Impact Story
Aldric: Entering the Green Workforce and Knowing Your Worth
When Aldric moved from New York to the District in 2024, he brought with him a degree in geography from Macalester College, a passion for environmental justice, and a vision to help create a more sustainable and equitable world. Even at a very young age, he held a concern for the world’s natural resources, like water. After founding a local chapter of the Sunrise Movement at his high school, Aldric knew he wanted to continue pursuing work that connected sustainability, community, and impact.
Finding a career path wasn’t easy. After submitting countless applications and facing repeated rejections, Aldric began to question his readiness for professional life. “I thought I was going to get a job instantly,” he said. “I was very naive, and after so many rejections, I started to wonder if maybe I just wasn’t ready.”
That changed when he received an email from Pepco and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) about an upcoming job fair. There, he met DCSEU Workforce Development Program Manager, Gleniss V. Brown-Wade, who introduced him to her program at the DCSEU—an opportunity to gain on-the-job experience in clean energy and sustainability while serving the community and making a living wage in the District.
Drawn to the DCSEU’s mission and its emphasis on supporting vulnerable communities, Aldric applied and was accepted into the program’s Summer 2025 cohort as an extern. He was placed with Greening Urban, a local Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) civil engineering and sustainability firm, as a part-time Marketing and Business Development Associate, while also working full-time as a volunteer and Database Coordinator at Volunteer Alexandria.
During his externship, Aldric helped Greening Urban strengthen its internal systems and elevate its brand presence by developing a new style and branding guidelines.
“I’m proud of helping bring their work into the light,” Aldric shared. “Greening Urban has always done great work, but now it’s easier to see who they are and what they stand for.”
Throughout the program, Aldric discovered that sustainability is about more than energy; it’s about people. He learned how clean energy programs empower communities and why advocacy and awareness are essential to equity. “There’s a lot of power in community,” he said. “Programs like this help people access opportunities they might not even know exist.”
But beyond professional skills, the externship gave Aldric something even more meaningful: self-assurance.
“This program helped me know my worth,” he said. “It reminded me that I was more than ready, it was just the wrong place, wrong time before. My confidence is back where it should be.”
Today, Aldric continues to work with Greening Urban as a Marketing and Business Development Specialist, a role he transitioned into after completing his externship. He credits the DCSEU Workforce Development Program with helping him rebuild confidence, gain direction, and reenter the workforce with purpose.
Even though Aldric remains passionate about sustainability, he also hopes to expand his impact beyond the traditional green space. Looking ahead, he plans to continue working at the intersection of placemaking within urban spaces and LGBTQIA+ advocacy, using sustainability as a framework for creativity, inclusion, and connection.
When offering advice to others considering the program, Aldric encourages them to keep an open mind. “Have a travel plan, but be willing to take left turns,” he said with a smile. “Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you didn’t envision yourself in.”
The DCSEU’s Workforce Development Program continues to help District residents like Aldric gain hands-on experience, build professional confidence, and most importantly, know their worth.
The Workforce Development Program cohort recruitment is closed for this fiscal year. If you’re looking to explore green career pathways, the Capital Region Green Buildings Career Map from the Building Innovation Hub is a fantastic tool to guide your planning.