Grassroots Energy Alliance Promotes Green Jobs

The Grassroots Energy Alliance (GEA) is forging North Carolina’s link to a national, triple bottom line movement for Green Collar Jobs.  Through education and outreach to both the public and private sectors, GEA is working to “green” the state’s economy while creating “pathways out of poverty” for some of its most economically marginalized residents.

GEA’s work helps network and expand upon existing Green Jobs initiatives in NC.  Resourceful Communities supports GEA’s work with a 2008 Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) grant funded through Burt’s Bees Greater Good Foundation.

Summary

GEA’s diverse local leadership includes traditional environmentalists as well as advocates for economic empowerment of low-income workers, students, and faith-based organizations.  They strive to broaden the clean energy coalition by bringing together underserved North Carolina residents with workforce training representatives, private developers, clean energy manufacturers and policy makers.

Solution

GEA’s vision of Green Collar Jobs includes employment opportunities that pay a living wage; provide opportunities for career advancement; and support an economic transition to greater energy and resource efficiency. By altering the way our economy consumes resources, the Green Collar Jobs initiative complements conservation efforts by helping to decrease pressure on valuable natural assets.

Resourceful Communities also provides technical assistance in facilitation and planning. This support fostered outreach and planning activities for GEA’s 2008 conference. The conference, which engaged diverse participants in creating strategies to implement a green jobs initiative, also featured national sustainability leader and MacArthur Fellow, Majora Carter.