Green jobs advocates aren’t just pushing for more eco jobs, they are pushing for good green jobs for all Americans. Part of the process is providing training for underserved populations, including young adults and at-risk youth. This training helps provide a valid pathway out of poverty for millions of Americans. In the Tampa Bay, Fla., area, the Boley Centers is working on making the green American dream a reality for area youth.

 

The organization’s green jobs training program is targeting a section of the population that has been particularly hard hit by the recent economic recession and unemployment crisis — teenagers and young adults.

 

Boley Centers encourages individuals with traditional barriers to employment apply for this opportunity. This includes individuals with a juvenile or criminal justice background, high school dropouts, and dislocated workers. The comprehensive training program starts with GED classes but also includes technical training, apprenticeship opportunities, and on-the-job training for one of today’s green jobs.

 

These populations are often left out of traditional economic stimulus and recovery programs. However, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as well as the Green Jobs Act of 2007 have provided grant funding to organizations that provide disadvantaged youth and other underserved communities with the training they need to change their lives. This training gets them back to work in a good green job for today but also sets them up with a lifelong eco-friendly career.