In this episode of the Work in Progress podcast, Sara Vander Zanden, director of Jobs for the Future (JFF), joins me to discuss the Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Future (CREST), a green jobs creation initiative funded by the Ares Charitable Foundation in partnership with JFF and World Resources Institute (WRI).

Earth Day marks the third anniversary of CREST, which aims to train and place 25,000 people in quality green jobs by 2027. The program emphasizes working with community-based organizations to create these jobs, particularly in regions experiencing challenges created by climate change.

Key goals include increasing awareness of what constitutes a “quality green job” and leverages regional expertise to match job opportunities to local climate risks and needs.

“Essentially, a green job is anything that integrates green skills. You can think of any traditional industry, you can think of construction, you can think of manufacturing, you can think of textiles or energy. There are ways to make all of these industries and all of these jobs green through the integration of green skills,” explains Vander Zanden.

The jobs are being created through partnerships with six community organizations that were chosen from a pool of 101 applicants through the JFF Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge. They will include training programs and earn-and-learn opportunities.

“They know their communities. They know the climate risks. They know the job opportunities, the industries, the employers, who’s looking for workers. They know what workers need in terms of wraparound supports. The regions are telling us here is where we need to lean in,” she explains.

The focus is on creating high-wage, benefit-rich jobs that provide flexibility and dignity. In the podcast, Vander Zanden describes a quality green job, as defined by JFF’ job quality framework.

“Some of those main components are high wages where you can sustain a family. We think about benefits, comprehensive benefits that allow you to take care of yourself and your family and your health. We think about growth opportunities within a company or organization.

“We think about flexibility to shape your schedule. Knowledge of what your schedule and hours are going to be a couple of weeks in advance, you can plan your life around that. And we also think about dignity. Does this job make you feel more whole as a person? Does it honor who you are and the skills that you bring?”

What is at stake for the communities trying to battle the negative impact of climate change by creating quality green jobs? Which communities and regions are in the CREST initiative? What progress have CREST and its job-creation partners made so far? And where do they hope to be in the next few years?

Find out in the podcast, which you can listen to here or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find our podcasts on the Work in Progress YouTube channel.

Read, watch, and listens to more stories about the CREST initiative in our WorkingNation digital magazine produced in partnership with Jobs for the Future: Quality Jobs, Green Future

Episode 361: Sara Vander Zanden, director, Jobs for the Future (JFF)
Host & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNation
Producer: Larry Buhl
Theme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4
Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode here
Work in Progress Podcast: Catch up on previous episodes here