op-ed: The dream reborn: building a green economy for all
"We are the dream generation, we are the dream reborn." This chant started as a whisper, stirring more than a thousand people to unite in song and hope. We rose in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a just and equal society, and in a promise to pursue his dream. We gathered in the tradition of a southern Baptist church to honor Dr. King and to create a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty and fight global warming.
"We are the dream generation, we are the dream reborn." This chant started as a whisper, stirring more than a thousand people to unite in song and hope. We rose in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a just and equal society, and in a promise to pursue his dream. We gathered in the tradition of a southern Baptist church to honor Dr. King and to create a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty and fight global warming.
Green for All, a new organization founded by human rights activists Van Jones and Majora Carter, hosted the Dream Reborn conference in Memphis, Tenn., this past weekend. The goal: to create millions of green jobs that ensure a place for everyone in America's new clean energy economy.
A far cry from stereotypical perceptions of environmentalists, over 75 percent of the people gathered were people of color. While a significant number of students were present, most people who attended the conference were already involved in careers and organizations dedicated to turning the dream of a green economy into a reality for all Americans.
