On July 7 and 8, Sustainable Pittsburgh partnered with the Penn State Readiness Institute to lead interactive workshops for high school students as part of the Institute’s Summer Discovery program exploration of clean energy and sustainability. The Discovery program connects rising high school seniors from across Southwestern Pennsylvania with industry professionals, community organizations and Penn State leaders through skills workshops, field trips, group projects, and real-world learning opportunities to create personalized road maps for their futures.
This collaboration marked one of the first opportunities for students to access and explore Sustainable Pittsburgh’s soon-to-be-launched clean energy Career Maps for the construction and advanced manufacturing sectors. John Ukenye (Senior Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives) facilitated the workshops, with support from Martin Eddy Harvey (Program Manager), guiding students through discussions and activities. The workshops kicked off with an icebreaker focused on the qualities students desired in their dream jobs, such as flexibility, strong compensation, and meaningful work. This discussion set the stage for exploring the Career Maps, which help students discover and navigate various career pathways in the clean energy field, detailing job responsibilities, educational requirements, and training opportunities.
Following the icebreaker, students participated in an interactive scavenger hunt using the Career Maps. This activity gave students an opportunity to navigate and test the maps’ features, introducing them to a variety of roles within construction and advanced manufacturing. It prompted conversations about critical career concepts, including the purpose of unions and the nature of problem-solving roles.
Adding real-world context, guest speaker Ashley Clawson from DMI Companies, Inc., provided valuable insights into DMI’s work as a manufacturer of HVAC products and building automation solutions that contribute to the clean energy sector. She highlighted her role as Procurement Manager, a featured career on the maps, while explaining how DMI’s operations, union-made products, and innovative designs improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Ashley’s session included hands-on exploration of HVAC components, discussions of practical challenges in implementing sustainable solutions, and reflections on her daily responsibilities and career satisfaction.
Overall, the workshops successfully provided students with a clearer understanding of clean energy career opportunities and highlighted how their personal skills and interests could significantly contribute to a sustainable future. Sustainable Pittsburgh remains committed to refining these Career Maps with ongoing feedback, strengthening the talent pipeline for Southwestern Pennsylvania’s ever-growing clean energy workforce.