…. By Installing 8,000 Energy Efficient Light Bulbs In Limited-Income Communities. Joining a Nationwide Day Of Action To Call For Green Jobs Now!
Article by Beth Bond and the LRAM Team!
ATLANTA – Saturday, September 27th, residents and students of metro Atlanta joined tens of thousands of concerned citizens across the country for a national day of service and action. Let’s Raise A Million, a student founded non-profit to bring the message of green and sustainable living to limited-income communities, was one of the national day of services spot light events. The event demonstrated that people are ready to build an inclusive green economy and communities of service.
With over 100 students, community residents, and Atlanta Firefighters in attendance, a press conference and rally were held. With speakers from as faraway as Oakland, California and as esteemed as Chief Kelvin Cochran of the City of Atlanta Fire Department, the audience learned about how the light bulbs and detectors would make positive changes in the neighbor’s lives.
FREE energy audits, complete exchange of light bulbs and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors were distributed at five locations including Adair Park, Historic West End, Peoplestown, Vine City, and the Georgia Dome. These communities of modest means received a full complement of compact fluorescent light bulbs provided by, in part, The Home Depot and TCP, exchanged by student volunteers.
Students from Agnes Scott, Clark-Atlanta, Emory, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, Spelman and the National Wildlife Federations high school program spread out from the rally at Adair Park and took a first step in learning about community service at its most basic level. The goal was to distribute 8,000 “clean” compact fluorescent bulbs on Saturday and many teams returned with their bags donated by IKEA almost empty. All the cardboard boxes and light bulbs removed from homes were recycled.
“With the state of our financial institutions, we need a green economy now, more than ever before! With these free ‘clean bulbs’, we provide a framework to begin a conversation about energy conservation and green jobs.” said event coordinator Tony Anderson, Compton Fellow and co-founder of the Let’s Raise a Million Project.
Students returned to the park for funnel cakes powered by solar panels provided by GreenLeaf Music. The day was a great success says event organizers. Organizers highlighted the students commitment to make a difference in a meaningful way to citizens who all too often get left behind in economic conversations, as a driving reason to such high levels of participation.
The Let’s Raise A Million Project, a student-led project that is raising funds for obtaining, and installing one million energy efficient light bulbs over four years to be delivered to households with modest means. The first pilot site is now operating in Atlanta’s West End.
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As an African American and an environmentalist, I am overcome with joy to observe the amazing difference that can be made when people understand the reality of climate change and global warming, and make the decision to address the root causes. I am especially touched by this effort because it shows young people connecting the dots and involving communities that are often overlooked in environmental efforts. God Bless You, LRAM! You are setting a wonderful example!