Pramila Jayapal Announces Over $9 Million Climate Resilience Initiative

India-West Staff Reporter

SEATTLE, WA – In a significant boost for climate resilience and education, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has announced a grant of $9,257,231 to the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

This funding will support the Tribal Stewards initiative which aims to train both tribal and non-tribal graduates to contribute to co-stewardship, collaboration, and climate resilience efforts serving tribal communities. Jayapal emphasized the importance of this project, stating, “Climate change has disproportionately impacted the resilience, cultural practices, and health of Indigenous communities throughout Washington State. Additionally, historical barriers stemming from the legacy of colonialism have created alarming disparities in education and career advancement.”

Paul Francis, Executive Director of the WSBCTC, expressed gratitude for Jayapal’s support, saying, “With this grant, our community and technical college system will be able to integrate tribal environmental knowledge into college workforce programs to train people for well-paying jobs in the green economy and support climate resiliency.”

The grant will enable the building of a workforce of thousands who will integrate traditional ecological knowledge, science, and cultural practices.

The Climate-Ready Workforce initiative focuses on preparing and placing people in jobs that will advance climate resilience nationwide, ensuring coastal communities are prepared for the worst impacts of climate change. It will also assist employers in developing a 21st-century workforce that is climate-literate and skilled at addressing climate challenges.

The initiative was established by the Inflation Reduction Act, which Jayapal supported.