
Green City Force
Model & Strategy
Green City Force’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty, preparing urban young adults to succeed in their chosen careers by engaging them in service, training and work experiences related to the clean energy economy. In doing so, they encourage participants to lead socially and environmentally responsible lives. Green City Force envisions a “green city” built on principles of sustainability, social, economic and environmental justice.
To achieve this vision, they work through a model city-wide Clean Energy Corps in New York City that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, inspires passion for sustainability and service, stimulates the demand for green services, and creates ladders to careers in the green economy for young people living in poverty. Green City Force’s ambition is that national service directed at reducing green-house gas emissions and improving the environment becomes an avenue to prosperity for generations of urban youth, as well as a means to build a culture of sustainability that can drive the growth of the green economy.



As an Echoing Green Fellow in 1993, Lisbeth Shepard co-founded Unis-Cité, the leading national service corps in France which engages over 1000 corps members in 27 cities and has inspired national civilian youth service legislation. Before founding Green City Force in 2009, Lisbeth served as chair of the national Clean Energy Corps Working Group at Green for All and worked with the After Prison Initiative of the Open Society Institute on the development of the Civic Justice Corps. Lisbeth, a graduate of Yale University, is co-author of the book Demain Le Service Civil.
IMPACT
GCF’s graduate-driven social enterprise—the Illuminators—has employed over 100 alumni on the country’s largest multifamily energy retrofit, ensuring that young residents connect to jobs created through this historic investment.
GCF is launching the next phase of our work: Ecohubs powered by Green City Force for health, sustainability, and closed-loop systems in public housing communities that keep young adult residents and their career paths at the center.
Since 2009, GCF has run 20 cohorts, graduating a total of 502 students. Of the graduates, 80% have been placed in work or school within six months. GCF has accomplished a 96% placement rate by six months in the past 3 years. GCF’s model inspired PowerCorps PHL, Philadelphia’s green jobs & service corps, which serves 100+ members annually.
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RT @nycfood: Each February, National Black History Month serves as both a celebration and a powerful reminder that Black history is America…
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RT @NYC_Nature: @voteshekar @ForestforAllNYC @NYCCouncil @nature_ny @GreenCityForce @TreesNewYork Huge thanks to @voteshekar @CMShekarK and…
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RT @ForestforAllNYC: This @NYCCouncil briefing was a great chance to meet with other Council members and their teams of engaged staff to bu…
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RT @voteshekar: Proud to host the @forestforallnyc coalition for an @nyccouncil briefing on our tree canopy! Trees clean our air, cool our…
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RT @RiseLight: Rise is a proud partner of @GreenCityForce. Equipping young people in NYCHA to participate in the new green economy is a gre…
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RT @ForestforAllNYC: Job alert! 🚨 🌳@nature_ny is hiring a Program Specialist: https://t.co/dCDgGpcyTI and search JOB ID # 52886 🌳@TreesN…
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RT @NYCHA: Are you a @NYCHA resident between the ages of 18 and 24? Apply to @GreenCityForce and you could earn a $1,800 monthly stipend. A…
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RT @NYCCEC: Happy #BlackHistoryMonth, NYC! Today kicks off a month of celebrating and honoring the immeasurable contributions, achievements…
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Meet our Alumni of the Month, Anyia Alston! From Cohort 11 grad to Coach/Peer Advocate for young adults at LSA Reco… https://t.co/tgTw9CtNGh
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RT @RiseLight: NEW: Rise acquired a stake in an offshore wind project that will be proposed to New York State. If approved, offshore wind…
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RT @NYCUrbanAg: Even as winter drags on in NYC, gardeners are outside! Here, @greencityforce corps are hard at work winterizing a @NYCHA ga…
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Way to go, Cohort 24!! Friday was an incredible graduation at @Roulette_NYC for our newest "future green city" lead… https://t.co/YHFVrKRreR
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Staff, board, residents, friends new & old, & volunteers from @NYCHA @Fund4PH @earthmatterNY @Arbor_Rising helped u… https://t.co/GjeyXaoXdW
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RT @Fund4PH: On this #dayofservice honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., @Fund4PH's President Diallo Powell joined @GreenCityForce completi…
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RT @EvanJBurr: "Working w/stellar young partners like @GreenCityForce alum Domingo Morales @compost_power, the Astoria Houses Eco-Hub will…
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RT @nycfood: Join @GreenCityForce @NYCHA as they celebrate the graduation of young adults from their program as they continue their journey…
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Join us for a #DayOfService honoring Martin Luther King Jr. this #MLKDay Mon. Jan. 16th! In the spirit of Dr. Kin… https://t.co/QggJhB38fZ
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RT @TheCorpsNetwork: A2: To meet changing needs of communities & our environment, community members must work together to ensure no one is…
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RT @NYCHA: .@GreenCityForce is recruiting @NYCHA residents for eight-month member positions and offers training and hands-on experience to…
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What a year! As our young adults serving in @AmeriCorps from @NYCHA lead positive systemic change for environmenta… https://t.co/3pMb0atBWT