‘Schuylkill River Greenways’ program shows students how to get involved in environmental work – 6abc Philadelphia

Report on the Schuylkill Environmental Career Opportunities (SECO) Program and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Program Overview and Objectives

A new initiative by the nonprofit Schuylkill River Greenways, titled Schuylkill Environmental Career Opportunities (SECO), is being implemented in Philadelphia schools to introduce students to career paths in the environmental sector. The program aims to provide practical exposure to green jobs, thereby fostering a future workforce dedicated to environmental stewardship.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SECO program directly supports several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through its educational and vocational framework.

SDG 4: Quality Education & SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The program provides inclusive and equitable quality education by offering students from the U-School hands-on, vocational learning experiences.
• Over a six-week period, students participate in field trips to various locations within the Schuylkill River watershed.
• According to Ayashe Ramey, Education Director at Schuylkill River Greenways, the initiative is designed to “expose them to different opportunities that they can have for internships, volunteer positions, all in the… green environmental career space.”
• This focus on practical skills and career pathways directly contributes to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth by preparing youth for decent work in the green economy.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities, & SDG 12: Responsible Consumption

A core component of the program involves educating students on sustainable urban systems, particularly local food production and distribution. This was demonstrated through a visit to Philly Foodworks, which aligns with multiple SDGs:

1. Sustainable Food Systems: Students learned about the origins and distribution of local food. Chris Grabowski, Operations Manager of Philly Foodworks, stated a core belief that “food is a utility for all,” directly addressing the goal of ensuring access to food (SDG 2).
2. Sustainable Communities: By focusing on feeding Philadelphia with local food, the initiative supports the creation of resilient and sustainable cities (SDG 11) by strengthening local supply chains.
3. Responsible Consumption and Production: The program educates future consumers and producers on sustainable consumption patterns, a key target of SDG 12.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The SECO initiative exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership essential for achieving the SDGs. It represents a successful collaboration between:

• A non-profit organization (Schuylkill River Greenways)
• The public education system (Philadelphia’s U-School)
• Local sustainable businesses (Philly Foodworks)

This partnership model is critical for mobilizing resources and expertise to advance sustainable development education and create green job opportunities for youth.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article focuses on the “Schuylkill Environmental Career Opportunities” (SECO) program, an educational initiative implemented in Philadelphia schools. Its primary goal is to showcase career opportunities to students, directly linking to the provision of quality and relevant education. The program is described as an initiative “showcasing to students what kind of career opportunities exist” and is implemented in the “U-School.”

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The program’s core mission is to expose students to “green environmental career space,” including “internships, volunteer positions,” and potential “jobs.” This directly addresses the goal of promoting productive employment and decent work for all, particularly for youth entering the workforce.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article highlights a field trip to “Philly Foodworks,” an organization whose mission is to “feed Philadelphia with local food” and a belief that “food is a utility for all.” This connects to ensuring access to food and promoting sustainable local food systems.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The initiative is part of the non-profit “Schuylkill River Greenways,” and the program involves visiting “different locations in the watershed.” This implies a foundational interest in the health and sustainability of the Schuylkill River watershed, which is directly related to protecting water-related ecosystems.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The program is based in Philadelphia and focuses on local solutions for urban challenges, such as youth employment and local food distribution (“We want to feed Philadelphia with local food”). It also engages the community’s youth in protecting local natural heritage, specifically the Schuylkill River watershed.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The visit to Philly Foodworks, which focuses on distributing local food, touches upon creating sustainable supply chains. Sourcing food locally is a key strategy for more responsible consumption and production patterns, as it can reduce transportation emissions and support local economies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment

• The SECO program is designed to “expose them to different opportunities that they can have for internships, volunteer positions, all in the… green environmental career space.” This directly aims to provide students with relevant knowledge and first-hand experience to prepare them for employment in the environmental sector.

Target 4.7: Education for sustainable development and global citizenship

• The program “teaches them not only to be interested in helping the environment in their futures, but gives them first-hand experience of what it would look like.” This is a clear example of education for sustainable development, equipping learners with the knowledge and skills to promote environmental protection.

Target 8.6: Reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

• By showcasing career paths and providing links to internships and volunteer work, the SECO program actively works to guide students from education into training and employment, thereby addressing the issue of youth unemployment.

Target 2.1: Universal access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food

• Philly Foodworks’ stated belief that “food is a utility for all” and its mission to “feed Philadelphia with local food” directly supports the goal of ensuring all people have access to sufficient food.

Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems

• The program is run by “Schuylkill River Greenways” and takes place within the “watershed.” The very existence of an educational program focused on environmental careers within a watershed context implies an underlying goal of protecting and preserving that water-related ecosystem.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Number of students participating in the program

• The article states the program is “implemented in Philly Schools, this year the ‘U-School’.” The number of students who enroll in and complete the six-week SECO program is a direct indicator of the reach of this educational initiative (relevant to Targets 4.4 and 4.7).

Number of partnerships with local organizations

• The article mentions students visiting “Philly Foodworks” and going to “different locations in the watershed.” The number and variety of environmental organizations and businesses partnering with the SECO program can serve as an indicator of the program’s scope and its ability to expose students to diverse career paths (relevant to Target 4.4).

Number of internships, volunteer, or job placements

• The program aims to expose students to “internships, volunteer positions,” and a manager at Philly Foodworks expresses hope that students might “work in the future” with them. Tracking the number of students who secure such positions after participating would be a key indicator of the program’s success in transitioning youth into employment or further training (relevant to Target 8.6).

Volume of local food distributed

• The goal to “feed Philadelphia with local food” implies a measurable outcome. The amount of locally sourced food distributed by partners like Philly Foodworks could be an indicator of progress towards building a more sustainable and accessible urban food system (relevant to Target 2.1).

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: 6abc.com