Super Eco

Photo credit: Richard Hume, Experience Life magazine

Van Jones, a 1993 graduate of Yale Law School, works as an environmental advocate in Oakland, California, seeking to combine solutions to social inequality and environmental justice. Jones is the president and founder of Green For All, a national organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Green For All grew out of Jones' work in Oakland, California at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. Jones founded the Ella Baker Center in 1996.

Jones' book, The Green Collar Economy (Harper One 2008), has been enthusiastically endorsed by Nancy Pelosi, Tom Daschle and Al Gore. The book elaborates the Green For All vision of a shift to green economic development—creating millions of jobs in the emerging "clean and green" economy—assuring a safer, healthier future for the entire country.

Jones' studied Journalism as an undergraduate. Today he is a member of Free Press, and he blogs at the Huffington Post.

Notable Eco Activity

Van Jones works locally in Oakland, and he is also recognized as a national and global leader in advocating for an inclusive, green economy. Jones' work has earned him many honors and distinctions, including, in 2008: the Elle Magazine Green Award 2008; selection as one of the George Lucas Foundation's "Daring Dozen 2008;" Hunt Prime Mover Award 2008; Campaign for America's Future "Paul Wellstone Award 2008;" Global Green USA "Community Environmental Leadership" Award 2008; designation as one of the nation's "Plenty 20" in the October/November 2008 edition of Plenty Magazine; San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Award 2008; selection as a TIME Magazine 2008 Environmental Hero; and designation as one of Essence Magazine's 25 most influential/inspiring African-Americans of 2008.

Jones' efforts to promote green economic development have led to funding from the City of Oakland to establish a "Green Job Corps" in 2007; passage of the US Green Jobs Act of 2007 authorizing $125 million to train 35,000 people; and, in 2005, working with the United Nations to initiate a global program for green jobs.

• Van Jones Details

  • Birth Date

    1968

  • Born In

    United States

  • Home Page

    http://www.greenforall.org/splash

  • Lives In

    United States

  • Organizations

    Green For All

  • Occupation

    Founder and President