The Edict Partnership
EDICT is a business-workforce partnership, an important systemic intervention towards realizing a just, equitable, resilient clean energy future.
In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in June of 2020, Devin Hampton, the CEO of UtilityAPI, spoke up loud and clear, and he challenged the climate tech sector to take action to move diversity and inclusion forward. His colleague and friend, Jason Michaels, CCO of Leap, joined him, and EDICT was created. A few months later, in the fall of 2020, the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) was invited to partner with Elemental Excelerator (EEx) and FutureMap to launch the EDICT (Empowering Diverse Climate Talent) Internship Program.
Launched in 2021, EDICT matches employers, who take the EDICT Pledge, with summer interns to support the skills and network development of rising leaders from traditionally excluded groups and to empower climate organizations in creating inclusive cultures. The EDICT Pledge calls on companies to commit to six areas:
Pushing for inclusion of diverse voices at conferences and industry events
Interviewing diverse candidates for every job opening and mentoring them on a path towards success
Having uncomfortable conversations needed to support the careers of diverse people within organizations
Searching out diverse mid-career and senior hires from other industries
Hiring paid interns from diverse backgrounds
Using data and transparency to hold themselves accountable.
The clean energy economy has been called one of America’s greatest economic expansions, and yet many communities are not included in this economic windfall. CELI is positioned to play a role in driving diversification of the clean energy workforce by deepening connections between hiring managers and diverse talent, and translating clean energy systems and expertise to people from traditionally excluded communities, including low-income people and people of color. CELI provides ten weeks of curriculum development and implementation during the summer internships. Through this partnership, CELI is working towards a more equitable distribution of benefits, a core concept of energy justice.
EDICT, entering its fourth year, is thrilled to host 72 interns hosted by 52 companies in 2024. Click on the button below to head over to the official EDICT website to learn more!
2024 EDICT SPEAKERS
CURRICULUM
CELI, with an alumni community of over 1,200 working across sectors and disciplines of the clean energy ecosystem, is responsible for creating and delivering the clean energy and environmental (CEEL) curriculum for the EDICT interns. CELI brings together many players in the clean energy ecosystem to take collective action towards our values and this community will help in delivering a high quality practical energy and environmental literacy programming for interns as they learn about topics in the sector and see the breadth of job opportunities that exist. By emphasizing justice in its curriculum.
CELI is committed to providing EDICT interns with an intersectional understanding of the clean energy and environmental landscape. This means that interns will not only learn about technical aspects of the industry but will also be exposed to a variety of perspectives that consider the social, economic, and environmental impacts of clean energy initiatives. By incorporating issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion into the curriculum, CELI ensures that interns gain a nuanced understanding of the sector and the role it can play in creating a more just and sustainable future.
Session topics include: Energy and Environmental Justice; Energy Systems and Grid Fundamentals; Energy Storage and Resilience, Sustainable Transportation and Mobility; Climate Finance, Water and Sustainable Agriculture; Energy Policy and Advocacy; and Identity and Authenticity in the Workplace.
EDICT Partners
About the Clean Energy Leadership Institute
With programs operating in Washington, D.C., California's Bay Area, Chicago, New York, and nationally, the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to developing a new kind of energy leadership. With a mission to create a diverse community of change-makers across sectors and disciplines that will drive an equitable, decarbonized, and resilient energy ecosystem, CELI equips emerging leaders with the skills and expertise to lead the transition to a clean energy economy.
About Elemental Excelerator
Elemental Excelerator is on a mission to redesign the systems at the root of climate change. In 2009, the non-profit launched a new model for funding climate tech deployment. Breaking down barriers to innovation alongside entrepreneurs provides Elemental unique insight into the policy, market, and technology innovation needed to build systems to uplift people and communities around the world. Elemental has invested in over 100 growth-stage companies and celebrated more than a dozen exits, funded more than 70 technology projects, and built a platform for scaling equitable, market-driven solutions to climate change. For more information, please visit elementalexcelerator.com.
About FutureMap
FutureMap is a nonprofit that helps first-gen college grads prepare for the workforce and fulfill their potential. Their mission focuses on helping first-gen and low-income college grads navigate their college-to-career transition. Additionally, FutureMap focuses on 3 strategies to move the needle on first-generation post-grad employment outcomes: Workforce Development, On-the-Job Success and Retention, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. For more information, please visit https://www.yourfuturemap.org/.
