Good Jobs, Green Jobs
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Our Clearly NM correspondent, Juan Reynosa, reports on the Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference:
As I walked into the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh for the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference I saw a diverse group of people, as older men and women in business suits mingled amongst a hipper dressed crowd of youth. This crowd also included people of various ethnicities from all around the country. These groups of people were all there for one purpose: to discuss how to grow a new green economy. This message was conveyed through many great speakers and informative breakout sessions that all worked to cover as much information available in regards to a forward-thinking green economy. It was pleasantly surprising to see business leaders from the steel and manufacturing industries talk about how they are greening their businesses, and how they want to steward the business world into the new green economy.
It was inspiring to meet and observe many environmental leaders that I have served and looked up to. It was motivating to see these two entities, economic and environmental, come together to speak for the common good of our country.
Although these groups were coming together in vision, we were still missing one key idea: promoting a green community. That's when Van Jones came up to speak.
Despite his father having passed away just one day prior, Van came up to the podium and delivered a speech full of emotion, inspiration, and promise. He talked about how his father had told him to come speak today, because he knew it was essential that this new green economy not leave behind the "small people" that the pollutive industries of yesterday left behind. His speech didn't just state statistics or facts about what each company or group was doing, but it spoke of what still needed to be done. Thus, Van completed the circle that was started by the business and environmental groups, and included one key component that can't be left out: the underrepresented American people.
This conference was a groundbreaking event, but even more so it was a catalyst for everyone who attended to help propel OUR green economy.
Green Jobs, Good Jobs website
As I walked into the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh for the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference I saw a diverse group of people, as older men and women in business suits mingled amongst a hipper dressed crowd of youth. This crowd also included people of various ethnicities from all around the country. These groups of people were all there for one purpose: to discuss how to grow a new green economy. This message was conveyed through many great speakers and informative breakout sessions that all worked to cover as much information available in regards to a forward-thinking green economy. It was pleasantly surprising to see business leaders from the steel and manufacturing industries talk about how they are greening their businesses, and how they want to steward the business world into the new green economy.
It was inspiring to meet and observe many environmental leaders that I have served and looked up to. It was motivating to see these two entities, economic and environmental, come together to speak for the common good of our country.
Although these groups were coming together in vision, we were still missing one key idea: promoting a green community. That's when Van Jones came up to speak.
Despite his father having passed away just one day prior, Van came up to the podium and delivered a speech full of emotion, inspiration, and promise. He talked about how his father had told him to come speak today, because he knew it was essential that this new green economy not leave behind the "small people" that the pollutive industries of yesterday left behind. His speech didn't just state statistics or facts about what each company or group was doing, but it spoke of what still needed to be done. Thus, Van completed the circle that was started by the business and environmental groups, and included one key component that can't be left out: the underrepresented American people.
This conference was a groundbreaking event, but even more so it was a catalyst for everyone who attended to help propel OUR green economy.
Green Jobs, Good Jobs website
