Dream.Org Awards First Round of Scholarships to Help Black and Brown Job Seekers Pursue Green Careers
February 17, 2023
Oakland, CA – The first three recipients of Dream.Org’s Climate Tech and Sustainability Scholarship are now closer to achieving their professional goals and securing lucrative jobs in the clean energy sector. With support from Amazon, Dream.Org is awarding a total of 15 scholarships to help diverse talent build promising careers in clean tech, so that those most impacted by climate change benefit from the economic opportunities the green economy offers. Recipients can use the funds to help offset the costs of technical certifications, professional training, or college coursework to further their careers.
“We know that the growth of the green economy isn’t slowing down,” said Jessie Buendia, National Director of Green For All and Vice President of Sustainability at Dream.Org. “In fact, as historic climate investments from the Inflation Reduction Act roll out, we expect record growth in the climate tech space. But who will benefit? If we continue to invest in the same people and places, we risk exacerbating the racial disparities that are already associated with climate impacts and leaving out the wealth of talent that communities of color have to offer.”
“Sustainability is the inevitable future, but even for professionals with established knowledge and experience in traditional tech, the transition to climate tech comes with uncertainty,” said Kasheef Wyzard, National Director at Dream.Org. “We’re working to bridge that gap so that no one is left behind in the transition to a green economy. We have diverse talent. We have the opportunities. Our job is to bring those two together.”
“Prior to receiving this scholarship, I wanted to utilize the transferable skills I gained from biomedical research to provide cleantech solutions to the ongoing environmental crisis,” said scholarship recipient Abdullah Hassan. “A key challenge was securing funding to the amazing extension programs provided by leading higher education institutions. This scholarship provides me with ample funding to enroll in technical certification programs, and also gives me access to valuable mentors in the clean tech space.”
Dream.Org is now accepting applications for the second round of Climate Tech and Sustainability Scholarship awards, as well as offering traditional tech career assistance through Dream.Org’s Tech Scholarship Fund. Learn more and apply at Dream.Org.
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ABOUT DREAM.ORG
At Dream.Org, we close prison doors and open doors of opportunity. We bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines. Through our Justice, Tech, and Green For All programs we are working towards an America with fewer people behind bars, less pollution, and more opportunity for our kids. Learn more at Dream.Org.
