Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) employees rolled up their sleeves to create a greener city alongside 20 Detroit-area students Aug. 8 at Rouge Park. The students are part of the Detroit Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) program, through which Johnson Controls sponsors the ELP summer jobs program. This is JCI’s ninth consecutive year in partnership with Detroit’s Student Conservation Association.
Volunteers from the company’s Automotive Seating headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, worked with the students on environmental “greening” projects. Activities included gardening, developing and maintaining trails and removing invasive plant species.
“Johnson Controls is proud to continue our support of the Environmental Leadership Program in Detroit, as it underscores our commitment to sustainability and the community,” said Byron Foster, executive vice president for Johnson Controls Automotive Seating. “Our employees enjoy having the opportunity to meet these bright, committed students who are making a difference in their neighborhoods.”
In addition to the greening efforts, the students participated in a professional development day on Aug. 9 at Johnson Controls’ technical center in Plymouth. Students attended sessions about corporate culture, teamwork, career development and discussed topics such as ethics, diversity and engineering.
“I liked that it was a hands-on work program. We cleared trails and removed invasive species,” said student-participant Alvon Brown, a senior who has been in the ELP program for two years.
“The program is wonderful. The people are like a second family to me,” said Rashad Littleton, a freshman at Marygrove College who has been in the ELP program for four years. “It was helpful to hear about people’s career paths during the professional day at Johnson Controls too.”
The Detroit ELP is a six-week program in which students work on projects that help bring awareness to the importance of environmental stewardship; enhance the community and surrounding areas; and teach invaluable leadership and teamwork skills. The projects they undertake are designed to meet the guidelines outlined within the Green Readiness Curriculum that emphasizes job readiness, green career pathways and ecological literacy.
ELP participants are selected for this highly competitive program based on their leadership, work ethic, civic engagement and interest and commitment to the environment.
