Growing the Inclusive Green Workforce Pipeline in Pittsburgh

We are inviting participation from youth and adult leaders in the East End of Pittsburgh:

• K–12 educators, youth and school leaders
• Out-of-school learning providers
• Environmental justice and community leaders

In addition to the following individuals from the greater Allegheny County community:

• Career and Technical Education professionals
• Workforce development organizations
• Sustainability and green technology employers

Free lunch for all.

Space is limited. Register now to secure your seat.

Pittsburgh is experiencing rapid growth in sustainability and green technology sectors—from renewable energy and green infrastructure to climate resilience and ecological restoration. At the same time, many young people in environmental justice communities remain disconnected from the educational experiences and career pathways that could lead to these opportunities.

Grounded Strategies is exploring the creation of the Grounded Futures Lab, an outdoor experiential learning and research space built on formerly vacant land in a Pittsburgh environmental justice community. The vision is to create a place where students can engage directly with sustainability technologies and practices while building pathways toward green careers.

As part of the early planning phase of this initiative, we are convening educators, workforce leaders, and sustainability industry professionals to explore an important question:

How can Pittsburgh build a stronger and more inclusive pipeline from K–12 education into sustainability and green technology careers?

This gathering will bring together leaders from schools, out-of-school-time programs, workforce organizations, and the sustainability sector to:

• Share insights about the current landscape of green workforce development
• Identify barriers that prevent young people from entering sustainability careers
• Explore opportunities for deeper collaboration between educators and industry
• Gather ideas for experiential learning opportunities that could be offered through a site like the Grounded Futures Lab

Participants will engage in small group discussions designed to surface practical insights about the skills, experiences, and partnerships needed to prepare the next generation of sustainability leaders.

The insights generated during this convening will inform the next phase of planning for the Grounded Futures Lab and will also contribute to broader regional conversations about building an inclusive green workforce pipeline.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Connect with peers across sectors
• Share expertise and challenges
• Help shape a new educational and workforce development initiative in Pittsburgh
• Contribute to strengthening pathways into sustainability careers for local youth

1. Energy-Efficient Buildings and Home Upgrades - Helping homes, schools, and buildings use less energy and stay comfortable while lowering utility bills and pollution. Jobs could include electricians, HVAC technicians, insulation installers, energy auditors, and construction workers who install heat pumps, solar-ready systems, and other modern building technology.
2. Rain Gardens, Green Spaces & Stormwater Solutions - Designing and building outdoor spaces that help absorb rainwater, reduce flooding, and make neighborhoods greener and healthier. Jobs could include landscaping, green infrastructure installation, park improvement, tree planting, and maintaining rain gardens or bioswales.
3. Urban Forestry - Planting and caring for trees in neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces to improve air quality, reduce heat, manage stormwater, and make communities healthier and more beautiful. Jobs could include tree planting crews, arborists, park workers, climbers, trail and park maintenance staff, and urban forestry specialists.
4. Solar & Renewable Energy - Installing and maintaining clean energy systems that produce electricity from the sun and other renewable sources. Jobs could include solar panel installers, electricians, maintenance technicians, and renewable energy sales or project managers.
5. Electric Grid & Energy Systems - Keeping the power system running and preparing it for the future as more homes and vehicles use electricity. Jobs could include utility workers, lineworkers, electrical technicians, smart grid specialists, and energy system operators.
6. Land Cleanup & Nature Restoration - Cleaning up polluted land, streams, and natural areas and helping ecosystems recover. This work focuses on environmental health and restoring damaged land through activities like soil cleanup, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, stream restoration, and planting native vegetation. Jobs could include environmental cleanup crews, restoration workers, heavy equipment operators, environmental technicians, and conservation field staff.
7. Urban Farming & Local Food Systems - Growing food and improving access to healthy meals in cities and neighborhoods. Jobs could include urban farmers, greenhouse workers, composting specialists, food distribution workers, and people who run local food businesses.
8. Recycling, Reuse & Waste Reduction - Finding better ways to reuse materials, reduce waste, and keep useful items out of landfills. Jobs could include recycling operations, deconstruction crews, materials reuse businesses, composting, and repair or resale work.
9. Community Planning & Neighborhood Development - Planning and managing projects that improve how neighborhoods function and grow. This work focuses on housing, transportation, parks, public spaces, and community priorities by bringing together residents, governments, nonprofits, and developers. Jobs could include project managers, community organizers, city planners, outreach coordinators, grant managers, and nonprofit leaders.

Additional details and agenda information will be shared soon.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Grounded Strategies