Wendy Griswold

Community Education and Green Jobs: Acknowledging Existing Connection.

Green jobs are currently a much-discussed topic in political, economic, and educational forums. Millions of Americans would be very glad to have one. But what are they exactly? Or more pointedly, what should they be and how can the field of adult education support their development? From the perspective of a community educator who has worked in the field of environmental education and environmental justice for more than 15 years, green jobs should be more than environmentally friendly employment, as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They should serve to advance the development of sustainable societies. To do this, there are three elements that, woven together, can create green jobs that will serve society in significant ways. These elements are workforce development; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education; and community education for sustainability. Examples of existing programs that address these elements will be discussed below.