Van Jones was in town this week to speak to fellow green-minded Seattleites about his newly published book, The Green Collar Economy - How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems, as well as his agenda for a new green economy that is outlined within its pages.

The Transformational Lecture Series hosted an evening panel at Benaroya Hall, where Van presented several key points of his agenda, followed by local panelists who shared how they are bringing his vision into reality here in the greater Seattle area.  We always enjoy hearing Van speak about his passion, and this evening was another opportunity to feel the love that he spreads in the world.  His good vibes and enthusiasm for what he is doing is absolutely contagious.  Truly, he is a sight to behold.

His brilliant plan…a new wave of green technology jobs directed towards disadvantaged populations in order to boost our flagging economy while greening our planet…incorporates three top-level policies, all of which have been endorsed by President-Elect Obama: 1) Stop paying the polluters and make the polluters pay, 2) Retrofit America, and 3) Build a new green, clean tech energy grid.

Expect to see more of Van in 2009.  We see a vital connection between the work he is doing with his organization Green For All and the green economic policies that President-Elect Obama is introducing as part of his administration’s agenda.

XOX,

The Matisse Twins

“Provocative, personal, and inspirational, New York Times best-seller The Green Collar Economy is not a dire warning but rather a substantive and viable plan for solving the biggest issues facing the country–the failing economy and our devastated environment. From a distance, it appears that these two problems are separate, but when we look closer, the connection becomes unmistakable…Van Jones illustrates how we can invent and invest our way out of the pollution-based grey economy and into the healthy new green economy. Built by a broad coalition deeply rooted in the lives and struggles of ordinary people, this path has the practical benefit of both cutting energy prices and generating enough work to pull the U.S. economy out of its present death spiral.” ~ www.vanjones.net

The Transformational Lecture Series, hosted by the Cascadia Region Green Building Council, “aims to inspire all building industry professionals to embrace their role in creating a sustainable built environment now, as well as ensuring that sustainability becomes integral to all development in the future.” ~ www.cascadiagbc.org

photo credit: Richard Hume, courtesy of Experience Life magazine