HIRE working for green jobs
02/01/2009
President Barack Obama has made it clear that one of his early priorities to stimulate the flagging economy is to invest in infrastructure and other projects that could create jobs through federal investments. On the day after Barack Obama was elected, Louis King awoke with visions of mobilizing people of color to ask our leaders to make sure those investments benefit their communities. King, president of Summit Academy OIC, a Northside job training program, started the HIRE Minnesota campaign to engage people across Minnesota in advocating for investments in healthcare, infrastructure and renewable energy that not only create jobs, but also protect the environment to create truly sustainable communities.
HIRE Minnesota seeks to secure major commitments for business development and job training for emerging green-collar jobs. The vision is to secure jobs in current and emerging industries that provide livable wages, and to expand vocational curriculums so that communities of color and unemployed persons are educated and trained with skills for the emerging green practices and technology. HIRE Minnesota aims to advocate for government investment in these initiatives and to organize community members to take charge of the effort. For info about HIRE contact Alessandra Williams at 612-278-5259 and visit www.saoic.org.