A Look Back at the 2012 Regional Conferences
In 2012, we decided to do something different and host four regional conferences in order to go directly to the states where work is being done to make good, green jobs.
After four successful national Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conferences, this year we decided to do something different and host four regional conferences in order to go directly to the states where work is being done to make good, green jobs.
Every conference was amazing, and we are very excited about the relationships that were formed and can’t wait to see what will come from them. Whether it was Georgia Congressman John Lewis reminding conference attendees at the Southern conference that environmentalists and union members are “one family” or hearing first-hand about the unfair and unsafe working conditions California’s recycling workers see every day at the Western Conference, each of the four regional conferences were unique, and the 2,500 participants from 910 organization got to have detailed conversations about what exactly needs to be done to get Americans to work in the good, green jobs we need as we move to the 21st century.
Good Jobs, Green Jobs South
For the first 2012 Good Jobs, Green Jobs Regional Conference, we headed to Atlanta to discuss how to make family-supporting, green jobs in communities ranging from South Carolina to Tennessee to Florida to Texas.
Good Jobs, Green Jobs West
Next, we headed to Los Angeles for Good Jobs, Green Jobs West — an area which is leading the nation’s renewable energy and green jobs office. During the conference participants were able to take action by rallying in support of the workers at American Reclamation, a recycling center where were workers are organizing for fair working conditions.
During the conference, attendees heard speeches from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigos, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa, Sierra Club Past President and Treasurer Allison Chin, and others.
Good Jobs, Green Jobs East
The third Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference — Good Jobs, Green Jobs East — was in Philadelphia April 3-4.
People from throughout the East gathered together to share their stories and hear from speakers like White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, Congressman Chaka Fattah, Philadephia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and BlueGreen Alliance Foundation President David Foster.
Good Jobs, Green Jobs Midwest
For the final 2012 Good Jobs, Green Jobs Regional Conference, we went to Detroit, a city being brought back to life by the rebound of America’s auto industry and the green economy.
Highlights from the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Midwest conference include the awarding of the 2012 Green Jobs Champion Award to Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congressman John Dingell along with speeches from White House Council on Environmental Quality Deputy Director and General Counsel Gary Guzy, Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman, United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune and Michigan AFL-CIO President Karla Swift.
Watch video from all four Conferences below.