About the Conference

Public officials, private enterprises, educational institutions, community organizations, and citizen stakeholders will convene at North Carolina Central University to take steps toward creating just, green economies throughout North Carolina.

This conference will serve as a catalyst for a sustainable, just, green economy initiative in Durham and North Carolina; create an awareness of the benefits, opportunities, and resources in a green economy; begin to identify community assets and needs and the research, partnerships, and policy changes required to transition to a just, green economy; and foster an alliance between the environmental movement, the social justice movement, and the business community the that jointly works for economic opportunities that protect our natural resources.

The conference will feature keynote addresses by Majora Carter, founder and former executive director of Sustainable South Bronx, and Rev. Dr. William J Barber II, president of North Carolina’s NAACP branch, as well as panels, workshops, and discussions focusing on policy, business development, job assessment, education and training, and resource security.

The conference is the next important step in a vision held by many separate groups and individuals but, championed in particular by Grassroots Energy Alliance, a coalition composed of NC Fair Share, NC Interfaith Power and Light of NC Council of Churches, NC WARN, SURGE, and NC Central University. Over the past three years foundations such as Z. Smith Reynolds, Ben & Jerry's and The Conservation Fund have funded this effort to conduct research into green jobs opportunities and bring together a broad coalition with a common goal. The coalition has also now recruited over thirty organizations to help plan the Growing A Just Green Economy Conference.

The planning group (more than 30 organizations, businesses and individuals) is beginning to call itself the Black Brown Green Alliance. The conference with its associated community education activities that involve students, African Americans, Latinos and people of faith will combine the concerns of the racial justice and environmental movements.

Inevitably as governments, corporations and well-to-do householders endeavor to reduce energy costs and address global warming through energy efficiency and renewable applications, new employment opportunities will arise. The green collar jobs initiative will focus on the needs of low-income and minority communities because without special attention, they will not benefit from the resulting economic shifts. Through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and courses and credentials offered at such institutions as community colleges, historic black colleges and universities (HBCU’s), living-wage career pathways can be created, with far-reaching benefits for all.

Join public, private, and community stakeholders who share your vision for an equitable, environmentally sound economy, as we investigate the future of sustainable communities, businesses, and jobs in North Carolina.