We Are the Dream Generation, We are the Dream Reborn
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Tags: clean energy economy, Dream Reborn Conference, Green for All, green jobs
Tags: clean energy economy, Dream Reborn Conference, Green for All, green jobs
This is Juan Reynosa's eyewitness account of the recent Dream Reborn Conference held in Memphis (April 4-6).
Day 1
Up to this point the Dream Reborn has not really been a conference. Rather, it more resembles a revival since the amazing array of first day activities had us dancing to African rhythms, clapping and singing along with the Memphis Job Corps. Youth Choir, hugging our neighbors, and chanting together the mantra created for this event: We are the Dream Generation, We are the Dream Reborn.
Speakers on the first day then set the tone for this movement with their eloquent words that were mixed with strong messages. For instance, Afeni Shakur told us that green jobs will not matter unless we also strive to inspire and uplift the youth in our communities and turn them away from negativities like drugs and suicide. "Mr. Civil Rights", D'army Bailey blessed us with his presence and told us that this movement is just like the Civil Rights Movement that he fought through in his early years, yet that it is also ecological. He insisted that talk and theorization mean nothing unless there is action to save both our people and our earth. And finally, Revered Lennox Yearwood Jr. from the High Hop Caucus gave a refreshing sermon about how this social and ecological struggle has no boundaries. His energizing sermon spoke of how all ethnicities, all class levels, all sexual orientations, and all religions need to unite in love to fight for civil and environmental justice.
I was exhausted from our flight the night before, but the energy in the room during this first day brought me back to life. This vibrant feeling carried me into the streets where I joined thousands of people to march once again for justice. The march, simply put, was beautiful. I marched along people who welcomed me, shook my hand, smiled, and proved how strong this community is and has been throughout the centuries. People of all colors and ages walked in unison for a common cause. We gathered at the Lorraine Hotel to remember Martin Luther King Jr. He started a movement that helped us to strive higher for justice and equality and together we all voiced our thanks.
Day 2
The second day became a little more businesslike as the talk turned more to forums and workshops which focused on turning inspiration from the day prior into collaboration and action. The talks ranged from the simple explanation of what green jobs are to more complex issues of constructing and funding these initiatives.
Presenters from all over the country came and shared their stories of how they have already changed their community with progressive and innovative thinking. I learned about how Andy Lipkus from TreePeople is turning parts of California back into a more natural setting by creating recharge zones around schools that green playgrounds as well as recharge the local aquifer. Lamont Sommerset from GREENCAP, which amazingly enough is a non-profit developer, talked about how his company looks at development from a community perspective rather than basing it on profits. He was a confident, young African-American who didn't leave his community after he got his degree, but rather stayed in his community to do the work that needed to be done. Their actions include putting up sustainable community buildings that employ people from his community who wouldn't have had a job opportunity otherwise. On this second day, we turned our energy into education. We learned from the experts through their positive stories and innovative examples of work already done, but, most of all, we learned that this movement is more than possible, it is inevitable.
This conference taught me quite a bit. I was in overload all weekend long from the great ideas I had heard and the positive spirit that continued to grow between everyone as the conference progressed. I connected with strangers who soon after became my brothers and sisters. We easily accepted each other with open arms regardless of who we were or where we were from. Besides learning from the forums, I feel I learned more from the people I interacted with. I look forward to working in conjunction with these newly made friends in the future even if they are hundreds of miles away.
The Dream Reborn started a fire in all of us, and it's a fire that is going to burn away the impacts and negativity of the outdated, pollution-based economy that had so many undeserving people downtrodden. And from the ashes of our fire will rise, like a beautiful green forest, a green economy that will bring pathways out of poverty, positive ecological impacts, a sustainable economy, and, more importantly, a better world for us all. Many of our generation once again have embraced a dream, a dream that has been reborn to continue Dr. King's legacy and carry out actions that will produce peace, love, and justice throughout the earth.
Dream Reborn website
Day 1
Up to this point the Dream Reborn has not really been a conference. Rather, it more resembles a revival since the amazing array of first day activities had us dancing to African rhythms, clapping and singing along with the Memphis Job Corps. Youth Choir, hugging our neighbors, and chanting together the mantra created for this event: We are the Dream Generation, We are the Dream Reborn.
Speakers on the first day then set the tone for this movement with their eloquent words that were mixed with strong messages. For instance, Afeni Shakur told us that green jobs will not matter unless we also strive to inspire and uplift the youth in our communities and turn them away from negativities like drugs and suicide. "Mr. Civil Rights", D'army Bailey blessed us with his presence and told us that this movement is just like the Civil Rights Movement that he fought through in his early years, yet that it is also ecological. He insisted that talk and theorization mean nothing unless there is action to save both our people and our earth. And finally, Revered Lennox Yearwood Jr. from the High Hop Caucus gave a refreshing sermon about how this social and ecological struggle has no boundaries. His energizing sermon spoke of how all ethnicities, all class levels, all sexual orientations, and all religions need to unite in love to fight for civil and environmental justice.
I was exhausted from our flight the night before, but the energy in the room during this first day brought me back to life. This vibrant feeling carried me into the streets where I joined thousands of people to march once again for justice. The march, simply put, was beautiful. I marched along people who welcomed me, shook my hand, smiled, and proved how strong this community is and has been throughout the centuries. People of all colors and ages walked in unison for a common cause. We gathered at the Lorraine Hotel to remember Martin Luther King Jr. He started a movement that helped us to strive higher for justice and equality and together we all voiced our thanks.
Day 2
The second day became a little more businesslike as the talk turned more to forums and workshops which focused on turning inspiration from the day prior into collaboration and action. The talks ranged from the simple explanation of what green jobs are to more complex issues of constructing and funding these initiatives.
Presenters from all over the country came and shared their stories of how they have already changed their community with progressive and innovative thinking. I learned about how Andy Lipkus from TreePeople is turning parts of California back into a more natural setting by creating recharge zones around schools that green playgrounds as well as recharge the local aquifer. Lamont Sommerset from GREENCAP, which amazingly enough is a non-profit developer, talked about how his company looks at development from a community perspective rather than basing it on profits. He was a confident, young African-American who didn't leave his community after he got his degree, but rather stayed in his community to do the work that needed to be done. Their actions include putting up sustainable community buildings that employ people from his community who wouldn't have had a job opportunity otherwise. On this second day, we turned our energy into education. We learned from the experts through their positive stories and innovative examples of work already done, but, most of all, we learned that this movement is more than possible, it is inevitable.This conference taught me quite a bit. I was in overload all weekend long from the great ideas I had heard and the positive spirit that continued to grow between everyone as the conference progressed. I connected with strangers who soon after became my brothers and sisters. We easily accepted each other with open arms regardless of who we were or where we were from. Besides learning from the forums, I feel I learned more from the people I interacted with. I look forward to working in conjunction with these newly made friends in the future even if they are hundreds of miles away.
The Dream Reborn started a fire in all of us, and it's a fire that is going to burn away the impacts and negativity of the outdated, pollution-based economy that had so many undeserving people downtrodden. And from the ashes of our fire will rise, like a beautiful green forest, a green economy that will bring pathways out of poverty, positive ecological impacts, a sustainable economy, and, more importantly, a better world for us all. Many of our generation once again have embraced a dream, a dream that has been reborn to continue Dr. King's legacy and carry out actions that will produce peace, love, and justice throughout the earth.
Dream Reborn website
