Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Announces First Round of Funding For Black Youth Scholarship Fund
Last year, the staff and board of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) stood in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and released a statement announcing a $10,000 scholarship for Black youth. The Scholarship Fund is in response to the need to address social and racial injustice in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.
The Green infrastructure Training Scholarship for Black Youth was created to help break down the barriers of entry for Black Youth into the green infrastructure industry. GRHC has partnered with environmental organizations and will offer free online training and passes to our virtual events. Blacks in Green and Metro Blooms are involved in the first round of funding. BIG is a Chicago-based organization that serves as a bridge and catalyst among Black communities to design and develop green, self-sustaining, walkable villages. Metro Blooms is a Minneapolis-based organization that strives to create and deepen existing connections within environmental justice communities.
Each organization will receive a $5,000 scholarship for green infrastructure training for any team member! This initiative is geared with the “intent to support underrepresented youth gain entry into the rapidly growing green infrastructure industry”, announced last year.
With the scholarship, up to five individuals from each organization will be able to complete the 3-course program and testing to become certified GRP’s. GRP is the Green Roof Professional certification for green roof installers and maintenance professionals. However, individuals will have the freedom to allocate the money however they choose by the end of 2022. The money can be applied to any of the online courses offered by the Living Architecture Academy.
Metro Blooms’ Sustainable Landcare Training program grew out of community partnership. According to Associate Director Laura Scholl, “The program was developed in partnership with communities that lack access to quality training programs and career pathways into the green economy. In direct response to community voiced needs, we’re training young people so they can benefit economically from the vast investment in green infrastructure.”
This funding will act as catalysts to help young Black professionals enter the green infrastructure field; however, it is only the beginning. We recognize the need for ongoing allyship and promotion of Black-led organizations, initiatives and projects. GRHC is going to continue to center discussions of social justice and environmental racism in green infrastructure conversations.
Will Hamilton, a participant of Metro Blooms’ Sustainable Landcare Training spoke to the larger impact of the training: "There aren't a lot of minorities in the field,” he said, “and Metro Blooms is giving people the opportunity to work that otherwise may not have landed in this field.”
Currently, GRHC is advocating for the passage of bill H.R. 1863 which will allocate millions in federal funding to the design, installation and maintenance of green roofs on public schools across America. This is especially important as the bill prioritizes low-income and often racialized communities with limited access to outdoor spaces, and will provide young children and communities access to green spaces. To show your support and learn more about the bill, click here: https://greenroofs.org/advocacy
About Us:
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a non-profit 501(c)(6) professional industry association working to grow the green roof and wall industry throughout North America since 1999. Our mission is to develop and protect the market by increasing the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roofs, green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, professional development, and celebrations of excellence. We offer The Living Architecture Monitor, our quarterly online magazine, with a mission to increase awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roofs, walls and other forms of living architecture. We also offer The Living Architecture Academy, our online training platform which is dedicated to bringing you the best, most up to date professional training information on design, installation and maintenance practices. Check out our holiday sale!
From the Living Architecture Monitor
