The Wal-Mart Foundation’s Michelle Gilliard says the U.S. economy is undergoing a major paradigm shift, metamorphosing from its traditional manufacturing work force into a green economy. Gilliard, the senior director for workforce development and education for Wal-Mart, is helping to hasten the transformation by distributing $5 million in grant dollars to select U.S. cities that are actively going green.
“[We’re working with] mayors that are working to establish green jobs … this initiative is designed to support [environmental conservation] … and stimulate [it to] help us as a nation move forward in developing that green economy,” Gilliard says. “This is our first initiative in this area. I think this is an incredible opportunity with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Our cities and the people in the cities are in dire need of having opportunities for training [in] the green economy that we need to build.”
Wal-Mart’s grant is part of Gilliard’s effort to aid in quality-of-life issues that that are critical to the overall living standards that Americans are proud of.
“We give in [the] areas of education, work force development, health and wellness. So [we’re] developing relationships and partnerships with nonprofit organizations around the country to [make an] … impact in society by creating opportunity for people to live better lives.” As Gilliard knows, a better quality of life means a stronger work force. –terry shropshire
