Browning the Green Space

BGS is excited to spotlight Tanya J. Lobo, an ACCESS alumna and visionary Founder and CEO of T.R.U.E. Diversity . We are thrilled to be attending her upcoming Bridges of Legacy Gala on February 1st at 7 PM. This event is not only a celebration of the power of community but also a crucial fundraiser for her new space, 'The Loft'—a community space designed to provide a hub for community engagement as well as clean energy training and much more. We are proud to announce that our very own Kerry Bowie has been invited as the keynote speaker for the evening. Join us for a night that promises inspiration and unity, all while supporting the development of a clean energy community space in Taunton. There are still a few tickets available! https://lnkd.in/eDRdzpcu

We’re Excited to Complete an Important Milestone on the Journey to Empower Lawrence Through Sustainable Solutions 💚 As a lead stakeholder in the City of Lawrence's Coalition through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Communities LEAP program, Browning the Green Space was committed to addressing systemic challenges while promoting equity and sustainability. Together, the coalition worked on a roadmap to achieve the following results: ✅Reduce household energy burdens by equipping residents with affordable, energy-efficient solutions. ✅Foster local opportunity by creating well-paying jobs and growing local businesses in the clean energy sector. ✅ Advance sustainable technologies by expanding access to heat pumps, rooftop and community solar, and weatherization services. With expert support from Communities LEAP, the coalition engaged in meaningful dialogue with Lawrence residents about energy efficiency, solar adoption, and electrification. These efforts guarantee that all members of the community benefit from a fair and equitable transition to clean energy. ⚡ We’d love to give a huge thanks to former BGS Deputy Director Megan Aki as they played an integral part in managing, directing, and executing much of what was possible through LEAP. A huge shout-out to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP)! They consistently empower communities by investing in innovative energy solutions that strengthen energy independence. Thanks also to the teams at DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that worked on this engagement.  Special thanks to Wendy Hawthorne who was our NREL Community Lead as we kicked off and Natasha Musalem who closed the project out.  We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners—Groundwork Lawrence, All In Energy, MassDevelopment, @Nectar (formerly Mill Cities Community Investments (MCCI)), @Energize Andover, ChargerHelp!, and BlocPower—for their invaluable contributions in gathering this vital information. Special thanks to Anil Navkal for pushing this project along. Our efforts are driving real, lasting change. Check out the LEAP Final Report to discover how we’re planning to reduce the energy burden. The next phase of work is securing the funding to implement solutions, which will include establishing education campaigns. We look forward to transitioning from planning to executing these groundbreaking projects to safeguard residents’ interests and promote genuine practices. We’re honored to be part of this vital work to empower communities, promote equity, and drive a sustainable future for Lawrence. #EmpowerLawrence #SustainableSolutions #CleanEnergyFuture #EnergyEquity #SolarForAll #SustainabilityInAction #CommunitiesLEAP #CleanEnergyJobs #EnergyEfficiencyMatters #TransitionToCleanEnergy #BuildingStrongerCommunities #BrowningTheGreenSpace #EmpoweringCommunities #LocalImpactGlobalChange #DOEInitiatives #GreenFutureNow #CollectiveActionForChange

🌟 A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors! 🌟 On December 18th, we celebrated the graduation of our 3rd cohort for our ACCESS Contractor Bootcamp. A huge thank you to Sunstein LLP for hosting us in their beautiful office space, and to Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for their support of this program for the past 3 years! With over 20 aspiring clean energy contractors it was our largest cohort yet. Our bootcamp graduates delivered remarkable pitches, showcasing the innovative ways they are driving impact in the clean energy sector. It was an evening of learning, connecting, and strategizing pathways into the clean energy ecosystem. We are deeply grateful for the support of our partners and sponsors and look forward to continuing our partnerships to empower the next generation of leaders in clean energy. A huge thank you to our instructors:  Latane Brackett, HonNAI, CEFP, SSH, Troy C. Farmer, MSW, MCC, CPC, CLC, CGC, Marc Filerman, Beth Enrique Griffith, GIP, BAP, HIC and Samira Savoury, DBA for their passion and expertise, and a hearty thanks as well to Angela Pitter for her administrative support and to all our ACCESS participants for their enthusiasm, commitment, and inspiration. Their passion and innovation truly inspire us as we work together to shape a sustainable future. #CleanEnergy #DiversityInEnergy #Sustainability #FutureLeaders #BrowningTheGreenSpace #RenewablEenergy #SolarEnergy #solarpower #greenenergy #solar #energy #solarpanels #gogreen #sustainability #gosolar #climatechange #renewables #ecofriendly #solarpanel #environment #solarinstallation #sustainableenergy #renewable #electricity #solarpowered #savetheplanet #sun #sunpower #sustainableliving #energyefficiency #sustainable

Calling all MA-based students and recent grads! Are you interested in connecting with paid summer internships in clean energy and climate? BGS is providing internship placement and career development support through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Student Internship Program Success initiative (formerly known as the Targeted Internship Program). Participating students will receive access to career development workshops and opportunities to connect with peers at other companies throughout the summer. Apply today to connect with a paid internship this summer: https://lnkd.in/eViC3fSE Participating students must meet the eligibility requirements for the MassCEC Clean Energy Internship Program and SIPS initiative as outlined in the intake form above.

📢📢Calling all MA-based clean energy companies! 📢 📢 Are you interested in hiring interns this summer? BGS has recruited and placed over 90 interns over the past 4 years and we are thrilled to launch the 5th year of our internship support work via the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Student Internship Program Success initiative (formerly known as the Targeted Internship Program). We are recruiting earlier this year so please fill out this interest form as soon as possible so we can get to work finding candidates for your internship positions through the SIPS initiative!: https://lnkd.in/emvPXDDK. Participating companies must meet the eligibility requirements for the MassCEC Clean Energy Internship Program and register on the MassCEC Workforce Portal: https://lnkd.in/eAjzzQKF. #internships #cleanenergy #environmentaljustice #workforcedevelopment #equity #inclusion

Hello, 2025! As we step into the new year, we’re reflecting on an intentional pause we took over the holidays—a "blackout," if you will. This wasn’t just a break but a chance to regroup, reassess, and refocus on what it truly means to be in the business of clean energy and equity. During this time, we reduced our energy use on digital platforms to amplify the energy we bring to our mission of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the clean energy and climate technology sectors. We took this opportunity to learn, grow, and refine our strategies for tackling some of the biggest challenges in our field. 💡 What’s Ahead in 2025? DEADLINE FOR ACCEL IS TOMORROW! 🚨 If you're a BIPOC entrepreneur with a climate tech solution that can change the world, make sure you apply: https://lnkd.in/e96DHF-B If you didn't already know, ACCEL (Advancing Climate tech and Clean Energy Leaders) supports BIPOC and women-led startups in climate tech with funding, resources, and networks.  Note that preference will be given to companies that can leverage the office, dry lab, and wet lab space of our partner Greentown Labs in either Somerville, MA or Houston, TX. #CleanEnergy #DiversityEquityInclusion #ClimateTech #BrowningTheGreenSpace #GreentownLabs

BGS is a proud partner of the Good Jobs Metro Boston Coalition. If you are looking for a qualified intern or full-time hire or just hoping to learn more about relevant training programs in the Greater Boston area that could help grow your company, join AACA Boston and the Good Jobs Metro Boston Coalition for an Employer-Student Meet and Greet on January 16 from 12-1 pm. The session will include an overview of opportunities for employers to engage with students and dedicated time for networking with students. We have heard there is a need for more opportunities for employers and students to connect directly and are excited to offer this platform. Representatives from HVAC & R, Weatherization, and Building Energy Management companies are invited to attend. Students enrolled in AACA’s Weatherforce and Building Energy Efficient Maintenance Skills programs will be attending. For more information, please reach out to Alisha Harrington at alisha@browningthegreenspace.org Register : https://lnkd.in/eQe8dBsf

Thank you to everyone who supported us last week—your generosity powers our mission. If you missed it, we're following up to share that our work is made possible by the incredible partners, coalition members, and sponsors who stand with us every step of the way. Your unwavering support allows us to push forward, even in the face of challenges, as we continue striving towards a diverse and sustainable future. Together, we’re fighting the good fight. 🌍 #BGSMatters #Gratitude #CleanEnergy #CommunityPowered #GivingTuesday

👏 Excited to have attended the Roxbury Worx Conference! 👏 BGS was thrilled to join the Roxbury Worx Conference last month November 14th at Roxbury Community College where our executive director, Kerry Bowie, acted as a moderator for the panel "Clean Energy and Climate Resilience Workforce: A Just Clean Energy Transition" alongside Jennifer Applebaum Managing Director of Workforce Development, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MASSCEC); Crystal Johnson Assistant Secretary of Environmental Justice, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA); Pierre Charles PLAISIR Student, Building Automation Systems Certificate Program, Roxbury Community College (RCC); and Barry Reaves Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice & Workforce Development, ACT | The Alliance for Climate Transition (ACT). This event, “Strengthening Communities of Color: Economic Development + Workforce Development Research + Policy,” was organized by The American City Coalition (TACC) to come together to continue the work of advancing equitable opportunities for communities of color by addressing critical intersections through collaborative discussions and insightful research presentations. Roxbury Worx sought to highlight challenges, share innovative solutions, and foster partnerships that drive meaningful, sustainable change—something Browning the Green Space fully supports. Huge thanks to the President and CEO of TACC, Willie Bodrick, II for putting this all together! #BGSMatters #RoxburyWorx #TheAmericanCityCoalition #TACC #EconomicDevelopment #WorkforceDevelopment

Last month, BGS had the privilege of attending the Fund Manager Cohort Convening, hosted by the Boston Impact Initiative (BII). This remarkable gathering took place right after the November election and highlighted the critical importance of connection, collaboration, and shared purpose in advancing economic equity. While we all come from diverse backgrounds and fulfill different roles, coming together in person reminds us that we are not alone in this vital work of ecosystem building. The convening offered an invaluable opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to building a more equitable economy - one that serves all communities and remains resilient in the face of challenges. The collective insights, diverse perspectives, and unwavering solidarity shared during the event further strengthened our resolve to drive meaningful, systemic change. To everyone who contributed to this impactful gathering: thank you for your dedication, passion, and partnership! And a special shout out to Julia Parker from Appalachian Community Capital and Dr. Brahm Rhodes from Malaika Ventures who helped our executive director, Kerry Bowie, facilitate a small group session on the "Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) + Climate" during the convening. And special appreciation goes to Dwaign Tyndal and Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) for sponsoring this work at BGS. Lastly, we want to thank those listed here who were able to join us for dinner after the convening to discuss how we best leverage community development finance institutions (CDFIs) and others to make sure that barriers are removed and the funds from the GGRF actually make it to the environmental justice communities targeted by the Justice40 Initiative at both speed and scale. Pictured from left to right Daryl Wright, National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) Julia Parker, Appalachian Community Capital Kofi Callender, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA) Kerry Bowie Bowie, BGS Julianne Zimmerman, Adasina Social Capital Glynn Lloyd, Nectar Roman Asmundson, CPA, EntrepreNorth Henry Noel Jr, BII #BGSmatters #ImpactInvesting #CommunityEmpowerment #SolidarityEconomy