Bridges to Green Jobs Graduates Land Weatherization Jobs
After more than two years of green workforce research and planning, LISC Boston received an internal planning/pilot grant through the LISC Innovation Challenge to launch Bridges to Green Jobs. The first cohort of graduates completed the program in late May and most have already been placed in jobs with partners.
Bridges to Green Jobs is a two-week training program designed to prepare residents of Greater Roxbury for entry-level weatherization technician positions with mission-aligned contractors who support advancing climate action, racial equity, and economic justice. Our first cohort started on May 16 and this is how it went:
Days One and Two
Participants, representing several neighborhoods across Greater Boston, started training at the Roxbury Center for Financial Empowerment (RCFE; one of LISC’s Financial Opoortunity Center (FOC) partners and the main training site for this Bridge) with energy specialist and long-time weatherization expert, Jason Taylor from Byggmeister, and adult education specialist, Kelly Folsom from X-Cel Education.
The first day covered an introduction to the field with several opportunities for hands-on activities and team building. Our job placement specialist, Suzanne Domestico, also met one -on-one with every participant to begin the job placement process based on any prior experience, their commute, scheduling due to caregiving or parenting responsibilities, and many other factors to find the best fit possible for each participant.
The second day included a field trip to the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) in Chinatown where participants worked in teams and got to try their hands at foam sealing by walking or kneeling on joist props before doing the real thing later in the week.
Days Three and Four
On the third day, the participants ate a quick breakfast at the RCFE. Afterward, they headed back to the AACA to continue practicing their cutting, measuring, and sealing skills.
On the fourth day, the participants put their training to work at Christ the Rock Church in Dorchester. They practiced in a real attic, climbing up ladders, crawling through a tight space with a headlight, and simulating air sealing. I, unfortunately, wasn’t dressed appropriately to climb up there myself and see the action, but no legs went through the church ceiling so it was a successful training day!
Days Five and Six
To end the week on day five, participants met at the RCFE to do a recap of the week, and learn about the free financial coaching services offered at the RCFE, as well as safe and affordable banking products available to them through the Boston Builds Credit partnership. Each participant scheduled a private appointment to meet with one of the Financial Coaches at RCFE for the following week to start or continue their paths to financial wellness!
On the sixth day, participants were back at the AACA for continued training. They learned about blower door testing, and worked on their resumes later in the day with our job placement specialist so she could start sending them out to weatherization employers.
Days Seven and Eight
For the next three days, participants trained at the Green Jobs Academy in Marlborough. On day seven, technical trainer Jason Taylor brought along siding experts Bill Porter and Scott McCray to show them the ropes on the outside of a home with some carpentry skills and exposure to power tools. We also had guest appearances from contractors HomeWorks Energy, Rogers Insulation, and Endless Energy who came to speak to and meet with our participants, share information about their companies, and scope out their potential new insulation techs!
Day eight, we received live reporting from Bridge instructor Kelly with the participants in the simulated attic practicing air-sealing work in full gear!
Days Nine and Ten
Day nine was the last day of training before graduation, but no time was wasted! Jason made sure to maximize all the time they had at the training site and continued sharing different job scenarios with the participants, adding to their skill sets!
By day ten, 7 of the 13 participants had interviews set up with employers within the week, thanks to our incredibly committed job placement specialist, so spirits were up! We finished that day with speeches from the partners and graduates, and a lovely lunch from Soleil Restaurant right in Nubian Square – but this is certainly not goodbye!
Graduates and their instructors pose for a photo, pointing up if they prefer attic and roof work
or straight-ahead if they prefer wall work.
The Graduates
- Jonathan Belizaire
- Robert Blalock
- Jamal Byenkya
- Dawensky Berry Cesar
- Steve Dejean
- Alisha Donald
- Derrick Green
- Delisha Long
- Gabriel Santiago
- Michael Davonte Sterling
- Aaron Ruggs
- Tyneka Weston
- Stevie Wilson-Knight
Next Steps
The most common advancement pathway for Weatherization Technicians is to grow into a Weatherization Crew Chief role, for which they can be eligible for certification after 6 months in the field through a four-day crew chief certification course. As a Crew Chief, they have the opportunity to make $1,500+/week after 6 months. Weatherization experience can also open doors for roles in energy auditing, industry sales, starting your own crew as a small business owner, or branching off into other areas of the green building/clean energy sector such as carpentry or HVAC. Whether Bridges to Green Jobs participants stay in the profession or not, it is an excellent foot-in-the-door training path with low barriers to entry and high earning potential.
Our Results So Far
While results for this first cohort are very early, the initial outcomes show significant promise that graduates are on track to continue growing within the clean energy sector.
- Our outreach was intentionally focused in predominantly Black and Brown communities including Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester. From a 15-participant target: 14 started day one, 13 graduated. 12 Black or African American; 2 Latinx; 3 women, ranging from ages 19 to 44.
- Since the last day of training on May 27th: 6 participants remain employed at HomeWorks Energy. Starting wage is $15.50/hr for apprentices who then move up to Techs making $15.50/hr base pay or 6% of the job, until they work their way up to Crew Chief.
- Our job placement consultant does regular check-ins with the placed graduates to ensure employer quality and equitable opportunity for advancement, and continues supporting and working with graduates not yet placed due to systemic barriers. We at LISC will also be contacting graduates as part of an alumni engagement initiative for future cohorts.
LISC Boston’s Bridges to Green Jobs program represents a critical step in not only climate action, but widening the access to build generational wealth in BIPOC communities.
Bridges to Green Jobs
Learn more about the program and find the interest form for participants to sign up for future cohorts.
This story originally appeared as a series on LinkedIn by Silvana Bastante, Program Officer, Green Homes & Economic Opportunity.
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