From Passion to Profession: My Journey in Green Careers

July 31, 2024

By Dominic Weeks, Career Readiness Manager     

Embarking on a green career journey is a unique and deeply fulfilling experience. For me, it all began in my childhood, when my love for nature was nurtured by my horticulturist father. My outdoor adventures, from annual birthday trips to the arboretum to nature walks at school, deepened a profound connection to the natural world. I didn’t know it then, but these experiences and countless hours spent climbing trees and helping my dad landscape shaped my path toward my current green career.

I wasn’t always set on a green career pathway. I studied business administration and management at Bowie State, later landing a role at the Washington DC Covenant House, a nonprofit dedicated to providing safe housing and supportive services to youth facing homelessness. At Covenant House, I connected thousands of job seekers with employment opportunities, helping them find a career that interested them. While I was there, I also recognized a need for better access to green spaces and healthy living and eating. Using the horticulture knowledge and appreciation my father instilled in me, I worked with Covenant House to install a greenhouse, growing healthy food that is still in use today! One of my proudest career achievements was witnessing our youth cultivate a connection to gardening and natural spaces through the greenhouse.

With this experience, I knew I wanted a career where I could foster a sense of purpose and community among others while strengthening their admiration for the outdoors. I also wanted to extend my reach beyond Washington DC and support more young adults at a larger scale.

That’s when I discovered the Career Readiness Manager role at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Now at SFI, I work on a binational level, connecting Americans and Canadians to green careers that align with their sustainability and environmental science interests and building their skills and networks.

At SFI, we are committed to educating and mentoring young adults to connect them to their desired pathway, growing the next generation of forest and conservation leaders. The Green Jobs program connects youth with meaningful work by providing wage matches to Canadian forest and conservation employers. The Green Mentor program pairs young professionals with experienced mentors and provides skill-building opportunities. Lastly, the Youth Delegates program offers scholarships to students and young professionals to attend the SFI Annual Conference and participate in a career readiness bootcamp.

As Career Readiness Manager, I have witnessed the pivotal role of mentorship in advancing career pathways in forestry and conservation. The mentors in our program, established leaders with extensive networks and knowledge, play a crucial role in guiding and supporting our mentees in growing their career pathways. Our Green Mentor program ensures young professionals know the diverse opportunities available locally and binationally, strategies to advance their career pathways, and tips to grow their networks.

I’m excited about the future of SFI’s career pathways work, and I hope you’ll join me on this journey! Increasing diversity and representation in the forest and conservation sector is crucial for providing underrepresented groups rewarding opportunities in a growing field. We are dedicated to transforming the sector by creating an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of their background, can prosper and contribute to a sustainable future.