Bringing Home the Green Recovery FOR ALL: Milwaukee, WI

Earlier this week, I got a chance to talk to Shahn Hayes from the League of Young Voters in Milwaukee .  They're doing some really cool stuff out there to bring a green recovery to Milwaukee, and I wanted to tell you a little about it.

Shahn's local League chapter has pulled together a new coalition called Making Milwaukee Green.  They're on a mission to create a green economic renewal in inner-city Milwaukee, and they're starting by looking at how to make the federal recovery money work for everyday people there.

Making Milwaukee Green has us excited here at Green For All.  They're bringing together community organizers, leaders in green construction, experts in urban agriculture, environmental organizations, and other concerned citizens to "turn Milwaukee into one of the most eco-friendly, energy efficient and healthy places in the country."  Learn more by reading their platform.

On Wednesday, March 18, the coalition held a press conference to kick off their "campaign to educate Milwaukee residents on the vision and principles of how the federal economic recovery money should be spent to create healthy communities for Milwaukee's inner city residents."  Making Milwaukee Green is particularly interested in the potential for green retrofits and other energy efficiency measures to create jobs quickly for inner city workers.

How cool is that?  Milwaukee residents of all stripes coming together to make sure the federal recovery is a green one that benefits everyone in Milwaukee.  It just goes to show that this green jobs movement has the right idea:  put the power and responsibility in the hands of everyday people, and they will create something beautiful for their communities and for the country.

Making Milwaukee Green is just getting started.  You can find out more here.  If you want to do something similar in your community but aren't sure where to start, check out the resources in our Recovery Section.