Down to Earth

Down to Earth

MWA’s Down toEarth Campaign (D2E) is a policy initiative that uses a deliberately economic development lens to look at ways we can advance a sustainable economy that builds on the talents of low-income populations. To do this we have created a multi-disciplinary Steering Committee comprised of:

Through a series of intensive Steering Committee Meetings we brainstormed 120+potential ideas for ways to create a sustainable economy with the potential to create accessible jobs -- or career ladders to jobs -- that are safe and have family sustaining wages, while mitigating the effects of climate change. We narrowed our focus to four big arenas of interest where we believe jobs will emerge that meet our criteria: food, water, green small business and energy efficiency. What follows is our current working sense of job creation possibilities in these four arenas.

 

FOOD/Greening Food Systems: Laborers, Pipelayers/irrigation, Truck and tractor drivers, Community based educators,Restaurant liaison, CSA organizer, Nutrition educators, Brownfield remediators,Farmers, Marketers, Pest management technicians, Extension agents, Farm cooks,Green roofs for food production (designers, installers , repair people, andharvesters/ tenders), Vertical barn jobs, Fish farmers (including tenders,packers, shippers, facility operators, managers and waste managers),Distribution managers, Food security consultants, University and otherinstitution liaisons, Package designers and packers.

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS: Ditch diggers,Engineers, Project coordinators/managers, Safety officers, Union stewards, Crewchief, Laborers, Welders, Public health officials, Inspectors, Landscaping,green roofers, Water engineers, Conservation safety officers, Regulatoryoversight, Extension worker (conservation education), Water auditor, Plant operator

GREEN MICRO-ENTERPRISE: Program coordinators, Language/ethnic advisors (MIRA), Trainers, Enterprise coordinators/Coalitionleaders, Green micro-enterprise chamber, Clearinghouse or Network managers,Sourcing advisors/Purchasing officer, Promotion/marketing people, Folks thatassess markets and Sole proprietors in these areas: repair andrecycle (tailor, cobbler, furniture, electronics, bikes, cars,) upcycled/recycled product manufacture, food production, micro farming,composting, green handy people, landscape/hardscape, personal care,eco-friendly cleaners, fish farmers, green roofers, distribution

ENERGY EFFICIENCY/CLEAN ENERGY ON PUBLICBUILDINGS: Weatherizationtechnician workers, Crew chiefs, Energy auditors, Lighting auditors, HVACinstallers/technicians, Trainers, Engineers, Hers raters, Sales people,Carpenters, Plumbers, electricians, weatherization insulators/ caulkers/ etc.,instructors for weatherization courses, community outreach workers, crewsupervisors, DIY instructors, Community organizers.

Look for more information as D2E unfolds!  To learn more you can contact:

DeborahMutschler: deborah@massworkforcealliance.org Alex RisleySchroeder: alex@massworkforcealliance.org Judy Meredith,Principal, Public Policy Initiative: Meredith@realclout.org