“People think that protecting the environment is bad for the economy. But we know that green jobs can both stimulate the economy and protect the environment,” said Chris Traft. “It is possible to address local challenges of unemployment, poverty, pollution and environmental injustice simultaneously, by developing ‘green collar jobs’”. A green collar job involves living wage employment for local community members that provides products or services while sustaining the local and wider environment.

A new coalition is coming together to promote green jobs in the Worcester area!
The mission of the Worcester Green Jobs Coalition is to organize a local movement for green collar jobs for all. It will work for resources to create sustainable jobs that are in sync with our culture and needs. Goals of this new coalition include:
- Connecting green ideas and passion with resources for implementation.
- Promoting jobs that stimulate us, our community, and our economy.
- Facilitating green business creation and development.
- Connecting youth and people who need jobs with those who can offer them.

The establishment of the Worcester Green Jobs Coalition occurs the same week as the National Green Jobs Day of Action. On September 27th tens of thousands of people across the country are participating in local actions to demonstrate that they, locally and united nation-wide, are ready for a new, green, inclusive economy .

At a press conference on Wednesday, Worcester City Councilor Rick Rushton and Lilah Glick of Clean Water Action and Massachusetts Green Jobs Coalition (MAGJC) discussed green job development opportunities in the Worcester region. Representatives of local groups currently engaged in green employment such as Toxic Soil Busters, Ex-prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement (EPOCA) and YouthGROW, discussed green collar jobs ranging from recycling and contaminated soil remediation to urban agriculture that are already employing Worcester residents as well as providing desired products and environmental benefits to the city community. Multiple possibilities for local green collar job growth exist, ranging from renewable energy development to energy-saving insulation installation in houses.

The crowd chanted “Collard Greens for Green Collars” while holding up collard leaves raised by YouthGROW urban farmers. YouthGROW demonstrates local green collar employment in action: it supplies fresh organic food to Worcester’s Main south community while providing employment opportunities to local youth.

In August a new Green Jobs Act was signed into law in Massachusetts. This legislation allocates $68 million dollars over the next 5 years to green jobs initiatives in the state such as training of workers for environmentally-friendly jobs and also green business development .

“Green jobs are becoming more fashionable and the state is even beginning to allocate funds towards important environmental work. Our community can use these funds to confront multiple environmental and social challenges, but only if we prepare ourselves to make good use of them together,” said Richard Kerver, who is currently fitting his condo with solar panels.

The Worcester Green Jobs Coalition will be holding a Green Jobs Fair in the Spring, to connect people interested in green employment with local opportunities. The job fair will take place Saturday April 25th 2009, from 2-4pm at Elm Park.

For more info, contact Worcester Roots Project's Toxic Soil Busters
Phone # : (508)736-5822 or visit :
http://worcesterroots.org/greenjobs.html

photos by Chris Traft

Sarah Assefa of Toxic Soil Busters Co-op (Worcester Roots Project) / Empower Renewable Energy Co-op Co-op (EPOCA)

Averi Hamilton of Toxic Soil Busters Co-op (Worcester Roots Project)

City Councilor Rick Ruston

Lilah Glick of Clean Water Action and Mass Green Jobs Coalition (MAGJC)

Setting up at the YouthGROW Community Farm