Philanthropedia has been acquired by GuideStar.

The former head of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and Working Partnerships USA, Ms. Ellis-Lamkins took over as CEO of Green For All in March 2009 when former CEO Van Jones was selected by President Obama to serve as his special advisor on green jobs. Ms. Ellis-Lamkins has since distinguished herself as an effective and innovative leader, bringing a string of victories to Green for All. She has been named one of the 100 most powerful people in Silicon Valley by the San Jose Magazine and has been profiled by the Wall Street Journal, ABC, CNN, and NBC. An alumna of American Leadership Forum, she has served on the boards of: Progressive Technology Project New World Foundation The Women’s Fund of Silicon Valley The City of San Jose General Plan Update Task Force and the Central Labor Council Advisory Committee The Leadership Council of California

Problem

A clean-energy economy will move America past some of its most pressing challenges. By making us energy independent, it will improve our national and economic security. By radically reducing the pollution that causes global warming, it will improve the health of our families and neighborhoods. By creating millions of quality jobs and careers, it will pull America out of the current recession, strengthen our middle class, and better protect us from future economic turmoil. Building a clean-energy economy is a chance to reinvigorate and reinvest in the best part of the American dream:  the idea that everyone gets a chance to succeed. By ensuring that every community has equal access to the new opportunities of the green economy, Green for All can lift millions of people out of poverty.

Innovation / New Solution

Green For All forms a strong alliance between workforce development and practical climate change solutions that has been often talked about, but rarely effected. Not only is their alliance new, but also many of the groups Green For All attempts to reach are among those rarely enlisted by environmentalists. In the eyes of Green For All, the major barrier to climate action is not disbelief in the science but in the ability to make climate policy relevant to average people. When someone is in danger of losing their job or their house, they are not focused on the threat of climate change unless the solution is articulated in a way such that it addresses those immediate issues. Green For All wants to make climate policy relevant by leading with the creation of green jobs, but also focusing on the health impacts of pollution.

Impact

In Washington and New Mexico, state-level green jobs and energy efficiency programs have been put in place with GFA’s input. Many GFA-supported ideas were included in the federal stimulus package, including investments in green job training, weatherization, and renewable energy. In Congress, Green For All is building a coalition to support key equity provisions in the house climate bill. Green For All worked closely with the congressional black caucus and Hispanic caucus to build an unlikely alliance to get equity provisions included. In doing so, the congressional black caucus became the ‘greenest caucus’ in support of climate legislation.

Expert Comments

• They have good outreach to diverse communities.
  
  
• They have had a high impact.
  
  
• They have a smart concept and focus.
  
  

From the Nonprofit

The nonprofit has not added any comments yet. If you are a representative of this nonprofit and would like to leave a comment, please email us at feedback@myphilanthropedia.org with your request.