About Green The Block

CONTENTS

• Overview
• Monthly Green The Block Calls to Action
• Campus Consciousness Tour Headlined by Drake

Overview

The long-term economic and environmental viability of the American way of life compel us as a society to transition from the use of dirty fossil fuels to clean energy to power our economy. This is especially true in the most economically vulnerable communities across the nation. The recent economic collapse has hit low-income communities of color particularly hard, leaving them to deal with the ravages of high unemployment and rising living costs.

These communities also pay a disproportionately high price in the environmental and public health consequences of climate change. A new, green economy promises the opportunity to fight climate change while simultaneously revitalizing communities that, now more than ever, are struggling from decades of economic and environmental degradation.

That is why the Hip Hop Caucus and Green For All partnered to create Green The Block. Green The Block is a national campaign and coalition aimed at helping low-income communities of color become driving forces of the clean-energy economy.

GreenTheBlock.net will be used as an online resource center and information hub for green job resources, people, programs, and businesses that are successfully greening the block and engaging in the green economy.

Green The Block was made possible through the generous support of the University of Phoenix.

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Monthly Green The Block Calls to Action

Green The Block is engaging communities throughout the country in monthly Action Days focusing on education, awareness, and service. Green The Block will help with online materials, national networking, media, content, and theme support. These Action Days are modeled after the National Service and Remembrance Day, which featured more than 100 Green The Block events on September 11, 2009.

Monthly Themes^*:

September and October: 10/10/10 Global Work Party

This fall, Green the Block will be working with 350.org and millions of people around the world for the 10/10/10 Global Work Party. People all over the planet will spend the day working on climate solutions.

Take action in your community! Host your own 10/10/10 Global Work Party.

Past Monthly Themes:

March: Women in the Green Economy

During Women’s History Month Green The Block highlighted the opportunities for and leadership of women in the green economy.

April: Earth Day on Every Block

Green the Block will commemorate the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day with events around the country that celebrate the many traditions of conservation in communities of color. These events will elevate new traditions to take root for the next 40 years. Organize an Earth Day event in your community now!

• organize a party and educate people on ways to lower our carbon output;
• conduct an Eco-Tour in your community;
• plant a community garden;
• organize a community clean-up;
• create your own event!

May: The Green Grad Generation: 1^st Generation Green Leaders

In May, 2010, Green the Block congratulates High School, Junior College and college grads, especially the 1st generation grads in their families, and will set up campus forums and fairs to disseminate information about career opportunities in the Green Economy.

New grads, join this celebration by serving your communities! Learn how to help students green their dorms and parties, and most importantly, help students find Green Jobs resources in their community by organizing a jobs resource booth. Green The Block provides more resources for your event.

June: Stay Cool Campaign

In the heat of the summer months, Green The Block will emphasize the necessity for personal action to reduce our carbon output, and steps each of us can take to minimize our carbon footprint. We will also demonstrate how families can get their houses retrofitted without major investment and provide resources to help people find jobs in the retrofitting sector.

Organize your neighbors and with some help from experts you all can assess your home and make the needed changes to save those extra dollars. Then share your event with us and we'll post it on the Green The Block website! And don’t forget to check the resource page for the events toolkit and new guides to help you find organizations doing weatherization work in your area.

July: Healthy Food, Healthy Communities Celebration

Green The Block will highlight local/organic food programs that create jobs and make our communities healthier. Healthy, local, organic alternatives to fast food and carryout will be sampled at Green The Block cookouts.

August: One Year Greener

To celebrate year one of Green The Block, events around the country will highlight gains in green jobs and make the case for another year of strong progress towards a clean-energy economy for all.

^*Themes are subject to change.

 

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Campus Consciousness Tour Headlined by Drake

Presented by Reverb and co-sponsored by Green The Block

Green The Block is partnering with Reverb on their yearly Campus Consciousness Tour, which will be headlined by Hip Hop recording artist Drake.

Green The Block’s participation in this tour will inspire and mobilize young people on college campuses and in neighboring communities to become leaders, innovators, and practitioners in the clean-energy economy. The tour will help build infrastructure on campuses and in communities to organize efforts that engage students, faculty, and surrounding communities to Green their Block.

The Campus Consciousness Tour will run from April 8^th - May 8^th with specific dates to be announced soon.

Learn more about the Campus Consciousness Tour.

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