The Massachusetts 3rd Annual Sustainable Economy Conference (SEC) scheduled for April 30 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston recognizes that the engine of our economy is business. How business conducts its affairs and defines its goals and values can drive and improve the state of the economy. Massachusetts and the world economy face unprecedented challenges as well as opportunities in the 21st century. In response, the mission of the SEC is to build bridges within and across Massachusetts’ government, business, academic, nonprofit and community sectors to foster sustainable communities and a viable 21st century economy.
As these conversations occur, how can Massachusetts’ black communities foster sustainable communities and secure a positive role in a viable 21st century economy? While the existing economic situation is complex, a key to creating a prosperous economic reality for black communities is for individuals to educate themselves to secure careers in the green economy. It is also key for black churches, community leaders, civic organization, professional affiliations and grass roots organizations to join together to advocate for a community-wide participation in the market shift to embed sustainability. This can generate growth and improvements in people’s lives.
A green economy can be thought of as a new vision for growth and development that promotes a triple-bottom-line that is measured in profitability, social equity and environmental sustainability. It is based on jobs rooted in environmentally friendly practices and solutions. By creating and advocating for careers based on this new set of values, a new economic engine for the black community can be developed.The demand for sustainable solutions will be drivers for the 21st century economy. The market for cleaner products and processes is growing rapidly throughout the world. Massachusetts has the ability to serve these markets, but for Massachusetts’ black communities, the green economy continues to be stalled behind a lack of vision and a supporting plan.
We must make sure the black community is not ignored or left out of the green economy. It has its roots in the environmental movement and we have always been key players who have driven the environmental movement. This notion is unfortunately not recalled or known by many. The Environmental Justice Movement emerged in the 1980s in reaction to discriminatory environmental practices. In the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s, while conservation was a pressing issue, black communities simultaneously, primarily in isolated cases, battled toxic dumping, municipal waste facility dumping and land use decisions.
Black communities created strong environmental activists who viewed these actions as environmental attacks on their civil rights. We were so persistent with this that the term environmental justice was used to recognize that low income, predominately black or other communities of color, were disproportionately targeted.
Today, rather than only being reactive to environmental conditions forced on us, the black community must also be extremely proactive. Proactive to advance the knowledge, perspective and networks of Black Communities to improve economic recovery and growth, drive job creation, build sustainable communities and expand the Green Economy in Massachusetts Black communities. The black community must seek an equitable and ecologically sustainable economy.
To participate in the growing green economy, members of the black community must re-invent themselves to make sustainable business skills part of their resumé, regardless of their field, to increase their competitiveness and obtain careers, not just jobs, in the green economy. Local community colleges and career organizations, such as Boston Career Links, which is hosting a green economy job fair on April 4, offer details regarding green economy training, jobs and internships.
Creating new business skills, opportunities and networks are the first steps for the black community to move forward toward a valuable role in the growing green economy that is occurring in Massachusetts. Black churches, community leaders, civic organizations, professional affiliations and grass roots organizations must become environmentally active and assist their members to learn new insights into the values, priorities, and strategies of businesses pursuing sustainability that are need of a workforce; this includes organizing together and advocating for green economy job training.
The state of the environment in black communities, including the associated public health impacts, and Green Economy issues should be a priority on their agendas. While it is recognized that we’re in a very difficult job market, there are actions one can take to improve chances for greater career success. By improving business skills to include sustainability, one can create a new economic engine for a sustainable future.
Thanks to investments in innovation and infrastructure, Massachusetts is now leading the nation in energy efficiency. Through the Green Communities Act, there are aggressive goals and the foundation for greater investments in energy efficiency that can be a model for the nation and world. As a conversation about the rapidly growing green economy is occurring in Massachusetts, as well as the City of Boston, the black community must organize in order to participate and leverage our unified voting power to solve environmental and economic issues. This will provide the black community with economic growth for its members and prevent displacement as sustainability comes to neighborhoods, followed by gentrification.
In addition to educating ourselves personally to professionally participate in the green economy and to organize as a community to advocate for quality jobs and opportunities, consideration must be given on how to incorporate green practices into our daily lives at home, our schools and our work environment. The food we eat, the products we use and are exposed to impact our health.
For more information and resources on how to participate in the green economy, please contact info@sustainableeconomyconference.com . SEC details are available at http://sustainableeconomyconference.com
Crystal Johnson is an environmental planner and strategist with over 20 years experience in energy, water, natural resources and sustainability. She crafts and presents the Massachusetts Annual Sustainable Economy Conference (SEC) with her environmental consulting company Integrative Sustainability and Environmental Solutions/ISES.
