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Advancing Greener Careers and Campuses: A Virtual Summit
Friday, November 2, 2012 - 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern
This summit showcased the great work being implemented by our partners across the country in developing green career pathways and connecting campus sustainability to hands-on teaching and learning.
The summit also featured several opportunities to highlight campus projects and accomplishments - including a Virtual Showcase of project videos and posters, a forum discussion (through LinkedIn), and live Tweets.
Browse the Virtual Showcase: discover campus videos and poster and photos.
Learn more about our speakers here.
Agenda
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Opening Plenary: Welcome to the Summit!
Learn more about the Greenforce Initiative and its accomplishments. Quickly learn all the ways you can connect to your colleagues across the country through the Virtual Summit.
Speakers:
Caitlin Bell, Bank of America Foundation
Maria Flynn, Jobs for the Future
Jim Lyon, National Wildlife Foundation
Employer Discussion: Do Sustainability Skills Still Matter?
Join us for an interactive conversation with leading employers about the ongoing value of sustainability skills in developing a fully prepared workforce. Hear how these skills translate into greater economic competitiveness, employee satisfaction, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
Presenters:
Michael Shore, FLS Energy
John Bradburn, General Motors
Facilitator: Gloria Mwase, Jobs for the Future
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. BREAK
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Linking Climate Change Science and STEM Careers
There are two parallel efforts happening in America: 1) What to do about climate change; and 2) How to increase employment in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields? Learn more about how our college partners have linked them together using real NASA tools, research, and curricula, as they prepare students for careers.
Presenters:
Rodney Jackson, Edgecombe Community College
Mila Simeonovska, Wilbur Wright College
Facilitator: Gloria Mwase, Jobs for the Future
Connecting Campus Sustainability to Green Career Pathways
Campuses are in the process of “greening” their buildings and grounds—and using these efforts as teaching opportunities that allow students to get both hands-on experience and college credit. Some students in the building trades are using campus structures for lessons on HVAC systems, weatherization, and energy efficiency; while others studying the culinary arts are learning about local food sourcing, gardening, and composting. Hear about the successes and challenges campuses have had in linking sustainability/greening efforts to student training—and how your campus can do the same!
Presenters:
Linda Chauncey, Seattle Culinary Academy, Seattle Central Community Program
Norman Christopher, Grand Valley State University
Holly Weir, Davidson County Community College
Facilitator: Julian Keniry, National Wildlife Federation
Developing a New Sustainability Course or Curriculum
More community colleges are developing new curricula and training courses that address both employer needs and environmental issues in their regions. However, many faculty are unsure of how to fully flesh out a course redesign that emphasizes sustainability while strengthening core academic and career content. In this session, college professors who have done this work will offer strategies for curriculum and course development, examples of successful curricula, and other available resources.
Presenters:
George Anderson, Edgecombe Community College
Lynnda Skidmore, Wayne County Community College
Facilitator: Amy Girardi, Jobs for the Future
Engaging the Community
Every community college’s ultimate goal is to help improve its community. In many ways, colleges serve multiple stakeholders including first-time college students and adults who are retraining for new careers. Therefore, colleges must have a strong community engagement strategy that involves all of its local workforce sectors. This session will highlight successful community engagement strategies for boosting enrollment, enhancing course offerings, and helping local employers get the skilled workers they need.
Presenters:
Sean Huberty, Lansing Community College
David Wiggins, Blue Ridge Community College
Facilitator: Juliana Goodlaw-Morris, National Wildlife Federation
Creating Successful College-Employer Partnerships
How do college-employer partnerships work? And who needs to be involved? Delve into two successful partnership models that are producing benefits for community colleges, their students, and regional employers. Session presenters will discuss the issues that each partnership is addressing, and how each partnership impacts program design, delivery, and underlying curricula at its college. Get tips on what to consider and what to avoid in setting up your own college-employer partnership. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from your peers about what works in connecting education and career training to the world of work.
Presenters:
Denise Fairchild, Emerald Cities Collaborative
Julie Parks, Grand Rapids Community College
Facilitator: Stephen Lynch, Jobs for the Future
2:45 – 3:00 p.m. BREAK
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Closing Plenary: The Future of Sustainability, Jobs, and Funding
Leading representatives from government, foundations and businesses will discuss perspectives on the future of the green economy through diverse sector lenses, including which policies and other initiatives are needed to help stimulate green jobs, projects, education and training.
Presenters:
Caitlin Bell, Bank of America Foundation
Andrew deCoriolis, Lucid Design
Tom Hooper, Department of Labor
Facilitator: Kevin Coyle, National Wildlife Federation
