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Session Title: The Climate Corps Project: What it is and why it's needed.
Convener: Dan Leroy, dan@airtrust.org
SESSION 'HEADLINES':
- There is a growing movement in this country right now to ensure that the opportunities created by the emerging green
economy-for secure, well-paying jobs and economic prosperity-are available to the people that need them the most:
low-income communities, communities of color, the underemployed, and at-risk youth.
- Climate Corps is a gap-year program designed to prepare high school graduates for careers that address the causes
and consequences of climate change. The program's unique combination of service projects, leadership development,
classroom learning, internships and one-on-one mentoring will provide a solid foundation from which young people can
launch promising, purposeful careers that serve the planet.
- The Climate Change Challenge = High Quality Work Opportunities in a variety of fields including:
- Clean Energy and Fuels
- Energy Efficiency and Green Building
- Environmental Science and Restoration
- Sustainable Agriculture and Local Food Systems
- Community Education
- The question is: jobs for whom?
- The Larger Opportunity the emerging green economy represents:
To align environmental, economic, and social equity objectives so that we can address climate change in a way that
supports a healthier, wealthier and more just society.
- How do we do it? By, as Van Jones says, "giving the work that most needs to be done to the people who most need
the work."
- How to train young people to access these jobs? The Climate Corps will apply the following strategies:
- Service projects: The program will yield tangible outcomes to the community and the environment
- Practical work experience: Members will intern or apprentice with local businesses and organizations
- Personal Transformation - The program will represent a rite of passage into adulthood, offering young people a
sense of purpose as they enter the work world.
- Value: The program will yield tangible outcomes for participants: stipends, academic credits, tuition vouchers,
professional certification
- Where we are now? - We've raised roughly $20,000, need another $40-60 K for first year of planning. Seeking seed
grants from local foundations, corporations and individuals to match these grants.
- We need an extensive network of partners inside and outside of the community. We are connecting with local
businesses, NGO's, government agencies, high schools, colleges and universities who have an interest or a role to play.
*NECESSARY/DESIRED ACTION: (Declarative Statements)
- We will investigate close partnerships with higher learning institutions
- We will investigate the potential for carbon credits or offsets to generate funding for the program by measuring the carbon benefits of service projects
- We will research program design processes that empower students self-organize and take initiative
- We will seek additional seed money from businesses, foundations and donors to support the project design and development phase
PARTICIPANTS:
- Kim Quick klquick@unca.edu
- Jonah Butcher jonah.butcher@gmail.com
- Nina Otter ninaotter@gmail.com
- Doug Hutchins douglas.hutchman@bcsemail.org
- Ed Maggert maggarte@ashevilleschool.org
- Jim? Carolina Day School…
- Joseph Malky vp@sevenstarevents
- David McConville
- Jim Stokoe jim@landofsky.org
- Janell Kapoor janell@kleiwerks.org
- Susan Roderick susan@qualityforward.org
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