Reston, VA — To help educators identify sustainability jobs across all fields for students across northern Virginia and Washington, D.C, the National Wildlife Federation hosted representatives today from five school districts, multiple educational institutions and potential employers for the second annual Career Pathways for Sustainability Symposium.

“The climate crisis is driving a shift in our economy where baseline environmental literacy will be necessary across all sectors — not just in the typical green jobs,” said David Corsar, National Wildlife Federation’s Career Center manager. “Young people in school today need to be prepared to be leaders in shifting all of sectors to sustainable, resilient models. This symposium brings together teachers, counselors, professors, advocates, and employers to explore new ways to collaborate and ensure that future graduates are prepared to navigate careers in an uncertain future.”

“The increased need for sustainability leaders requires platforms that encourage a new and diverse generation of change agents across the lifespan — those who can authentically connect individual and community values to challenge norms, advocate for and apply innovation, and transform green spaces through social, economic, systemic, and environmental change,” said Keyana Ellis Reynolds, volunteers and service program coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service.

The event featured experts from the National Wildlife Federation, U.S. Forest Service, Earth Conservation Corps, Fairfax County Public Schools, and Prince William County Schools.

National Wildlife Federation works with 13,000 public schools (including nearly 200 in the Washington region) and hundreds of institutions of higher education across the United States, highlighting the power of environmental education for career development. Students who graduate with project-based sustainability competencies help green the global supply chain, structure renewable energy financing, create smarter homes and grids, craft insurance policies that reduce risk for consumers and shareholders, manage stormwater runoff in ecological ways, restore habitat, and create clean automobiles and transport systems.