Grassroots Giver: Green For All
“For working class Americans, the future is a luxury; they’re just trying to make it from one day to next, hoping they can find some way to put food on the table and keep the lights on,” says Ellis-Lamkins. “So, for these Americans, going green is important because it means jobs, jobs, jobs…the green economy will provide new hope and opportunity to those who desperately need it.”
“As our nation stands at this crossroads, one choice we have as a country is to protect the status quo,” says Ellis-Lamkins, “which is supporting declining industries that harm communities. The other choice is to invest in growing sectors that are creating jobs and protecting the public health.”
“For working class Americans, the future is a luxury; they’re just trying to make it from one day to next, hoping they can find some way to put food on the table and keep the lights on,” says Ellis-Lamkins. “So, for these Americans, going green is important because it means jobs, jobs, jobs…the green economy will provide new hope and opportunity to those who desperately need it.”
Ellis-Lamkins says that minorities should be concerned about green jobs and communities because the low-income communities are feeling the most pain. Currently, the black unemployment rate is double that of the white community, and the Hispanic unemployment rate is high as well.
“More than anyone else, our communities need jobs and cleaner air,” says Ellis-Lamkins. “If we don’t care about green jobs and the environment, who will?”
