Last week, I posted a blog on the Green Jobs Act of 2007 which was introduced by Congresswoman Solis and Congressman Tierney. Their proposed legislation recommends a modest allotment of $125 million to be devoted to the creation of “green collar” job training programs to urban and rural areas.
After re-reading my blog, I realized that I did not give examples of green job programs throughout the country. My researched headed west to Oakland where I met pioneers in the green movement. Oakland is rated as one of the top ten Green Cities in the country. Mayor Ron Dellums has promised to make Oakland a “global green leader” and a “model city” for the renewable era. 
The Ella Baker Center and the Oakland Apollo Alliance combined forces to create the Oakland Green Jobs Corps. This is part of their two phase policy and implementation plan for a cleaner and greener Oakland. Van Jones has been at the forefront of this movement since its inception. He is the founder of the Ella Baker Center and a pioneer in the “Green Jobs” movement. He has traveled across the country testifying for the creation of green collar programs and he helped Congresswoman Solis and her staff in the drafting of the Green Jobs Act of 2007.
The Green Jobs Corps programs consist of: the recruitment of 40 individuals between the ages of 18 and 35, a three month training program with paid stipends, a six-month internship where they will be given “living wages”, graduation, and finally job placement with one year job retention services.
In an unanimous decision, the Oakland City Council voted to raise funding of the Green Jobs Corps from $100,000 to $250,000. The Green Jobs Corps is in its planning stages, but with support from the citizens of Oakland, this program will be a success.
If you are interested on establishing a similar program, or if you want help with contacting your Congressman/Congresswoman check out the The Apollo Alliance website, or to contact your representative directly at www. congress.org.
Subscribe by Email!
Subscribe by RSS!
Share on Facebook
This article is very well put together. The author was able to effectivly present an opinion (the need of more financial backing towards the training of individuals in urban and rural area for jobs/careers under the umbrella of “green collar” professions) as well as presenting relivant proof of the success of what he had suggested (the happenings in Oakland). I feel that by completing both steps in presenting his opinion, the author was able to gain the support of many more than he possibly would have had he not shown the success of what he was suggesting. Many people are willing to make suggestions and give their opinions but are unable to show the projected outcome of what they are suggesting. In this article the author was able to support himself very well.