“Minnesota Green Jobs National Day of Action”

Wow, Minnesota is ready for green jobs! We had over one hundred folks from all around the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs come together and show solidarity for the Green Jobs National day of Action.

This was a waste free event. We served organic and local food..

We supported a local band who also works on Environmental Justice and Green Jobs for their community.

Media included: Spokesman Recorder (African American Newspaper).
We also had a reporter who filmed the whole event and they will send it to America Votes, BET and several other national media outlets.
KFAI- “Conversations with AL McFarlane” interviewed us on the air a week before the rally.

Over 75 folks designed their own mini version of a green jobs bill. We have expressed to our elected officials the need for some sort of bill that is co-authored with the community and we are hoping this information is the beginning of that process. (I have attached the format we used.)

The community who gathered at this event was extremely diverse. We had folks from the Native American, African American, Asian, Iranian, Caucasian and Latino community. We had small children, college students, mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. We had folks from economically better off suburbs, to the heart of the inner cities. This is what I call inclusive!
It will take all of us to change our planetary crisis. Climate Change disproportianly affects different communities, health and equity issues are at the forefront of the those affects. Our communities share in the negative impacts of a dirty coal economy, let us share in the prosperity of a clean renewable economy. It was great to see folks from all walks of life share the same vision.

Our rally was held in the heart of North Minneapolis at the Minneapolis Urban League. The North side has suffered high unemployment, foreclosures, school closings, and many other injustices.

Many folks discount our community when it comes to understanding the need to diversify our energy source and create Green Jobs, little do they know we have a solar panel in front of the Minneapolis Urban League, in North Minneapolis. You can see if for yourself in our community photo.
This is one more example to show that our communities are ready and organized.
If we can create green jobs together, then together we have created a good thing.

Speakers include-

Due to the current economy crisis, Congressman Ellison wasn’t able to attend but attached is his statement to our community.

Rep. Karen Clark was elected to the MN House of Representatives in 1980 on an agenda of economic and social justice. She represents 3 inner-city neighborhoods in South Minneapolis-Phillips, Whittier and Stevens Square. Karen has authored and passed major job creation and job-training legislation over the years, including creation of the dislocated workers fund, affordable housing programs, civil rights and environmental justice protections. Karen currently chairs the Public Health and Housing Finance Committee in the MN House. In her "spare time" she also serves as executive director of the Women's Environmental Institute, a volunteer position that helps her build the grass-roots justice movement she believes is necessary

Senator Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul/Falcon Heights) is the co-chair of
Minnesota’s new Green Jobs Task Force, which is currently bringing
together people from all sectors to work on ways to enhance job
creation in our state by taking advantage of new opportunities in the Green
Economy; she was the chief Senate author this year of the bills to
create the Task Force and to conform state economic development policy
with energy and environmental policy.
Ellen also chairs the Senate Environment, Energy & Natural Resources
Budget Division. She was the chief Senate author of legislation to
establish the strongest Renewable Energy Standard in the nation, to
combat climate change, to raise Minnesota’s Minimum Wage and to help
homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

Congressman Keith Ellison tackled Environmental Justice issues when the term environmental justice was foreign to many communities.
He is the founder of EJAM (Environmental Justice Advocates of MN)
An intrepid leader who has organized and represented the Environmental Justice community on the state level taking on issues such as lead, mercury and atrazine.
He is now representing the Environmental Justice community in the United States Congress on these same issues and has added to his agenda "Green Jobs For ALL"-

Carlos Garcia-Velasco is Apache Mescalera from the Bear Clan, Mexican Indian or Mexica (pronounced Meh-she-ka) and of Spanish decent.
He is the son and grandson of Mirant workers, a proud father, community organizer and warrior in the movimiento (movement) for truth and justice for all peoples

Valerie Marinez is a cree, apache , ojibwe mexica women from the American Indian Community here in the twin cities. She is a Community member and parent. Valerie has been organizing around indigenous issues for the last 10years. She is currently working with Honor the Earth

Bobby Champion is a Minneapolis north side resident. He is also the executive director the Minority Contractors in Minnesota.