Environmental Community and Labor Groups to Announce Ambitious Agenda Today

Local organizations working on labor environmental and community issues plan to announce the formation of a new coalition this morning in Roxbury. The ambitious agenda of the "Green Justice Coalition" includes efforts to address both the climate and economic crises; especially in lower income neighborhoods and communities of color. Coalition members include Community Labor United ACORN Alternatives for Community and Environment Boston Climate Action Network and the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. The new coalition will "look to form partnerships" with utilities and state and city government said Community Labor United Senior Organizer Kalila Barnett. "We're looking forward to problem solving [the economic and environmental crises] and to increasing economic opportunities in low income communities of color." The initial focus said Ms. Barnett will be to establish a mechanism for hiring and training local residents to do "retrofitting" on homes and apartments to make them more energy efficient. This might include installing "greener" windows and lighting. Coalition members also will release a study today identifying "opportunities to meet the energy efficiency needs in Boston's low-income communities many of them communities of color " and will "outline a comprehensive 'green justice' solution that cuts energy costs retrofits area housing and creates union jobs for community residents " according to a recent press release. Given the economy and the global climate crisis "we believe it's important to one save money for renters and homeowners and two create quality jobs with living wages " said Barnett. Gaining "a seat at the table" where state and local policy ideas are formulated " will be one of the group's major goals. Barnett said the coalition will investigate environmental and financial opportunities made possible by the state's "green communities act " signed by Governor Deval Patrick in July. In terms of financing and applying specific programs the coalition intends to consider state and federal grants and look at various similar projects in other cities such as Cambridge. This morning's launch of the Green Justice Campaign will take place at the Twelfth Baptist Church on Warren Street in Roxbury and be followed by an energy fair organized by coalition members Massachusetts ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) and Boston Climate Action Network. Web Resources: http://massclu.org/boston_green_justice Bookmark/Search this post with: Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Newsvine Facebook Google Yahoo Technorati