GET IN YOUR CAREER BAG

Bridging the Gap Between Access and Representation

These free programs have a specific focus on helping students and early-career professionals get in their bags and thrive in the green economy. Participants gain access to career-shifting resources and opportunities created with their success in mind.

CLIMATE PATHWAYS

In the last year, we invested over $80,000 to enable 44 BGE members to attend climate conferences & convenings.

Climate Pathways offers a unique opportunity for BGE members to attend major climate conferences, retreats, and professional development opportunities at no cost. This fosters the development, networking, and industry knowledge of the next generation of climate leaders.

Under this initiative, we partnered with EarthJustice to sponsor the transportation costs for 17 Black Girl Environmentalists to visit Washington D.C. for an advocacy fly-in on Capitol Hill. 

This included our Hazel M. Johnson Fellows, HUB Leads, and College Mentees. Participants received training on lobbying and met with staffers representing states such as Illinois, Ohio, California, Oregon, and New Mexico.

“As a policy intern in DC, gaining first-hand exposure to the policy process was incredibly valuable. It deepened my appreciation for the vital role advocacy plays in shaping meaningful change.”

-Jamiya B.

CLEAN ENERGY FUTURES

The first step to increasing representation in clean energy is ensuring that students are aware that this career pathway exists and educating them on what a future in this career can entail. Through Clean Energy Futures, we partner with academic institutions (high schools, minority-serving institutions, and/or community colleges) to provide students with:

  • Virtual and in-person career days with local clean energy organizations

  • 1:1 career coaching and resume support

  • Presentations on clean energy workforce pathways

Partner Schools

BIPOC GREEN CAREER SUMMIT

The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Green Career Summit is an annual event that brings together young professionals and students of color across multiple environmental sectors to connect them with skills-sharing programming and networking opportunities with a diverse selection of employers to advance their careers. This is a collaborative summit hosted alongside the Green Jobs Board and the Black Oak Collective.

In 2024, we hosted this event as part of the NEST Climate Campus which had hundreds of attendees and high visibility during New York Climate Week (NYCW). We had over 250 attendees and provided entry-level and mid-career BIPOC professionals with support to navigate climate career pathways and find opportunities for networking, mentorship, and connection.

As part of this, we also held two info sessions for the Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship, highlighting fellows’ experiences and opportunities for new partner companies to get involved in future cohorts.