Local Power and Green Workforce Development

Recorded live at Bard College’s Brooklyn campus, this episode of the Lead the Change podcast features Bard MBA faculty member Dr. Michael Shuman in conversation with Karla Pinzón, Manager of Curriculum Development at Solar One. Together, they explore how local investment, workforce development, and community-driven energy solutions are shaping the future of sustainability in New York City.

Karla shares how Solar One is preparing New Yorkers for the clean energy transition—from hands-on HVAC and decarbonization training to creating career technical education (CTE) curriculum for NYC public schools. The conversation also dives into how communities can navigate the Climate Mobilization Act, accelerate building retrofits, and leverage creative financing to meet city-wide climate goals.

At its core, this episode examines “local power by local people”—why building community capacity, investing in local talent, and strengthening neighborhood-based sustainability initiatives are essential for equitable climate action, economic self-determination, and resilient urban futures.

This episode captures the energy of Bard's new 'Inside Sustainability Live' series, where real-world practitioners and academics come together to build community and share strategies for advancing sustainability work in challenging times.

Bard’s Graduate Programs in Sustainability cultivate leaders who break through existing systems, innovating solutions to critical social, environmental and economic challenges. 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class from M.S. in Environmental Policy degree at Bard CEP and the 10th graduating class from the Bard MBA in Sustainability program. The 2024 graduating MS EP, MS CSP, MEd and MBA classes brought the Bard GPS alumni community to over 500!

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Michael H. Shuman 
Dr. Michael H. Shuman is an economist, attorney, author, and globally recognized leader in community economics. He currently serves as Senior Economist at Council Fire, a sustainability consulting firm. A pioneering voice in local investment and economic development, Shuman 
was one of the architects of the 2012 JOBS Act and has helped shape dozens of state laws advancing crowdfunding and local capital markets.

He has authored, coauthored, or edited ten books, including the award-winning The Small Mart Revolution and his most recent publication, Put Your Money Where Your Life Is—named one of WealthManagement.com’s Top 10 Books of 2020.

Over the past three decades, Shuman has delivered more than a thousand invited talks across nearly every U.S. state and more than a dozen countries, sharing insights with local governments, universities, and community organizations on building resilient, locally rooted economies.

Karla Pinzón
Karla Pinzón is an educator, curriculum designer, and sustainability practitioner dedicated to expanding access to high-quality technical education for underrepresented communities. As Manager of Curriculum Development at Solar One, she leads the creation of New York City’s HVAC and decarbonization curriculum for the Future Ready NYC initiative—developing a multi-year program that equips high school students with industry-aligned skills for careers in green building, energy efficiency, and the clean energy transition. Rooted in a background in anthropology and shaped by her experience as a first-generation college student, Karla approaches sustainability through the lens of community empowerment and educational equity.

A former Program Manager at Code Nation and STEM educator at the Salvadori Center and the New York Hall of Science, Karla has spent years designing hands-on, inclusive learning experiences that strengthen student engagement and create pathways into technical fields. As a current student in the Bard MBA in Sustainability, she is deepening her work at the intersection of sustainability, climate education, and local investment, with a focus on building opportunities that support economic mobility and community self-determination.