Who’s Who in Green – Van Jones

‘Vangelism’ – it’s what Grist.org dubbed environmental and civil rights advocate Van Jones’ brand of activism. Not many environmental activists can say they’ve got a movement named after them, but Van Jones isn’t just any environmental activist.

What makes Van Jones’ work so unique is the fact that he’s equally dedicated to the human side of the environmental movement. He believes that helping the earth can help lift millions of people out of poverty at the same time, through a new, green economy. Van strongly believes that green collar jobs and opportunities can provide a positive path and help fight against social injustice. He has said that he’s just a soldier in the battle against eco-apartheid – an equal opportunity green economy is his goal.

Van is the founder and president of Green for All, an Oakland California-based organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. He also founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in 1996, named for the civil rights and human rights heroine. Green for All actually grew out of a project that Van was working on for the Ella Baker Center, creating a ‘Green Job Corps’ in Oakland. Green for All now links thousands of activists, organizations, policy makers, practitioners, businesses and community leaders together to advance the vision of a green economy that’s accessible to all Americans.

Van has been honored for many awards over the years, including the 1998 Reebok International Human Rights Award, the international Ashoka Fellowship, selection as a World Economic Forum ‘Young Global Leader’, and the Rockefeller Foundation “Next Generation Leadership” fellowship. He was also the recipient of this year’s Global Green USA Millenium Award, and was our very own #2 “Hottest Guy in Green”.

Here’s a great video clip of Van Jones’ interview with ABC News, where he discusses the Green for All campaign and his goal to bring green-collar jobs to the disadvantaged.

Van told Mongabay.com in June, “The idea of green-collar jobs tends to bring up the best in people. Often people from the government, from labor unions, from the businesses, people who work with community centers for young people, they had never met in a conversation where they are trying to create something together. When they met, they had to fight about something. This is an opportunity for people to say. ‘Hey, we have to come together and co-create an opportunity here for our community.’ This brings out incredibly creative thinking for the long-term good of the community.”

Fighting tirelessly to bring green opportunities to poor communities, Van has already achieved so much. He was instrumental in getting the Green Jobs Act of 2007 passed, which authorizes $125 million to train workers in green collar jobs. Every day, he’s out their campaigning for the good of the people of America as well as the environment, and he’s not showing any signs of letting up any time soon. People like Van Jones are what gives this country so much hope for the future – the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from and what our socioeconomic status, can take part in a cleaner and healthier world.

Van Jones’ Green Score: 64,982

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