Welcome to the Future…

Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development

is a green community development non-profit focusing on creating and sustaining jobs for Knoxville’s urban young people, and ensuring clean energy and conservation technologies are available for low income residents. Ours is a movement that grew out of kitchen table conversations in 2009, where residents (a mix of young people and adults) of Knoxville's Empowerment Zone talked about the opportunities that were developing with green jobs and how these opportunities could be used to transform the community. Young and old alike developed the idea of SEEED.

Greening the City from the Inside Out

SEEED is preparing the heart of Knoxville to become the center of our emerging green economy by increasing access to sustainable, clean energy technologies for low to moderate income residents. The resulting green job opportunities associated with these programs create pathways out of poverty for our youth.

Our Youth Program

SEEED prepares at-risk young people for good paying, sustainable green jobs in Knoxville’s emerging green economy.

SEEED participants are low-income young people 16-28 years old from the heart of Knoxville.

Youth who apply and are accepted into the program participate in a 90-day pre-apprenticeship, which includes basic life skills training, mentoring, and 50 hours of community service. After the 90-day period, 18-24 year old participants can apply for an intensive residential 12-month green job education, apprenticeship, and placement program.

Growing a Green Future

SEEED pursues prosperity that is sustainable and respectful of the Earth, and our community, through four interconnected strategies:

1. increasing access to green energy efficiency technologies for low to moderate income residents
2. “green collar” job development and training for youth from urban communities
3. social, cultural, and spiritual development through a community service program and youth mentoring
4. advanced mentoring for green entrepreneurship