Strategy Memo: Organizing for Green Jobs

We'll train thousands of people to organize for an economy that invests in renewable energy and creates millions of green-collar jobs.

In 2008 and 2009, Wellstone Action will work with our great partners - from youth coalitions to labor unions and anti-poverty organizations - and train thousands of people to organize for an economy that invests in clean, renewable energy and creates millions of green-collar jobs.

Here at Wellstone Action HQ, we work with many different kinds of organizations and individuals from across the progressive movement. And what we've been seeing, clear as a smog-free day, is that many factors are coming together to create a political environment where innovative solutions to climate change and economic woes are gaining traction. The call for "green jobs" -- both skilled and entry-level opportunities that help build America's sustainable infrastructure -- is coming from many quarters, many of which are gaining power this election cycle.

We're hearing this call from young people, who see their employment opportunities diminishing while also confronting a future with sky-high energy prices and communities threatened by the effects of global warming.

We're hearing this call from union members, who have witnessed decades of an economy that ships jobs overseas to countries without labor or environmental standards, who see an opportunity for skilled manufacturing jobs here at home.

We're hearing this call from low-income communities, who are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and have a great need for economic development opportunities.

There is incredible potential in this political year when young people are becoming engaged in very high numbers, labor unions are mobilized, and more and more people from communities across the economic spectrum are registering to vote. The organizations Wellstone Action works with are not only mobilizing their folks to vote on this issue of climate change and a green economy -- they have plans for leveraging that electoral power to translate into policy changes come 2009.

Keep an eye out for more information on our green economy training initiatives and for this issue to play a major role in the election and beyond.

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Training Middle School Students a Green Vocational training

Submitted by Curtis E Jefferson (not verified) on September 3, 2008 - 4:27pm.

I running An AfterSchool Program Teaching the Art of Debating ! I would like to gain knowledge in SOLAR PANEL as aVocation. In this Amish County ;I think it raised the consciousness and add a new educated workforce;To the area!!!!

Training

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 4, 2008 - 1:58pm.

When anyone goes in for training through any organization he or she should be open to ask many many questions, remember each ? is important , if you must write you need to find a good notebook for safe keeping. You can always go back and refer to whatever stuck with you the most and to brush up on something you may have missed,There are interesting things to learn about how door to door campaigning has an impact on how some people get out to vote .

Green Job organizing

Submitted by Camilo Viveiros (not verified) on September 8, 2008 - 2:46am.

I work with a Labor Education Center and as a community organizer in Southeastern Massachusetts. There is definitely interest from youth and environmentalists in our region for green job creation. What is lacking is focused organizing. I am skilled at running participatory strategy and campaign development trainings. I would be interested to collaborate with others to do a training focused on organizing for green jobs. Let me know if your organization or others might be interested in working together. It is not enough to push the idea of how great green jobs are great or how bad they are needed, we need to develop organizing capacity and strategies to build power around these demands otherwise occasional appeals to those in political power will be haphazard and not foster the ability to nurture political accountability. Sincerely with Solidarity, Camilo Viveiros

Alternative Energy Among America's Indigenous

Submitted by Terrance H. Booth, Sr. (Tsimshian) (not verified) on September 19, 2008 - 4:38pm.

Every Tribe in Indian Country, USA has Solar, Wind, Water, Falling Water and Biomass. All of America by the year 2016 will need 70% more electricity. Some areas of America are high growth areas like in Arizona from 1990 to 2000 Arizona nearly doubled its population. Who will provide energy and food to this growing population. Alaska Native and Native American population can by establishment of energy parks to not only provide energy for their own tribe but sell needed energy to near-by utility companies. If tribes look at their own tribal economies they would see a high percentage of dollars going off reservation. Utilities for most tribes is a economic leakage meaning dollars do not stay oin the reservation settings. To stop these economic leakages for goods and services tribes can start their own businesses to capture the dollars that go off reservation. Tribes near large urban settings some of the tribes are taking advantage of the population growth with industrial parks, plaxes set aside for commercial or industrial development and in some areas the population growing around some of the resevations that their neighbors are buffering right up to the boundaries of tribal lands. This presents opportunities like energy parks and agricultural efforts and eliminate middle men and sell directly to the consumers or establish tribal stores from foods made in Indian Country, USA. It is time for change for ever since America established their government we have on record since to the first president to the current president our social and economic plights. Do we as tribes remain with the status quo or bring about change that will benefit tribes. Regardless of who gets into office we as tribes have to watch who gets appointeed as the President's Cabinet. And like always educate the new administration. So make your vote count and actively participate for our very life and existence dependent upon it.