For Immediate Release
The partnership with the County of San Diego focuses on workforce training for young people, ages 16 – 24, who are not in school or working
April 14, 2022 – San Diego, CA – The San Diego Foundation announced today that seven local nonprofits will receive $180,000 in grants to develop jobs and other programs to expose opportunity youth – or young people ages 16 to 24 who are not in school or working – to careers in green industries.
“Thanks to our local nonprofit partners, this program will help opportunity youth develop personally and professionally, while growing the resilience of our local green economy,” said Christiana DeBenedict, Director of Environment Initiatives for The San Diego Foundation.
A report published by the San Diego Workforce Partnership identified an estimated 417,000 people in the San Diego region between 16 and 24 years of age. Of that group, 31,000 are considered opportunity youth.
“These grants are the next step in our new countywide initiative to help young people secure the green careers that will define not only their future but the future of our entire region,” said Terra Lawson-Remer, member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “These investments in a youth green jobs program are an acknowledgment that our economy can’t fully recover until young people recover — and have equitable access to the green economy of tomorrow.”
Grant funding for the green jobs program was provided by the County of San Diego as part of its Youth Environmental/Recreation Corp launched last year by a proposal from Supervisors Lawson-Remer and Nora Vargas. Seven local nonprofits each received a grant of $20,000 or $30,000, including:
The county’s program also includes a partnership with the San Diego Workforce Partnership to support placement of opportunity youth in paid positions with county departments including Parks and Recreation; Planning and Development Services; Public Works; Agriculture, Weights and Measures; Environmental Health and Quality; Library and General Services.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines green jobs as jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources, or jobs that workers’ duties involve making their establishment’s production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources. In 2021, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst projected that to meet California’s climate goals in 2030 and 2045, the state would need to invest in creating a projected 1 million green jobs.
The San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. For more than 46 years, The Foundation and its donors have granted more than $1.3 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.
Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer represents District 3 on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Terra is an economist, attorney, and public policy expert who has dedicated her life to working for social, environmental, and economic justice. As the mother of a toddler and the only non-binary member of the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Lawson-Remer is committed to fighting for equity and forging strong partnerships with community organizations that have been ignored or overlooked by previous leadership. A lifelong environmentalist, Terra is championing sustainable, equitable, and livable communities. More information is available at www.SupervisorTerraLawsonRemer.com.
On August 9, 2022, we awarded $838,704 in Opening the Outdoors grants to 24 nonprofit organizations that offer equitable access to outdoor spaces in San Diego County.
“San Diego Foundation is proud to once again support its partners committed to increasing community-driven efforts to enhance accessible outdoor space, encourage youth to learn more through hands-on education and create the next generation of environmental stewards in the San Diego region,” said Christiana DeBenedict, SDF Director of Environment Initiatives.
This year’s grantees will help address these inequities and enhance access to the outdoors throughout San Diego County.
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