Van Jones Goes DC Green

Oakland activist Van Jones, the co-founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and founder of Green for All, as well as author of "The Green Collar Economy" is off to DC. He's joining the Obama Administration as Special Advisor for Green Jobs

The “green jobs” movement will get a major boost next week as Green For All Founder Van Jones joins the Obama administration and economic justice powerhouse Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins takes the reins at Green For All.

On March 16, Van Jones will leave to become Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). His duties will include: helping to shape and implement job-generating climate policy; working to ensure equal protection and equal opportunity in the administration’s climate and energy proposals; and publicly advocating the administration's environmental and energy agenda.

As White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley said:

"Van Jones has been a strong voice for green jobs and we look forward to having him work with the departments and agencies to advance the president's agenda of creating 21st century jobs that improve energy efficiency and utilize renewable resources."

She said Jones also "will help to shape and advance the administration's energy and climate initiatives with a specific interest in improvements and opportunities for vulnerable communities."