If you’ve volunteered with us in the past, chances are you’ve met Ahmed. Ahmed originally joined FPC as part of what we now call the Green Jobs Workforce Program during the first year of the program in January 2020. After that, Ahmed graduated from the program and was FPC’s Trail Manager from April 2021 to January 2022.
Starting earlier this year, Ahmed got a job working for Portland Parks & Recreation as a Trails Technician and is now working for the city as a Trails Stewardship Coordinator. Recently, we caught up with Ahmed to talk about his time at FPC and where his career training has led him.
- What do you currently do for work?
Currently, I’m the trails stewardship coordinator for PPR. Specifically, I lead volunteer events for the majority of my time, building and maintaining trails all around the city. The City maintains over 200 miles of soft surface trails that need to be maintained.
70% of my time is spent leading volunteer events, while about 30% is being the Trails Sponsor for the Youth Conservation Crew during the summer, helping coordinate and manage the crew leaders and members to make sure they have the materials and support needed to do their work.
- Why did you initially decide to join the Green Jobs Program?
At the time, I’d been working a lot of seasonal jobs for the city and I felt like I needed to diversify and learn more to have a better shot at a full-time job. When I saw the opportunity to work with FPC and all of the other organizations involved in the Green Jobs Program, I applied for the first year of the program. A lot of people I knew from parks sent that opportunity my way thinking I was a good fit. I was tired of the season-to-season work routine and because the program was only a year I saw it as a way to diversify my skills and make some new contacts in the field.
- What was your favorite experience while working for FPC?
My favorite experience was going to Astoria with the Green Jobs team and some folks from the Columbia Land Trust. We planted some dogwood and spruce trees and it was a really different experience, the environment was so different from Forest Park.
We also went out to Hood River with Columbia Land Trust and got to plant with a local volunteer group. The scenery and different environments and types of soil I worked with were much different than what I was used to in Forest Park. It was super rocky on the river and there’s a dam above it. Getting to go to Hood River and Astoria were probably two of my favorite days on the Green Jobs Team.
- How did your work at FPC prepare you for your current job?
The area working at FPC helped with most was putting me through the progression of starting as an intern and giving me the opportunity to become a trails manager, all of which culminated in helping me become a Trails Technician for Portland Parks & Recreation. This progression really helped me get the opportunity to show my skills, dedication, and willingness to learn. So when I applied to become a trails technician my skill level might not have been the highest but I got a chance at the role due to my willingness to learn. My skills came from Ingry, who is working for FPC again, so shout out to them. When they left I got to fill in their shoes and I’m so grateful for what I learned from them.
- What are your plans going forward?
I’m in a position to learn a lot right now, and it takes a lot of dedication to do it really well. So I’m not really sure what the rest of my life and career will hold. I’m only 27 but I’m in a good position to grow. If I allow myself to dream about it, I do want to become the main lead for something. Which, I am the lead now for the stewardship program but I think there’s a lot of inspiration I’ve gotten from other people and I hope I can be that inspiration to other people by mentoring and building the next generation.
Part of me sees myself putting my own name and my whole self for something big. There’s a lot of people I look up to careerwise, folks like Executive Directors of organizations or those with more of a direct role in their work and what they create or accomplish. Which for me would be one day helping to create thriving communities of people who take care of each other. At the end of the day, I want to do something I could 100% put myself towards to help others.
About the Where Are They Now Blog Series
Highlighting our former interns and colleagues.
Forest Park Conservancy has been committed to mentoring and training the next generation of environmental stewards by offering trained volunteer opportunities and paid internships through the Green Jobs Training Program to individuals who desire to pursue a conservation or environmental sector career.
We hope to continue our impact even after our colleagues leave by reaching out to past interns, staff members, and volunteers to learn about their career paths and ask them to reflect on how their experience at the Forest Park Conservancy has impacted their careers. We hope this series inspires new and continued pathways in the Green Jobs future economy. These interviews can serve as another way to illuminate the path and strengthen our sector’s network.
This blog series explores the overall impacts FPC’s programs have had on those who participate in our work. To nominate a volunteer, former intern, or colleague, email us at info@forestparkconservancy.org.