About Us

What is the GJGEI?

The Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative (GJGEI) is a program of the Marion Institute, developed in collaboration with the Greater New Bedford Economic Development Council and the City of New Bedford. The objective is to address the gaps that are currently inhibiting the development of a robust and sustainable green economy in the City of New Bedford and surrounding region, with an initial focus on the energy efficiency sector. The initiative aims to use the short-term federal stimulus projects to build long-term capacity and infrastructure with an overarching goal of supporting New Bedford in becoming a national leader in the green jobs and sustainability movements.

Initially, the program has targeted three gap-areas:
1. The development of a green career pipeline that aligns workforce development training with real job opportunities.
2. Raising awareness about sustainability and increasing citizen engagement to drive demand for green goods and services.
3. Establishing financing mechanisms and strategies that increase accessibility for both customers and entrepreneurs.

We are facing extreme crises environmentally, socially and economically. Building an equitable green economy could solve all three problems at once. By building an economy that reduces our impact on the environment and puts people back to work, there is an opportunity to strengthen our economy, our communities and to restore the earth all at the same time. At the heart of this movement is the need to rebuild community. Changing our energy sources isn't enough. We need to change the way our systems work and the way we relate to each other and to the earth.

Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative in New Bedford
 

Who We Are (GJGEI)

We are local New Bedford residents dedicated to helping fellow community members restore the Equity, Economy and Ecology of our area and our Nation. We are passionate visionaries taking an active role in creating the world and community in which we want to live.

Since the members of the Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative are all members of the New Bedford community, we are able to utilize our existing social networks and our familiarity with the local community and culture as critical resources in our efforts. We work together with other community leaders to build support for and cross-pollinate our efforts to more effectively serve local residents.

In order to create an outreach team with the proper foundation of community engagement, the Green Jobs Green Economy Initiative partnered with ESHU² Collective to build our team. ESHU², which stands for “Education Should Help Us X Ecology, Spirituality, Health and Unity,” is an independent popular education company based in New Bedford dedicated to supporting community leadership and action.

ESHU² Collective’s foundational belief is that you never know where leadership is going to come from. By providing opportunities, and proper support, for community members who are often marginalized and/or face prohibitive challenges it is possible to unleash previously hidden leadership and creative potential. We feel it is important to consciously cultivate the seeds of leadership and creativity which lie dormant and unappreciated within our community. They are a most valuable and often untapped resource.

Just as biodiversity is a critical aspect of any healthy functioning eco-system, we believe that diversity of backgrounds, personalities and viewpoints is critical to developing and implementing real solutions to our society’s ills. To this end, Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative is committed to promoting diversity at all levels of leadership in the organization and to building leadership from within. We are proud to have assembled such a dynamic team of rising leaders and visionaries.

Meet the Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative Team!
 

How We Built Our Team

Rather than hiring based on experience and credentials, Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative and the ESHU² Collective selected our team based on passion and leadership potential. This has created a team of leaders who are driven, eager to learn and deeply committed to the New Bedford community. We also aim to set an example for how employees should be valued and regarded as the invested wealth of the organization. We offer a living wage and support services such as childcare, as well as learning and skill-development opportunities. By providing accommodations for the challenges that many New Bedford residents face - lack of transportation, financial instability, single parenting, etc. - we are able to keep the door open for potential leaders who are often marginalized due to financial, educational and/or family-related challenges. It is a much more energizing work experience when the pressures of personal or family issues do not compromise our commitment to and standard of work. When life needs to be “work-friendly”, it can be stressful, but when work becomes “life-friendly,” then work and life become compatible.

Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative and ESHU strive to create a work environment that honors the whole person and that builds not only an effective and efficient workplace, but also a family of leaders accountable to one another and their community. For us, this is not just a job, it is a meaningful and significant part of our lives. In stark contrast to a “traditional” work environment, we treat each other more as family than as co-workers. If we have personal issues, concerns, or cares, the members of the team are always willing to lend a hand or an ear.

The Movement with No Name

Together, we recognize and embrace our connection to an ever-expanding global movement, what Paul Hawken (entrepreneur, social activist and author) calls “the movement with no name.” It has arisen spontaneously in response to global crises that threaten the survival of our ecosystems and of humanity itself - an interwoven fabric of more than two million organizations and individuals working in concert to create a more just and sustainable future.

The challenges we face as a community and planet are only beginning to be realized. We recognize that if we hope to weather the coming storm together, we must embrace our connection to the earth and the Divine Spirit, however we may individually interpret or define that Force. With this understanding, we are firmly rooted in principles of spirituality and of warriorship. (Read more about the P.O.W.E.R. Principles)