Our event was hosted at the Pisgah View Peace Garden, which is a community garden for the families that live in the Pisgah View housing complexes. I was so excited to see this garden, and what it means for beginning sustainability practices in our community. Green Jobs had booths set up where we could learn about green industries in our area, and how we can all contribute. We signed petitions, ate great food, listened to some amazing music, and got to watch a Capoiera group (with a Master from Brazil) perform. It was great! I was really surprised to see the turn-out, and had a great time!

I would estimate about 200 people attended the event--including a lot of kids from the neighborhood eager to check out who all these people were, eat some organic beans, greens and cornbread (and non-organic hot dogs) and, find out what these green jobs were all about.
The kids brought their parents too. Local restaurants donated food, local green businesses and nonprofits set up displays and talked to people about the work they are doing to build a just, green economy, and members of the fledgling green-collar job training program, Asheville GO!, proudly dressed in uniform, shared their experiences over the last 4 weeks with the crowd. Dark clouds had been threatening all day, but by three o'clock, when the event started, they had all lifted and the sky opened up.

My overall sense of the event was one of hopefulness. None of us know where this green economy is headed, but we're all hopeful that, provided we remain watchful and active, we can help shape it in the way we know it needs to be: expansive, inclusive, and just.