About Green Careers Exploration

You can learn the purpose, approach and impact of Green Career Exploration.

Defining a green career

There is no universal definition of green careers. We define green careers as careers that:

  • Improve energy use/efficiency
  • Reduce and limit greenhouse gasses
  • Reduce waste and pollution
  • Reduce environmental injustices or hazards
  • Protect and restore ecosystems
  • Help communities, buildings and the environment adapt to climate change

The best green careers also:

  • Offer good pay and help people build wealth
  • Improve health for workers and nearby communities
  • Are equitable and inclusive
  • Prioritize opportunities for environmental justice communities
  • Respect the rights, places, and practices of indigenous communities
Teenager and coworker talking about solar panels
Teachers and students interacting in a school classroom

 

Education

Supporting hands-on learning for K-12 students

We work with our partners to incorporate these opportunities into your classroom, camp or youth program. 

Our goal is to help students connect what they are learning in their classes to:

  • The environment they live in
  • Their understanding of sustainability
  • The idea of environmental justice
  • Green career opportunities

 

Here are some of the topics we have students explore:

  • Tree canopy identification
  • Stormwater protection
  • Soil science and investigation
  • Environmental justice
  • Solar energy
  • Urban agriculture

Experiential learning

Coordinating paid career experiences

Through our partners, youth and young adults get a chance to:

  • Network with professionals in the green career sector
  • Engage community members in environmental stewardship
  • Work hands on in aquaponics, urban farming and bike repair

Students have access to exposure events, such as:

  • Touring municipal waste, water and energy facilities
  • Touring local environmental justice sites
  • Learning how to plant, prune, and care for trees
Inside water treatment plant

 

People standing by solar panel

 

Certifications and credentials

Helping young adults obtain industry certifications and credentials

We work with our partners to make training opportunities accessible for young adults in our BIPOC communities.

This includes:

  • Having training and testing locations near public transportation
  • Providing trainings for free
  • Offering to pay for gas or bus cards 

 

As result, young people participating in our programs have received the following credentials or certifications:

Our impact

Here are some of our program highlights from 2020 to 2024:

Program level Number of programs Number of participants Number of interns
Education 20 1,100+ N/A
Exposure 18 188+ 6
Credentialing 45 486 38
Teenager and adult working on solar panels

 

Contact us

Green Careers Exploration

Minneapolis Health Department

Email Green Careers Exploration

Phone

612-240-9888

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 520
Minneapolis, MN 55415