Van Jones

Focus on the Middle Class

Environmental activist Van Jones spoke to Occupy Boston Oct 27, 2011.  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 of “The Green-Collar Economy; How One Solution Can Solve Our Two Biggest Problems.” He spoke to the crowd about how Washington has failed the American middle class because of the growing number of “banksters.”

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

Kanye sparks an explosion of racism online

By Talia Whyte

The Grio

Kanye West’s latest outburst at the MTV Video Music Awards has drawn mostly negative reactions. After his unsavory diss of country singer Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech for the best female video, many people immediately went to their various online social media tools to share their thoughts about the hip-hop star.

I agree with the opinion that West’s blowup was horribly rude and childish. However, there were some Internet users who took their thoughts about him too far. This was particularly obvious on Twitter, which was awash in a flood of racism, with the so-called “post-racial” levees fully giving way.

Read the full article here

As green goes global, minorities get in game

By Talia Whyte

Bay State Banner

From the hybrid automobiles that now line city streets to the growing number of rooftop gardens dotting structures, “going green” seems to have moved from buzzword of the moment to everyday reality. While the environmental movement has long been viewed as an exclusive club for privileged whites, a number of events in recent years have highlighted the growing multicultural leadership within its ranks.

Read the full article here