Walmart gives generously from its green jobs initiative
The Walmart Foundation has presented a grant of almost £380,000 from its Green Jobs Training Initiative to the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) programme. Presented in conjunction with the US Conference of Mayors, the grant will support local job training and youth work experience in conservation projects.
The Milwaukee CLC, created and sponsored by Johnson Controls, is a partnership programme operated by the Student Conservation Association, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and Johnson Controls. “With the Walmart Foundation Green Jobs Training Initiative grant, the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps will expand the number of local youth able to receive job training and gain exposure to a range of green sector jobs,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said today at a press conference in the Menomonee Valley Community Park. “Preparing students with the right skills to succeed in the green workforce will directly support our community’s economic development.”
The Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps consists of crews of urban high-school students who spend six weeks during the summer completing vital conservation projects to preserve public lands and improve access to Milwaukee parks. During the program, members complete hands-on conservation projects, build job skills, develop a strong work ethic and gain a personal sense of stewardship for the environment. The program focuses on preparing economically and socially disadvantaged high-school age youth for the job market. Key components of the program include:
- Paid summer employment in a difficult job market.
- Job-readiness skills training for jobs in the green economy.
- Hands-on conservation work experience.
- Developing a “green jobs pipeline” for businesses and government agencies.
- Strengthening an awareness of environmental sustainability.
The grant check was presented to Mayor Barrett, Donald Sykes, President and CEO of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and Mark Bodin, Chief Operating Officer of the Student Conservation Association based in Charlestown, N.H. The location of the presentation is one of 10 site locations where students are working this summer.
“The Walmart Foundation is committed to supporting job-training programs that address the need for a green job-ready workforce to support this growing economic engine,” said Lisa Nelson, senior manager of Public Affairs for Walmart. “Mayor Tom Barrett’s innovative leadership and his partnership with the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps stand out as an exemplary program that will help build a strong green economy in Milwaukee.”
According to the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps, the Walmart Foundation Green Jobs Training Initiative will support the following:
- Expansion of the summer program to 100 participants from its current 50 participants.
- Launch a school-year program for 30 youth participants.
- Strengthen recruitment and retention processes.
- Prepare crew leaders to deliver green jobs training curriculum and report the results.
- Ensure the delivery of the highest quality of green jobs training to those that need it.
The Walmart Foundation donated $5 million to the U.S. Conference of Mayors to support the Green Jobs Training Initiative. The grant to the U.S. Conference of Mayors will work to create jobs in an array of emerging green industries. In the spring of 2009, through a competitive selection process led by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, six grants were awarded to non-profit organizations that have a history of working with mayors to train people for green jobs. In early 2010, three additional grants will be given to cities with newer commitments to providing green workforce training.
Walmart’s Sustainability Commitment
As part of its company-wide sustainability goals, Walmart is committed to being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling environmentally-friendly products. The company is moving toward these goals by using sustainable sourcing practices including energy efficiency, waste reduction, renewable energy and lifecycle management. These initiatives are making Walmart a more sustainable company and helping create a favorable environment for green job creation.