:30pm - Breakout sessions
Creating Pathways to Green Careers in the Clean Energy Sector, Jamie Krause, Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy, Centralia College
Connecting Campus Sustainability to Green Workforce Development, Carly Queen, NWF
Reframing Green: Developing Pathways in Sustainable Building, Construction Trades, and Other Sectors
3:30pm - Optional Tour of South Seattle's Green Education and Training Facilities
4:30pm - Tour Ends/Summit Adjourns
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