One of the nation’s largest youth green workforce programs built during a global pandemic
Seventy-five youth have started work for the Green Team this summer. High school students from around the city are putting their muscle into green improvements. Over the next two months, Green Team employees will receive training and certifications in natural resource management, water quality monitoring, trail building, urban agriculture, and green infrastructure- all while benefiting themselves, their communities, and public land.
This summer, we’ve managed to triple the number of youth employees through partnerships. Employees will be at sites throughout the region working with partners such as the Cincinnati Park Board, Great Parks of Hamilton County, MSD’s Lick Run Greenway, and a variety of other community projects.
These jobs not only generate income and experience, they break barriers of diversity and representation in the industry. Many of our youth live below the poverty line and never considered sustainability jobs to be something for them because of race, socioeconomics, or other factors. Youth from our program have gone on to higher education, jobs in the public and private sector, even working for the National Park Service.
Whether fighting the spread of invasive species, building new community greenspace on vacant lots, or expanding Mt. Airy’s trail system, these teens are putting the ‘sweat’ into sweat-equity.
