Case Study: DEP Youth Workforce Development

Statewide Program

Opportunity/Challenges
The DEP Youth Inclusion Initiative was sponsored by the DEP during the summer of 2021. The DEP’s Youth Inclusion Initiative is built to inform and inspire the next generation of leaders by introducing them to careers in public service where they can build lifelong connections to their environment while being compensated for their work protecting natural resources within their communities.

Partners
DEP, Groundwork Elizabeth, Rutgers University Camden, Ironbound Community Corporation Newark.

Action
The DEP has launched a pilot workforce development program to help the State of New Jersey develop the next generation of environmental protection, conservation and stewardship leaders while also providing an avenue for young adults from open space-constrained communities to engage with nature as they provide valuable stewardship services to the public through seasonal jobs at DEP. Commissioner of the DEP, Shawn M. LaTourette launched the inaugural program in the summer of 2021 and expanded its reach in 2022 with a cohort of young adults from three of New Jersey’s urban centers.

In 2021, the DEP launched the initiative as part of the New Jersey State Park Service Workforce Development Program where participants learned about New Jersey’s great outdoors and worked on marking and maintaining nature trails, providing assistance to visitors, helping to deliver nature programs and assisting in making improvements to park amenities. In 2022, the DEP expanded the Youth Inclusion Initiative to provide training and work opportunities in additional areas, including Human Resources, Geographic Information Systems, water resources, air quality, energy and sustainability, land management, parks, forestry, wildlife, and waste management.

Funding/Resources
Funding for this project was provided through a $500,000 grant from the DEP.

Results and Benefits
The DEP Youth Inclusion Initiative provides opportunities for young people in and around New Jerseys cities to engage in experiences that broaden their horizons and provide a pathway to higher education and a career in the environmental field. Partnering with the DEP, organizations can help youth from New Jersey communities learn about potential career paths that they will be able to pursue that will enable them to be the change agents we need for a more equitable and sustainable future.