By Virak Kchao
December 7, 2009

The Brownfields 2009 Conference in New Orleans featured a number of sessions focusing on the linkages between brownfields redevelopment and green jobs. Attendees at green job sessions included non'profit institutions, private industry, city representatives, and schools from across the nation. The sessions created a venue for participants to discuss all aspects of green jobs training including recruitment, course curriculum, and placement strategies of successful green job training programs.

Staff of successful green job programs attended sessions to share their stories including the keys to successful green job training programs. Speakers discussed how the local community is paramount to establishing a solid foundation for a green jobs training program. They shared how job training programs needed to network with private industry and local government to establishing a good program. This will allow programs to assess market demand for green job workers and identify various resources available to them. Well'established and new programs were able to communicate with each other on these issues. The goal was that new, upcoming programs learn these lessons early in hopes to run more efficiently and graduate more students.

A concern addressed was the lack of knowledge on the redevelopment of brownfields and green jobs by the public, specifically the younger generation. The notion of green jobs and brownfields were difficult to incorporate when people had little understanding of the two issues. The best method to help the public understand was holding informational sessions at brownfields sites where speakers can talk about and address any questions relating to green job training and brownfields redevelopment while on the site. Panelists addressed how school culture needed reorganization in a way that implements sustainability education to prepare the younger generation for future green job demands. They suggested that topics such as climate change, water resources, and renewable energy should be incorporated in the curriculum. Students in the classroom, who worked on green projects, advanced their environmental knowledge and benefited themselves in the future. The best way to prepare future green workers is by creating classrooms through high school and local colleges to train students about brownfields and new green technology.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discussed how initiatives were taking place to address these concerns and how many federal agencies were networking to create a green job community. The EPA is looking to expand to other federal agencies to incorporate green jobs to their existing agendas with a focus on green jobs that employ locals and help communities impacted by brownfields. A workshop allowed conference participants to witness these issues and successes first hand. They visited the building where classes were held and students trained. They witnessed an in'class session where students were being trained for on'site safety. Participants met with students, trainers, and program leaders to learn about the program. Students were able to share stories of the difficult but very rewarding job training program that has improved their lives. Showing how green jobs are careers rather than just jobs.