op-ed The dream reborn building a green economy for all

Author: Corinne Almquist and David Dolginow

"We are the dream generation, we are the dream reborn." This chant started as a whisper, stirring more than a thousand people to unite in song and hope. We rose in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a just and equal society, and in a promise to pursue his dream. We gathered in the tradition of a southern Baptist church to honor Dr. King and to create a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty and fight global warming.

Green for All, a new organization founded by human rights activists Van Jones and Majora Carter, hosted the Dream Reborn conference in Memphis, Tenn., this past weekend. The goal: to create millions of green jobs that ensure a place for everyone in America's new clean energy economy.

A far cry from stereotypical perceptions of environmentalists, over 75 percent of the people gathered were people of color. While a significant number of students were present, most people who attended the conference were already involved in careers and organizations dedicated to turning the dream of a green economy into a reality for all Americans.

Dr. King envisioned a world of peace, equality, and economic justice that transcended the divisions of race and class. He dreamed of the day when "little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." At the Dream Reborn, we met to create a future of a green economy that provides pathways out of poverty for all races, a future Dr. King would have been proud of.

A green economy ensures career opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and green architecture. As demand for environmental action increases, millions of job opportunities are created. These jobs are stable, cannot be outsourced and pay the livable wage that so many Americans do not currently have access to. Green jobs strengthen local communities and economies while protecting the health of our planet and all of its citizens. No longer will Americans be forced to work in hazardous conditions earning minimum wage - they can instead be trained for green jobs that provide a safe working environment and a larger sense of purpose.

At the conference, we were able to attend a variety of workshops focused on building the rapidly growing movement that calls for green jobs. Some of the workshops we participated in included the National Movement for Green Jobs, Food Justice and the Green Economy, Green-Collar Job Training Programs, Financing Green-Collar Jobs, Communicating the Dream, and Weaving Sustainability and Spirituality into the Work. Thousands of people have been involved in founding successful green job training programs all across the country - it is our turn to spread their success stories and to generate our own.

Forty years ago, a bullet killed the dreamer, but his dream did not die. It lives on in the hearts and minds of a new generation, one dedicated to economic security and a healthy planet for all citizens of the world. In Van Jones' words, "Our dream must uplift the people - and the planet, too. This is the calling of our time."

Corinne Almquist '09 is from Randolph, NJ. and David Dolginow '09 is from Leawood, Kan.