Interview with Van Jones

Environmental activist Van Jones visited students at Babson College Feb. 23 to discuss Dr. King’s legacy of social justice and how it relates to today’s sustainable business practices. Jones served as a Special Advisor for the White House Council on Environmental Quality in 2009. He is a proponent of a “sustainable, environmentally beneficial economy,” and author ofThe Green-Collar Economy; How One Solution Can Solve Our Two Biggest Problems.”

I first read his book two years ago when I was selected to be an Urban Environmental Justice Fellow at the Institute for Justice and Journalism.  My project on food as an environmental justice issue in communities of color was partially inspired by his book.  It wasn’t until recently people started to make the connection between the food system and the health of humanity and the planet.  Thanks to Michelle Obama’s garden and healthy eating initiatives, as well as a plethora of books and films on the topic, food security in vulnerable communities has become a regular topic of discussion throughout the country.

Watch the video interview here