{"id":238781,"date":"2010-01-27T16:08:58","date_gmt":"2010-01-27T21:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/apolloalliance.org\/?p=1321"},"modified":"2010-01-27T16:08:58","modified_gmt":"2010-01-27T21:08:58","slug":"detroiters-working-for-environmental-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/238781","title":{"rendered":"Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>DETROIT \u2013 Michigan-based Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ) is a nonprofit that has been working in the environmental and social justice space since 1994. In 2007, DWEJ launched its Green Jobs Workforce Training Program with the intent of creating a skilled workforce that will help Detroit become more attractive to a new, but growing industry, according to DWEJ Green Jobs Director Roshani Dantas. The program, which originated with the Environmental Protection Agency-funded brownfield cleanup training that DWEJ has offered since 1995, is considered a model for combining soft- and hard-skills training.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Green Jobs Workforce Training Program is part of DWEJ\u2019s Build Up Detroit effort, which focuses on economic sustainability through creating and training for green-collar jobs, social sustainability through civic engagement and education, and environmentally sustainable development\u2026the \u201ctriple bottom line.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is not just to get them a job, but also make them complete advocates in the community,\u201d said Dantas. In its first year, the DWEJ Green Jobs program received more than 300 applications for 25 available spots in the 13-week class.\u00a0 In 2009, the program \u2013 which has expanded to 16 weeks \u2013 will offer three 25-person classes. The program targets underemployed and unemployed Detroit residents.\u00a0 Neither a high school diploma nor a GED is required, and DWEJ does not discriminate against applicants with criminal backgrounds. Approximately two-thirds of applicants do not meet reading level requirements and receive referrals for additional support from other DWEJ and community programs.<\/p>\n

The first half of the program is dedicated to work readiness and life skills training. It emphasizes what Dantas calls \u201cpopular education,\u201d a way of teaching in the classroom that is context-based and hands-on.\u00a0 The second half focuses on various aspects of the green economy, with technical training and a mix of classroom and on-the-job experiences.\u00a0 The modules in this part of the program are taught by a number of training provider partners, including the United Auto Workers and the Erb Institute at the University of Michigan, and run simultaneously.\u00a0 Students who complete the program receive a DWEJ certificate and may choose to test for a number of industry-recognized certifications, including BPI Building Analyst, asbestos and lead abatement, confined space entry, and OSHA 10 workplace certification.\u00a0 The program also includes an entrepreneurship element focused on sustainable business plans.
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\nEmployer input is integral. The program\u2019s advisory board consists of many employers who, in addition to hiring graduates, also provide instructional support, in-kind contributions, and on-the-job experiences for students. The program also includes a job developer who provides retention support and works with employers for placement of graduates. Job placement was 100 percent for the 2008 class.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Student support is key to the program\u2019s success. According to Dantas, the small class sizes are designed to give students sufficient attention and access to a broad spectrum of tools. The 25 applicants who make it through the application and interview process receive a scholarship which may include bus passes or parking vouchers, as well as catered breakfast and lunch daily. \u201cWe want to remove any barriers that would get in the way of learning in the classroom,\u201d Dantas explained.<\/p>\n

The Green Jobs program now has the support and funding of the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\u00a0 It is also part of a consortium of urban environmental groups which includes the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice in New Orleans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More Information<\/strong><\/p>\n

Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DETROIT \u2013 Michigan-based Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ) is a nonprofit that has been working in the environmental and social justice space since 1994. In 2007, DWEJ launched its Green Jobs Workforce Training Program with the intent of creating a skilled workforce that will help Detroit become more attractive to a new, but growing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4763,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-238781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4763"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=238781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238781\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=238781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=238781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=238781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}